By VENUS HONORE-GOPIE Tuesday, August 18 2009

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This year's route for the Independence Day parade....

AFTER receiving complaints from members of the public, the annual Independence Day parade will this year be held on the streets of Port-of-Spain rather than at the Queen’s Park Savannah.

This means President George Maxwell Richards will not be inspecting the troops and will instead only take a Presidential salute at the Queen’s Park Savannah opposite Memorial Park.

Defence force Sergeant Major Esther Daniel said this year’s 47th Anniversary Independence Day parade on August 31, will be “people friendly” so the public can be part of the parade.

“We simplified it and hope that everybody will be part of this year’s Independence Day parade,” she said.

Daniel said the parade will begin on Keate Street, head east and then up Charlotte Street across the Queen’s Park Savannah, where the President will be stationed, down Chancery Lane, back across Keate Street and then down Frederick Street, west along Park Street and then on to Tragarete Road to the Police Barracks in St James, where it ends. The parade will not be coming downtown.

The President will be viewing the parade from the NCC stands at the savannah. Acting Inspector of Traffic Management Branch Jadoonanan Peack said the public will advise of traffic restrictions around the Queen’s Park Savannah and temporary restrictions on all the roads leading onto Frederick Street.

He said motorists will also be updated on the traffic regulations for the fireworks show at the savannah, later that day. Command Sergeant Major of Regiment and Parade Sergeant Major for the Parade Winston Browne said the drive-past will be done after all the troops pass.