Police deployed at strategic locations to “safeguard life and property”

With an evacuation order having been issued for areas in the Red Zone, members of the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) have been deployed at strategic locations throughout the country to “safeguard life and property, and to ensure the free flow of traffic on the nation’s roads.”

A release from the RSVPF said: “In addition, the RSVGPF has also set up security check points in the vicinity of the bridge in Walliabou (Central Leeward) and at Mt Young (in the vicinity of the Rubis Gas Station (North Windward). These check points will ensure that no unauthorized persons or vehicles enter the Red Zones.”

Persons who do not reside in the “Red Zones” are advised not to visit these areas. This can complicate the transportation of affected persons from the Disaster Zones, the release said.

As a result of the evacuation order issued for residents in the Red Zones, the RSVGPF along with other security agencies will coordinate security at all designated shelters to ensure that evacuees are in a safe and secure environment during and after the explosive eruption of the La Soufriere volcano.

The RSVGPF will also secure the properties and livestock that are left behind by the evacuees from break -ins and thefts.

The RSVGPF is urging all motorists to pull to the “left side” of the roads and “give way” to all emergency and other vehicles involved in transporting persons out of the danger zones – so as to maintain a free flow of traffic at all times.

All vehicles taking part in any evacuation exercise would carry a special sticker for easy identification.

Moreover, all motorists who are part of the transportation team are advised to operate only on routes that you are designated to travel.