Daraine Luton, Sunday Gleaner Reporter

A VAST number of persons living in the vicinity of Sabina Park have complied with the Local Organising Committee (LOC), and have given the necessary information needed for an access pass to their homes, during next year's ICC Cricket World Cup. The access pass allows free movement in defined areas outside Sabina Park to persons during the time of the World Cup. "Our plans to ensure that the businesses and residents in the area are not disenfranchised are well advanced and things are progressing at a more than satisfactory pace," Lisa Ogilvie, event manager, logistics and operations, at the LOC, told The Sunday Gleaner.

Ms. Ogilvie said the response of residents has been tremendous and persons have been extremely cooperative in giving information for a Social Development Commission (SDC) census which will guide the LOC's planning.

Ms. Ogilvie said that the LOC is armed with the demographic data collected by the SDC around the Sabina Park area and will be using this information to make decisions as to who will be issued with a pass. She said a second round of surveying will be conducted by the SDC in order to make amendments to the list of persons receiving both pedestrian and vehicular passes.

Legitimate Permit

Without a legitimate permit, vehicular and pedestrian traffic will not be allowed along some streets in Kingston during the time of the World Cup.

Last week, The Sunday Gleaner walked sections of Kingston Gardens, one of the Central Kingston communities where residents will require a pass to traverse, and found that most persons had registered for passes.

"Mi write up fi it long time. a just the ID mi a wait pon," one man said. His statement was echoed throughout the community, with every person with whom The Gleaner spoke saying they had registered.

A logistics map document prepared by the LOC has listed a section of South Camp Road, North Street, Mid Avenue and George Headley Drive as 'blue zones'. The LOC explanation of a blue zone is that the area will be almost traffic-free during the World Cup, with only accredited vehicles being allowed to enter the area. It means that vehicular traffic will be rerouted as the Commissioner of Police sees necessary.

The recently passed Sunset Legislation gives the Commissioner of Police the right to close roads as he thinks necessary for the purpose of safety of persons and the protection of property.

The law also gives the Commissioner the right to institute measures for the control and regulation of vehicular or pedestrian traffic in relation to the CWC venue.

If the Commissioner intends to close a road for more than three days, he must publish his intention to close the roads in the Gazette and in at least one daily newspaper.

A person commits an offence if he/she enters a closed road without permission from a police officer on the ground; interferes with sign or barriers indicating closure of road; or refuses to leave the road, having been directed by the police to do so.

A person convicted for such breach is liable on summary conviction before a resident magistrate to a fine of up to $300,000.