TRELAWNY, Jamaica — The Trelawny Police Division will Thursday meet with members of the Falmouth business community to explain the nightly 9:00 pm lockdown of commercial operations, imposed out of heightened security concerns following a recent murder in the town.

“We will be having conversations, even one-on-one, with business persons tomorrow (today) to ensure we are all on the same page,” Superintendent Velonique Campbell, commanding officer for the Trelawny Division, told Observer Online on Wednesday.

“After the storm there was a security issue in the town and there was a murder in the town. We noticed that some undesirables were hanging out in the town. So we have to look at the security concerns for the general township,” she added.

But one business operator says the abrupt lockdown is wreaking havoc on his livelihood.

Christopher Jobson, chief executive officer of Falmouth Chicken, said the restrictions have been crippling his business since Sunday, November 16, when staff members informed him around 9:30 pm that police ordered them to close immediately.

According to Jobson, the nightly enforcement has continued up to Monday, resulting in massive losses.

“Millions, millions — and this is just from the restaurant alone. I have a gaming lounge running, a bar running, and I haven’t even counted those numbers. Plus, I have 19 staff members who must be paid the same way because they are here,” he complained.

But Superintendent Campbell said the police are not attempting to stifle business, but must address public-safety issues.

“I don’t want persons to get the idea that the police are trying to prevent them from making money,” she stressed.

Jobson said neither he nor his attorney has received any formal notice of the lockdown or indication of when it will end.

“No one is saying anything. When we ask when the lockdown is going to end, they don’t know. They say it’s not a curfew, it’s a lockdown. I don’t understand. This can’t be right,” he continued.

But the head honcho of the Trelawny Police Division claims that the police had discussions with Jobson.

“I know that there was a conversation with him sometime ago. And if he had any further issues he should have come in and say something,” she said.

The businessman, who also suffered losses during the recent hurricane, said he is frustrated that the effort to rebuild is being undercut by the sudden restrictions.

“The prime minister says keep the production wheel turning — and me turn it up — and the police turn it down,” he lamented. “Not good. Me hurt big time.”

The police are expected to outline the duration and scope of the security measures during Thursday’s meeting.

— Horace Hines