State of emergency ends | curfew imposed in sections of St Catherine North

For the first time since March 18 last year, the people of Spanish Town, Bog Walk, Linstead, Ewarton, Lluidas Vale and other parts of the St Catherine North Police Division are waking up outside a state of public emergency.

The state of public emergency, which essentially gives law enforcers extraordinary powers to arrest people for months without charge, ended last night, January 2.

The Andrew Holness-led government wanted to further extend it, but it did not get the support currently required from the parliamentary opposition headed by Dr Peter Phillips.

A few hours before the state of emergency came to an end, the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), in the meantime, announced the imposition of a curfew in sections of St Catherine North Police Division.

The curfew, which began at 6 o’clock last evening (January 2), will remain in effect until 6 o’clock Friday evening, January 4.

“During the hours of the curfew, all persons within the boundaries of the curfew are required to remain within their premises unless otherwise authorized in writing by the ground commander,” the JCF advised.

The boundaries of the curfew are:

NORTH: Along Greendale main road, from the bridge at Dempshire Pen to the intersection with Michael Manley Boulevard.

EAST: Along Michael Manley Boulevard, from Greendale main road to the intersection with Spanish Town Bypass.

SOUTH: Along Spanish Town Bypass, from Michael Manley Boulevard to the bridge at the Rio Cobre River.

WEST: Along the eastern bank of the Rio Cobre River, from the bridge at the Rio Cobre River to the Bridge at Dempshire Pen.

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