More calls for business opening hours to be extended in states of emergency

 

Spanish Town Mayor Norman Scott is calling for the Government to assist businesses which have suffered fallout due to the State of Emergency in the St. Catherine North Police Division.

 

Speaking at Thursday morning's meeting of the St. Catherine Municipal Corporation, Mr. Scott said some of the entities are preparing to lay off workers due to a decline in commercial activities because of revised opening hours.

 

"...Our entertainment revenue is completely eroded because people are not using the system to secure their permits any longer, and I'm again calling on the government to let us talk, let us come together and do something so that the ordinary citizen can feel comfortable ..." Mayor Scott asserted. 

 

Parliament recently extended the State of Emergency in the St. Catherine North Police Division to October 2.

 

In the meantime, the St. James Municipal Corporation has expressed an interest in meeting with the Police High Command to discuss the possibility of extending opening hours for businesses in the wake of the State of Public Emergency in that parish.

 

There have been calls for a revision of the opening hours especially for small business operators who are complaining that they have been affected by the restrictions.

 

Mayor of Montego Bay Homer Davis told RJR News that the issue was discussed at Thursday's meeting of the Municipal Corporation.

In the wake of a major reduction in murders and shootings in St. James, he said the security forces have began to ease some of the restrictions imposed on residents following the declaration of the State of Public Emergency in January.

However, a meeting with the police is still necessary to look at the matter of business opening hours.