BALACLAVA, St Elizabeth — There are split views from two councillors in this south-central parish whose divisions are being affected by a near-one-month ban on entertainment events following recent crimes, including murder, with one representative saying the measure is “draconian”, for the festive season.

“While we understand the rationale for it, it is a bit disappointing that this murder has led to such a draconian measure by the police,” Councillor Everton Fisher (People’s National Party, Balaclava Division) said on Wednesday.

Fisher, a former mayor of Black River, was reacting to a letter sent by head of the St Elizabeth police, Acting Superintendent Coleridge Minto to the St Elizabeth Municipal Corporation outlining that entertainment events are prohibited in Goshen, Balaclava, Oxford, Union, Content, and Elim.

“In light of the recent increase in murders in the division…list of police areas are banned from conducting/ hosting public events such as dance, party, round robin, drink out, etc,” the letter read in part.

However, grand market will be permitted on December 22 for Balaclava town centre.

The letter, dated December 12, 2023, stated that the ban will be reviewed on January 8, 2024.

Fisher said he is concerned and troubled about the effect the ban will have on the festive season.

“The police, we all agree with, have to take whatever necessary action they have to take to curtail or to curb crime, but for me in the Yuletide it has really put a dent on the whole community. People have travelled and others have booked their flights for the holidays and so it is concerning,” he said.

“Essentially we have to support the police in whatever initiative they have to treat with crime, but for me it is very disappointing that many people who have come home to enjoy the festive season, most of it will have to be scaled down,” he added while pointing a possible major economic impact

“In Balaclava there are a number of parties and promotions that have to be cancelled. People have to move parties as far as Evergreen, which is at the Manchester border, so it has really affected a lot of people,” said Fisher.

Last week he called on residents to amicably resolve conflicts following four murders overnight including one in Union district, Balaclava where Lennox Leachman, 46, was shot and killed at a party.

“Many people made preparations prior to that incident and now many of them are forced to cancel,” said Fisher.

Minority leader in the local municipality and councillor for Braes River Donovan Pagon (People’s National Party), however, said he supports the police’s decision.

“Having six murders within [48 hours] is cause for concern and one has to look deeply into this situation and what corrective measures the police have taken, one has to back the police on this one,” he said.

“Although, I know it is the festive season and people have already gone ahead and planned to keep their cookout and various dances, it is so unfortunate that the police have to do what they did. One has to understand the police position. We don’t want any recurrence of this murder situation. This thing has to stop and our area, my division, is normally a very peaceful division,” he said while adding that areas have been like a ghost town in the evenings.

“The feeling, especially in Elim, is very sombre and in and around Goshen there is a down period there right now. Everything is not back to normal as yet. It is visibly lonely any time after 6:00 pm, especially Goshen,” said Pagon.