This business merchant was heckled by higglers along Orange Street. They claim he was part of the JCC group shutting down the city. Most businesses on lower Orange Street remained closed yesterday. An employee of one of the stores padlocks its gate. - Michael Sloley /Freelance Photographer MOST COMMERCIAL activity in downtown Kingston came to a halt yesterday as merchants threw their support behind the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce's (JCC) call to shut down businesses in protest over the general state of lawlessness in the city.
By mid-morning it was clear the call for the shutdown had been well supported. The normally busy Tower, Barry, lower Orange, King and Beckford streets, were almost empty save for pedestrians, police and soldiers and a few street vendors. Most business places remained shuttered while a few store owners were heckled by the vendors.
Businessmen noted, however, that yesterday was one of most peaceful in downtown Kingston in recent times and suggested this was due to the strong police presence.
Chamber of Commerce president Michael Ammar Jnr said last night he was "very satisfied" with yesterday's action, having toured the area earlier in the day to oversee the shutdown.
He was keen to emphasise that the protest had the right effect, estimating 95 per cent of businesses to have shut for the day. About 14 stores were opened on Orange Street, six each on Princess and Beckford streets, three on Barry Street and one each on Tower and King streets.
"We have been getting support from all over the island," said Mr. Ammar, noting that businesses from outside of the downtown area had offered to close for the day in solidarity.
Members of the Chamber took a decision to shut down businesses in the city, as a mark of protest against what they insisted was the escalating lawlessness, unsanitary conditions, extortion rackets, drug dealing and the long-standing problem of illegal vending on the sidewalks.
The merchants said in the past they had written several letters to the Government, but nothing was done. Last Tuesday, they met Local Government Minister Arnold Bertram and a number of issues were agreed.
Despite meeting the minister, members of the Chamber stood by their decision to shut down the city. Speaking at a post-Cabinet press conference on Monday, Minister Bertram expressed surprise that despite having met members of the JCC, the merchants moved to shut down the commercial centre.
This decision angered several businessmen who the believed the Chamber took the wrong approach. Businessman Mark Azan said he agreed some action had to be taken on the part of the Chamber but said his colleague merchants should have allowed the Minister some time to fulfil his commitment.
Mr. Ammar said up to late yesterday evening, he had received no contact from Government in the wake of the shutdown but remained firm that the outcome "can be positive if the people in leadership positions take the opportunity".
Opposition Leader Edward Seaga joined the downtown debate at The Gleaner Editors' Forum, stating that "there are too many dogs trying to get at the same bone" in the problem area and standing firmly behind the entrepreneurship of the vendors.
"Everybody is trying to find a solution to downtown by finding out what you do with the higglers," he said. "But you're fighting a subculture in which the greatest spirit of entrepreneurships exists in this country, and it's not at level of the captains of industry, it's at the level of the higglers."
"They are the ones who start with nothing, make something, and send five children to school, many of whom come out as doctors and lawyers. I am not going to destroy that," he said.
