Residents of Piarco and surrounding areas are up in arms over the severe traffic restrictions which will be put in placefor an entire week before the Summit of the Americas scheduled for April 17th to the 19th, in Trinidad and Tobago.

Senior Supt. Rajindranath Maharaj spoke with the residents at a town meeting this week and told the gathering that there will be a mini lock down in the area of the airport and that police patrols would be heightened.

Officer Maharaj added that as part of the operation cars would be randomly stopped and checked.

However on the other hand some of the residents have complained about the rough treatment during the Summit's dry run last month.

A businessman, who has been operating in the Piarco area for a number of years, said that he has lost a lot of money because of the security measures being put in place for the two day Summit. The angry businessman told officer Maharaj that no one can get in or get out of the area.

Maharaj assured the residents that all would be done to make their lives easier for the two days and asked the community to have some patience.

Kenrick  Jaggernauth