ST JAMES, Jamaica – A multi-agency operation aimed at restoring public order to the second city is underway in Montego Bay.

According to a release on Tuesday (August 16), the operation 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.

Dubbed ‘Restoring Paradise, A Public Order Reset’, the operation, which started on Monday, 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.

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, said 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 rogue taxi operators and 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. He explained that an assessment will be done after the 14 days to see if the sustained activities should be extended.

Noting that there was a similar operation in 2019, which had some success, 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,” Samuels 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.