Police Implements Traffic Management Plan for Official Funeral

The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has implemented a traffic management plan to control the flow of vehicular traffic for the official funeral of late Ambassador, Hon. Dudley Thompson, this Friday (February 10).

The service will be held at the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity, downtown Kingston, starting at 2:00 p.m.

Speaking to JIS News, Operations Officer, Traffic Division, Superintendent Courtney Coubrie, informed that between the hours of 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., North Street, between Central Avenue and South Camp Road, will be closed to vehicular traffic.

Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) buses and the general motoring public, travelling along North Street from the Gleaner Company end, will be diverted onto Central Avenue through Kingston Gardens via Heroes Circle. Motorists travelling from South Camp Road with the intention to access North Street, will be directed to continue along South Camp Road.   

“Only vehicles attending the funeral service will be allowed access from both points,” Superintendent Coubrie said.

He informed that during the service, the road closures will be temporarily removed between the hours of 2:30 pm to 4:00 p.m. and will be re-implemented, just before the service comes to an end.

He informed that appropriate directional signs and police personnel will be on hand to guide the flow of traffic, assuring that the general public will not be adversely affected by the arrangements.

SuperintendentCoubrie further informed that between the hours of 4:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., South Camp Road and Camp Road will be closed to vehicular traffic between East Queen Street (at the traffic light) and Tom Redcam Avenue (at the traffic light with Camp Road).

“This will be done as a mark of respect for the late Ambassador and to ensure the smooth movement of the funeral procession from Holy Trinity Cathedral to Briggs Park Military Cemetery, Up Park Camp, where interment will take place,” he said.

“Traffic travelling from Tom Redcam end at that time, wishing to access Camp Road, will be diverted onto Caledonia Avenue via Marescaux Road. Traffic travelling from the other end, which is the lower section of South Camp Road, East Queen’s Street or Victoria Avenue, will not be allowed to enter South Camp Road from that end. They would either have to use East Queen Street or Victoria Avenue,” he outlined.

Superintendent Coubrie told JIS News that after the interment at Up Park Camp, the main gate and Queen’s Gate (along Arthur Wint Drive) will be used only for exit purposes.

As it relates to parking at the church, he noted that there will be several categories including VVIP, VIP and general parking.

"VVIP such as the Governor-General, the Prime Minister, the Ministers and the immediate family members, will park directly in front of the church. Other VIPs will park on the church compound (along with) an open space across from the church. Provisions have been made for the general public to park at Kingston College, one side of George Headley Drive, and Lissant Road,” he informed.

Superintendent Coubrie said additional plans will be implemented where parking proves inadequate.

Ambassador Thompson passed away in the United States on January 20, a day after his 95th birthday. His body arrived in the island early Thursday morning (February 2).

The late Ambassador, who has been acknowledged locally and overseas as a diplomat, statesman, Pan-African crusader and legal luminary, saw active duty as a Flight Lieutenant during the Second World War. On his return to Jamaica, he became a founding member of the Royal Air Force Association, Jamaica Branch.

By Chris Patterson, JIS Reporter