Monique Hepburn and Claudine Housen, Staff Reporters
WESTERN BUREAU:
MAJOR COMMERCIAL activities were suspended by early afternoon yesterday in western Jamaica as proprietors joined the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica-initiated lockdown of businesses to protest the country's escalating crime problem.
Scores of Montego Bay businesses pulled down their shutters in solidarity with their colleagues islandwide. There was no indication of a rush by consumers to purchase goods ahead of the shutdown.
The response in the resort town of Negril, Westmoreland, was not overwhelming as only about 50 persons turned up at the Negril Sea Park for the planned two-hour prayer and fellowship to mark the occasion.
However, an upbeat Wayne Cummings, president of the Negril Chamber of Commerce, said that the scheduled assemblies across the island were "not to inconvenience the law-abiding citizens or to harm our fragile economy but to pause to reflect and strengthen our resolve to make our existence better."
KEY MERCHANTS REACTED
In Hanover, there was no planned gathering but key merchants reacted to the lockdown.
In Trelawny, the major commercial centres such as Falmouth, Albert Town, Wakefield and Duncans were 80 per cent closed. At the popular 'Bend Down' (flea market) in Falmouth, business wrapped up early.
Yesterday, over 600 Montegonians joined the city's business community in Sam Sharpe for a gathering under the theme: 'A Nation in Mourning'. However, despite turning up for the event there were those who believed that it was nothing more than a show.
"I do not think the gathering today will make a difference," said Marilyn Nash, president of the Flankers Citizens' Association.
Ms. Nash, who read a section of the 630 names of persons killed since the beginning of the year, said that while she felt the need to be present for the function, "the problems are still there."
Alicia McCray, of the Harbour Street craft market in Montego Bay, decried the reasoning behind the gathering. According to Ms. McCray, there was no response to crime and violence prior to Mr. (Maurice) Azan's death.
"The other day they killed three kids and (nine) policemen are dead and the country never lock down so why this move?" she asked. "One man so important that you have to lock down for one man?"
Despite the detractors, Chairman of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce (MBCC), Mark Kerr-Jarrett saw the day as a positive.
"It lifts my spirits," he said. "The people knelt before God and I feel that we will have a new day."
