Visitors to the island taking pictures of the ‘Redemption Song’ statue which stands outside Emancipation Park in New Kingston.

In an about turn the management of Emancipation Park has relented on its decision to close the park early on Emancipation Day.

Following a closure notice on Sunday, the park released an update today, highlighting the change. The park will be open from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.

The reversal of the closing time was also confirmed yesterday by Dwayne Berbick, corporate affairs manager at the National Housing Trust.

“Based on the feedback from persons, we accede to that request,” Berbick said.

He also told THE STAR that the decision to close the park earlier on holidays was nothing new.

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While it is usually the norm to close the park earlier on public holidays, persons were not pleased with the decision when THE STAR highlighted the issue yesterday.

Vendors, members of the public, and other stakeholders had expressed displeasure to the unwelcoming news that the park would be closed at 6 p.m. on Emancipation Day.

A photographer, who told our news team he has been working at the park since inception, has likened the initial decision to close the park at 6 p.m. as robbery.

“Stop lock up the park. This is a public space. It’s just robbery all around. You can’t lock up the public place especially when they need it the most, a national holiday. The Government can’t handle the country affairs. Dem nuh understand how this country run. All dem do is what dem feel like,” the photographer said in a STAR article yesterday.

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