PORT of Spain Mayor Louis Lee Sing is standing by his statement that the recently implemented traffic plan in St James and environs has not affected business sales.

Lee Sing said he would not apologise for saying so.

He also said he would not endorse the quest by Member of Parliament for Port of Spain South, Marlene McDonald, for the traffic plan to be removed.

Lee Sing made the statements following an Interfaith service hosted by the Port of Spain City Corporation at Woodford Square yesterday.

Earlier this month Lee Sing was reported as saying that if business was down in St James it was not because of the traffic plan but because they were not "real businesses" in the first place.

Lee Sing referred to this statement yesterday.

"I believe I made a statement which was a considered position...my position is, and I know business, I know economics, I understand the bottom line. Believe you me I do not want a business to close," Lee Sing said.

"There is nothing as we stand here that warrants people's businesses declining to the extent of 70 per cent... people can park on the side streets as they have always done, people can park on the main road as they have always done," Lee Sing said.

St James business owners have signalled their attention to protest the recently implemented traffic plan today.

McDonald is said to be in support of the affected business owners.

McDonald and Lee Sing are colleagues in the PNM.

"I have nothing to say on it (McDonald's support of the business owners) other than I pray for Ms McDonald, I pray for her genuinely and that God would light her path and brighten her day," Lee Sing said.

Lee Sing said there was widespread consultation on the traffic plan and the protests were based on aversion to change.