Security tightened in Port of Spain ahead of UK Queen's arrival

Port of Spain, Nov.27 (ANI): Britain's Queen Elizabeth and members of her royal household are arriving here today to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

Security arrangements have been put on the highest levels at the Carlton Savannah Hotel where she will be staying.

Local police will provide escort and assistance to the Queen's security entourage on her arrival and departure to the hotel, said security personnel.

Trinidad and Tobago's Trade and Industry Minister Mariano Browne said that only a few persons have received accreditation passes to be in the area of the Savannah Hotel.

Media accreditation also has been very difficult to get. Security arrangements he added, will not be hampered since citizens will have the opportunity to shop and move about freely.

Questions have been raised about the difference with the "less"security arrangements put in place for CHOGM than that of the heavy security arrangements for the Fifth Summit of Americas held in April.

Browne said the security arrangement was not less, but in fact "more complex" since the movement of persons will be handled differently. The main difference of course is that US President Barak Obama is not here!

Brown said they have learned from the Americas Summit as to what elements of security they could eliminate and what they need to fine tune. They have also prepared for the worst nightmare, ie "eventualities".

The main security is of course near the Hyatt Regency Hotel and others nearby where the delegates are staying. The media is in the Caribbean Princess, a massive ship stationed on the Pacific. Here too the security is very tight with metal detectors and scanning machines at various points. By Smita Prakash (ANI)