ST ELIZABETH, Jamaica — Police are reporting that a curfew in the St Elizabeth community of Vineyard (near Black River) has been extended by 48 hours.

READ: Curfew imposed in sections of St Elizabeth, Hanover

Head of the St Elizabeth police, Deputy Superintendent Coleridge Minto confirmed that the curfew, which was originally set to end on Wednesday, is now scheduled to end on Friday at 6:00 pm.

In a media release on Monday, Minto said Vineyard is currently experiencing an upsurge in violence resulting in murders and shootings.

“On Saturday, March 2, 2024, about 8:50 pm at ‘Bug Head’ Shop, Dugal Road, Vineyard District, St Elizabeth, Kevin WILLIAMS o/c Dino, Auto Body Repairman of Dugal Road, Vineyard District, St. Elizabeth was shot and killed whilst another man was shot and injured. Additionally on Friday, March 28, 2024, about 10 pm, men fired at a group of men at Dan Dan Shop, Vineyard District, St Elizabeth which resulted in one person sustaining gunshot wounds. There have been
several other cases of shootings in recent months which has caused tension between rival groups,” a statement from the St Elizabeth police leadership read in part.

Police said based on their intelligence, the tension level in Vineyard is “high due to the recent murder as also a high level of threat of reprisal”.

– Kasey Williams