Holness addresses concerns about closing times for St James businesses under SOE

Christopher Thomas, Gleaner Writer

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has declared that all restaurants in St James must close at the same time at nights under the parish’s ongoing state of public emergency in response to reports that small restaurants are being forced to close at earlier times than larger outlets.

Holness made the declaration while addressing a town-hall meeting in Montego Bay last night, where the issue was raised during a question-and-answer segment with members of the public, including small-business operators.

“There’s no instruction for differentiation in closing time based on business type or business ownership. There’s one set closing time, and that is placed in a gazette, so it’s published… .The law must be applied equally for all persons,” said Holness.

“Of course, the police always have their discretion for what is happening in a local context, but I suspect the issue that is being raised here is how the police are using their discretion. It is something I am very sensitive to, and I will raise it with the commissioner of police and bring it to the National Security Council to have the matter addressed,” Holness added.

Under the state of emergency, fast-food outlets and clubs are to be closed by midnight, while cookshops, dry-goods stores, and haberdasheries must be closed by 7:00 p.m.

Minister of National Security Dr Horace Chang, who was also at last night’s town-hall meeting, said that he will hold further discussions with the police on the matter.

“I know there’s been a concern that Kentucky Fried Chicken and a number of other establishments open until 11:00 p.m. and smaller ones are required to close at 9:00 p.m. It has been brought to my attention, and I will be having further discussions with the security forces,” said Chang.

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