Spanish Town mayor says SOE hurting businesses, wants business hours revised
Published:Friday | July 13, 2018 | 1:17 PM
Mayor of Spanish Town Norman Scott is calling for an urgent review of the operating hours for businesses in the St Catherine North Police Division where a state of public emergency is in place.
Business hours were restricted after the security measure was declared on March 18 amid reports of rampant criminality and lawlessness in parts of the division.
Scott, who was speaking at yesterday's monthly meeting of the St Catherine Municipal Corporation, said that business operators are laying off workers because they cannot sustain their businesses under the current regime.
"We (the Municipal Corporation) have been cooperating with the police in their crime-fighting efforts, however, things cannot continue. Shootings and murders are down but businesses have been crippled," argued Scott.
He said it would become more difficult for businesses if the opening hours are not revisited.
Noting that some workers have been sent home by their employers, the mayor said that any increase in unemployment in the area could result in more criminal activities.
"As we speak the municipal corporation’s entertainment earnings has been reduced to nothing (and) this is primarily due to the fact that persons are not applying for permits to do functions," said Scott.
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