MANDEVILLE, Manchester — Police have imposed curfews in five Manchester communities to stem further reprisals following an upsurge in crime, including a double murder, in this south-central parish.

The curfews, which began at 6:00 pm Tuesday will continue until 8:00 am Thursday, February 23, in Old England, George’s Valley, Richmond, May Day, New Hall and surrounding areas.

A reliable source told the Jamaica Observer that the February 13 murder of Aldo Scott, otherwise called “Chukum”, following a party in Old England, resulted in increased security concerns in that community and surrounding areas.

Police theorise that the killing of Scott led to a reprisal in Kendal, believed to be gang-related.

On February 15, two days after Scott’s death, Damion Robinson, 29, otherwise called “Bleachers”, a resident of Mike Town in Manchester, and Shamoy Borah, 22, otherwise called “Shemmy” and “Girly”, a resident of Comma Pen in St Elizabeth, were killed after leaving a party in Kendal.

Some business operators are, however, opposed to the curfews. Shopkeepers in George’s Valley and May Day told the Observer on Tuesday that the measure will be hard on their businesses.

“We cyaa manage curfew back this side. Before we even get this curfew, it come in like we did under curfew, because them did start lock we down since shooting gwaan and man dead,” said one of the shopkeers.

“Dem did lock we down from 8:30 a night-time. Me buy all the bun and the bread and the bulla from weh day and me cyaa get fi sell, because mostly at night people come and buy dem likkle tea mix and milk,” he added.

He said the loss in sales will be significant especially today – Ash Wednesday.

“Police a lock down you place. Everything just stand up pon you and you have this big light bill fi pay; it is that the system ago corrupt everybody. Shopkeeper ago get hungry too, because him spend his money and him naa get it back, because nutten naa get to sell, so it rough,” he said.

He said his community is being portrayed negatively, based on the curfew.

“George’s Valley is not really a place weh have that crime round here as how you hear people woulda talk. That type of crime nuh really deh a George’s Valley. Sometimes it happens far from George’s Valley and is like it just affects George’s Valley just like round Old England and it affects round here suh,” he said.

“George’s Valley is an irie place. People like fi have dem likkle party, enjoy themselves and dem thing deh inna this yah community,” he added.

Another shopkeeper believes the curfew is too long.

“Dem shouldn’t give us it for such a long time, if they gave us [overnight] from 6:00 pm to 8:00 am and from 6:00 pm to 8:00 am that would be good. The people who would come and have dem one drink dem nah go get to come,” she said.