Operation to Restore Public Order Under Way in Montego Bay

A multi-agency operation is under way in Montego Bay that is aimed at restoring public order to the Second City.

Dubbed ‘Restoring Paradise, A Public Order Reset’, the operation, which started in the wee hours of August 15, involves the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) Public Safety and Traffic Enforcement Branch, St. James Municipal Corporation, Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) and the Transport Authority.

It will run for the next 14 days and is aimed at curtailing widespread illegal vending, indiscipline among taxi operators and other forms of public nuisance.

The collaboration between the various agencies is also a response to concerns raised by residents and local business interests who see public disorder as a growing problem.

Superintendent of Police in charge of operations for St. James, Eron Samuels, told JIS News that the various stakeholders “have been taking a serious look at the situation over the past two weeks, brainstorming to see what we can do to bring back some law and order and to address the [spate] of incidents we have been seeing within the township”.

“This morning, we started “Operation Restoring Paradise”… so far, we have been getting a lot of support from all [relevant agencies] with the goal being to restore the public order within the space over the next 14 days,” he noted.

“We will not only be targeting the rogue taxi operators and the illegal street vendors. We will also be looking at other enforcement activities, such as persons who have not been paying their taxes, persons with illegal light and water connections… and persons who continue to violate health and safety standards,” he pointed out.

Superintendent Samuels said that the police are also concerned about the high level of traffic congestion, which can impede the quick response of emergency vehicles to incidents.

Superintendent Samuels told JIS News that an assessment will be done after the 14 days to see if the sustained activities should be extended.

He noted that there was a similar operation in 2019, which had some success, and stakeholders are of the view that a more sustainable approach, with the buy-in of citizens, and business and civic interests, “could see Montego Bay returning to the paradise we all dream about”.

“We want to maintain a level of discipline within the society where persons can see that it is their interest to have public order and lawfulness,” he said.

Regional Manager of the Transport Authority, Ralston Smith, said the entity was happy to partner in the process of restoring order to Montego Bay.

“When you look in and around Montego Bay it is easy to see… the free for all… the disorder… the traffic congestion,” he noted.

“We have gotten involved and will be doing our part to deal with this urgent matter,” he added.

For his part, Odean Pearson, who sells fruits on the streets of Montego Bay, said there is need for increased dialogue among all stakeholders to adequately address street vending.

“We all want to see an orderly Jamaica,” he said. “Come out and have a one-on-one talk with vendors and see where we can have some common ground,” he urged.