Business operators question new SOEs

Some residents of Westmoreland and St James have expressed concern over the declaration of states of public emergency (SOEs) for both parishes, which were announced last week by Prime Minister Andrew Holness.

The prime minister stated that the SOEs, which started at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, will remain in effect for 14 days. In announcing the SOE in a statement, Holness said that the security measure is a response to a surge in criminal activities in the parishes.

"We have had some success in reducing murders, however, criminal acts have become more brutal and gruesome. We must dismantle the threat to law and order posed by the prevalence of organised gangs. The Government will continue to use all available tools to protect the lives of our citizens," said Holness. But at least two businessmen from the respective parishes stated that they do not see the need for them on this occasion.

"Two weeks ago when murder tun up ina St James, the prime minister neva call no state of emergency. But a now when it look like the gunman dem gone hide, a that time him come a call it," a Montego Bay businessman operator who gave his name as Bryan Ricketts, told THE STAR.

"Last month things did tun up, and the gunman dem did a kick up hell inna St James, especially in Montego Bay. But from the police dem shoot the three gunman dem out a Barrett Town area, no murder don't too gwan, suh wi really don't need one again right yah now."

Since the new SOEs were declared, St James has recorded one murder, while Westmoreland has recorded three. Dwayne Wright, a store owner in Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland, said he too is totally against the declaration of an SOE at this time.

"I can speak for most business people in Savanna-la-Mar, and we don't need another state of emergency right now. They are too much. The prime minister is calling too much of this. While he thinks they are working, they are creating a serious negative impacts to our businesses," he stated.

"It is good to see that the soldiers are being lenient at the border checkpoints, and traffic is flowing much freely in the afternoons. But still our businesses are being affected by the early lockdown and lack of customers," he added. Wright added that he believes the police in Westmoreland are doing an excellent job, so he doesn't see the need for another SOE.

Up to June 19, St James had recorded 95 murders, the highest number across all police divisions. Westmoreland recorded the second highest number of homicides across police divisions for the same period with 54 murders.

This is the fourth SOE that is being declared in St James over the past seven months, with the first of those coming on December 28, 2022. The others were declared on March 14 and May 16.