MANDEVILLE, Manchester—

Police say some communities in south-central Manchester which  have been affected by recent crimes including murders, are being restricted from having entertainment events.

Assistant Superintendent of police Llamar Clarke told a community meeting in Albion, Manchester on Thursday, that the police are monitoring the threat level in some communities and shared that “if situations are under control where we the police feel that it is safe for citizens to gather and upon gathering their lives are not at risk then we will be able to grant some permits in this area.”

“As it relates to the areas that are no permit zones presently, it is almost to say it is the entire Manchester at this time… Albion, Tulsa Street, Green Street, May Day, Cedar Grove, George’s Valley, Richmond, Royal Flat, Heartease, New Hall, Comfort, Broadleaf. The famous Greenvale, New Green, so you realize I am almost naming the entire parish and this is because the crime monster is not affecting one area within the parish, it is affecting the entire parish,” he said.

“You are here and you want your community to have your entertainment back, so you are going to have to work with the police… We have to solve the problems before we can start issuing permits,” he said. Clarke in responding to questions from the media and residents about the tough security measure, explained that it is necessary.

“Jamaica we have a culture of dance and entertainment, but when that threatens the lives of our citizens we have to put measures in place and that is what is presently happening in the Manchester division,” he said.

However, event promoters are calling for a reevaluation of the security measures in Albion and surrounding areas.

Party promoter and resident of Albion, Natalie McKenzie, said it is affecting economic activities.

“What about the people that have been paying their round robin every week and how is it we can collect our little money back. Make a little extra over the weekends, because we work so hard paying our money,” she said.

“The good have to suffer for the bad. Remember we have our kids and we been hustling to pay back the people for them to get their draw. We need a little assistance for that. If we can at least have two police in our venue. We need  little assistance for that. If we can even get a little time to collect back our money, because it has not been easy for us,” she added.

Former Councillor Edward Smile (Knockpatrick, Jamaica Labour Party) expressed concern over the rise in murders in Manchester.

“I remember the days of walking this street and when we realize where we are now. Growing it we knew of [crime] in Kingston, but now it is right at our doorstep,” he said during a walk through with political leaders in Green Street, Knockpatrick. “The days of us walking from May Day to Mandeville at night without fear, now you wouldn’t even think about it much less to do it,” he added.