Former head of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management, Dr Stephen Ramroop, is warning that the confusion at the end of the Stink and Dutty fete in Chaguaramas highlights serious weaknesses in crowd management planning.
Drawing comparisons to the chaotic 2011 Red Bull Flugtag, which saw massive traffic gridlock, safety incidents, and poor coordination, Ramroop says large events on the Chaguaramas peninsula require strict traffic, security, and emergency planning.
He noted that areas with a single access road are especially vulnerable to congestion and evacuation challenges.
Ramroop stressed the need for proper coordination among police, ODPM, and other agencies through dedicated command centres.
Ramroop is calling for updated national crowd management strategies, legislative changes, and a stronger, fully operational ODPM to ensure public safety at large-scale events.
