‘Business community will still suffer’ despite extension to closing hours, says Samuda

Samuda, who is president of the Old Harbour Chamber of Commerce (OHCC), made the comments after a consensus was reached in the House of Representative Wednesday night for a 30-day extension of a state of emergency for Clarendon and St Catherine ending October 19.

Under the first SOE declaration on September 5 for both parishes, businesses were prohibited from operating beyond 9:00 pm and in some instances had to close earlier depending on the nature of its operations.

This didn’t sit well with business owners, particularly those that operate very late into the night, as many complained of significant loss in revenue and even had to cut staff.

Business groups such as the Old Harbour Chamber of Commerce and the St Catherine Chamber of Commerce led calls for the government to review the closing hours for businesses as the imposition of a state of emergency was having a rippling negative effect on establishments in these areas.

Their voices were further strengthened with the Peter Phillips-led opposition in Parliament insisting that an extension for an SOE will only receive their support unless the closing time for business is push back.

Under the gazetted revised hours release publicly today, all businesses operating within the SOE will be able to keep their doors open until 11:00 pm.

Public Advisory - Revised opening and closing times for businesses in St. Catherine and Clarendon State of Public Emergency. pic.twitter.com/mOJg2jNDsE

— Jamaica Constabulary (@JamaicaConstab) September 20, 2019

But despite the extension to their operating hours, which has been welcomed by many businesses, Samuda is contending that businesses at the lower end of the spectrum stands to suffer nonetheless.

“The Old Harbour Chamber of Commerce stands firm in agreeing that the previous closing times for businesses were a disaster under the SOE. Those closing times were stifling business continuity,” said Samuda, owner and CEO of the popular restaurant Kaluga Kafe located in Old Harbour. “The business community will still suffer under an 11:00 pm closing time based on the nature of our micro economy, however, we are in support of this new development and thankful for such.”

Meantime, Prime Minister Andrew Holness said it was never the intention of the government to hurt businesses that operate within the geography under a public state of emergency.
He said the decision to declare an SOE for the select areas was necessitated by the high rate of murders and gang related activities operating in the space.

One hundred murders have been recorded in Clarendon since January, while more than 150 people have been killed in St Catherine over the same period, prior to the September 5 SOE declaration.

Since then latest crime data presented by the security force stated 100 persons – 30 in St. Catherine and 70 in Clarendon – have been arrested and charged with varying offences during the period.

“Since implementation of the state of public emergency over the period September 5 to September 11 – the first seven days of the operations – the rates of murders and shootings collectively, have been reduced by 73 per cent. That is, from 15 murders to four murders when compared to the equivalent period,” he pointed out.

He said the declaration of the SOE has allowed the security forces to conduct operations designed to target and disrupt gangs and organised criminal networks; apprehend wanted persons; seize illegal weapons, ammunitions and narcotics; target the proceeds of illegal activities; reduce the freedom of criminals to move around; and establish public order.

“As the operations continue, the strategy moving forward must include returning the police divisions to a state where normal policing can be exercised,” Holness said.

For the period January 1 to September 16, 2019, 948 murders have been recorded in the country.