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Some event organisers have been left disappointed while others fear the worst following the restrictions and cancellation of parties since the recent declaration of the States of Public Emergency (SOEs) in Hanover, St James, St Catherine and Clarendon.

Party promoter Dwayne 'Birdy Bee' Daley lamented the postponement of his 'round robin' which was slated to take place last Sunday in Hanover.

"Up to now mi feel real bad because I was keeping the party on the Sunday and the SOE came on the Thursday (November 23), suh mi ask him [the police], 'You can't allow wi not even just fi di weekend because mi already fi pick up mi permit Wednesday'?" Daley said.

He added, "It was so disappointing because everybody else had their round and we were the last one to get back our victory after all our spending."

In Clarendon, president of the Promoters' Association, Denton Atkins, said the police and the municipal corporation said there was no intention to shut down the events.

"There was a proposal to limit the time but we already advocated that before the Christmas season. They can't look to shut down that sector again. So they committed that, that was not an option," Atkins told T HE STAR.

"I think the decision came down but it's just riddled with confusion. I don't think anybody knows what to do. The parish council (municipal corporation] does not have a document instructing them [police] on anything at all. The police are sceptical as it relates to the state of emergency, so it seem like the details of it don't come down to we the locals yet. However, I'm happy that so far, they are still giving out permits, so it's not affecting us [promoters] thus far," he added.

He clarified that the proposed time that was issued "verbally" by the police was for "all events to end at 12 midnight but nothing has been definitively stated by that time as yet".

In St James, one event organiser, Michael Allen, moved his event from Dumfries to Wakefield in Trelawny.

"I was disappointed but because of the patrons, I changed the venue. The support was good but it was nothing compared to what I'd get in Dumfries. But I think I break even and I have to give God thanks because it was a day in advance I told supporters that the venue will be changed," Allen said.

Senior Superintendent Stephanie Lindsay, head of the Jamaica Constabulary Force's Corporate Communications Unit, promised to give a comment but THE STAR was unable to reach her up to press time.

According to the Office of the Prime Minister, the SOEs, which are scheduled to last for 14 days, were declared in the four parishes, due to a spike in murders.