Why the barricades when Parliament is in session?

Dear Editor,
The barricades that are put up around Public Buildings every time Parliament is in session unnecessarily disrupt the activities of everyone who traverses that area. Drivers of vehicles have to find other, sometimes longer routes to go about their business. Users of public transportation have to walk greater distances to catch a bus. When the present government was in opposition, they said that if they won the elections they would do away with the barricades that are put up around Public Buildings when Parliament is in session. Is this destined to be one of those empty promises that politicians are prone to make? I hope not.

Yours faithfully,
Ian James