Curfew standoff in Old Harbour Bay

The situation was resolved after discussions between the defiant operators and law enforcement officers on the ground. 

The community has been under a recurring 48-hour curfew for the past few months, enforced daily from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Business owners have repeatedly expressed frustration over the measure, arguing that it severely impacts their livelihoods. 

Despite their grievances, the St. Catherine South Police High Command maintains that the curfew is necessary to curb violent crime in the area. However, gunmen have continued to carry out deadly attacks, with the latest being the murder of 69-year-old Calvin ‘Norman’ Christie on April 27. Authorities fear possible reprisals and remain reluctant to relax the restrictions. 

Talks between the police and business operators, many of whom are shop owners, have been ongoing regarding a potential gradual reduction in curfew hours, which were previously enforced as early as 4:00 pm. However, last night’s defiance signals a possible breakdown in these discussions, threatening to undo previous progress. 

In an update to Old Harbour News, the police confirmed that the curfew remains in effect until further notice. 

“The decision still stands. However, if citizens wish to engage with the police, this is not the way to do it,”said Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Romario Rankin, commander of the St. Catherine South subdivision of Old Harbour. “They have a community group with an elected president who can organize a meeting with the police or represent their concerns on behalf of everyone.”