BUSINESSES in downtown Kingston – the city’s main commercial centre – started to pull down their shutters from 12:30 yesterday, 30 minutes before the time set by the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica for business operators to close their doors in protest against the country’s high crime rate.

By 1:00 pm most of the stores on King Street, Orange Street and South Parade in the normally bustling capital were closed and a number of workers made their way to the bus terminus at South Parade. Some of them indicated their support for the PSOJ initiative.

“I support the move wholeheartedly,” said Pat O’Sullivan, senior customer service representative at the Kingston Bookshop on King Street.

“I am going up to the function at Emancipation Park because I am tired of the wicked people among us having so much power over life and death,” one female worker said.

Although in support of the closure against crime, the Restaurants of Jamaica-owned KFC fast food store on King Street closed its doors an hour later at 2:00 pm and reopen for business at 5:00 pm. Khemlani Mart and Carousel Store also closed their doors at 2:00 pm.

However, some businesses at West Parade remained open.

The situation was the same in New Kingston and along the strip of the shopping plazas on Constant Spring Road, as most stores, with the exception of Go West, Woolworth, Mall Pharmacy and the Tropical Family Supermarket, were closed at 1:00 pm yesterday.

The York Pharmacy, usually open for business all year, was closed during the time of the protest, but reopened later in the evening. While most banks heeded the call and shut down operations, ScotiaBank opted to remain open.

“We will not be closing until the normal hour of 3:00 pm today,” a staff member of the Cross Roads branch said. Automated teller machines (ATMs) were operational and long lines were seen at some locations throughout the city.

Among those attending the Emancipation Park rally was executive director of the human rights group Jamaicans For Justice Carolyn Gomes. While expressing her support for the protest, Gomes called on the Government to implement the recommendations of the National Committee on Crime and Violence, which was drafted in 2001.

“We need action, not symbolism or more meetings,” Gomes said. “We are all affected very badly.”

Also in attendance were persons who had family members killed by criminals.

Loretta Campbell stood in the broiling afternoon sun holding the picture of her slain niece, 29 year-old Suzanne Coates, who was found dead in a canal behind her home in Westmeade, Portmore three days after she went missing last month. Police say she was strangled to death. There was no sign of forced entry into the house.

The gruesome murder has taken a severe mental toll on Coates’ relatives and friends, who are battling to come to grips with their loss.

“We don’t get over it yet,” Campbell moaned, “All now nobody get arrested for it and we can’t figure out why anybody would hurt her. The violence affect everyone of us from rich to poor.”

Mickely Johnson, a Camperdown High School sixth form student, said the entire Camperdown family was badly affected by the stabbing death of her 17 year-old schoolmate, Yohan Robb, who was killed on Monday, May 9 along Windward road in Kingston.

“I support the protest against crime and violence because it has become too much in our faces. It is making life hard for us as young people,” Johnson told the Observer.

walkerk@jamaicaobserver.com