Shutters at a number of stores in downtown Kingston were pulled down by irate vendors yesterday, as they protested against the police and their operations geared at clamping down on illegal vending.

It took the efforts of a large number of police personnel to restore order and reopen these legitimate stores after vendors ordered them closed while claiming if they would not be allowed to sell, then the stores could not.

"How yu mean, a protest wi a protest and a lock dung some a di store dem. A stop dem a stop wi food eno, weh wi ago go?" questioned one irate vendor who gave her name as Jackie.

destroyed stalls

From as early as 2 a.m., a number of stalls in sections of the commercial district were reportedly destroyed by police personnel as they carried out the operation.

By 9:30 a.m., the police say a number of streets including the usually heavily congested Heywood Street were cleared of not only illegal stalls but also debris.

Approximately 10 tonnes of debris and other material is said to have been cleared from sections of downtown.

At least 300 illegal electricity connections were also reportedly disconnected by personnel from the Jamaica Public Service, who were a part of the operation.

The police say they will be maintaining a strong presence in the area as sections of the district will remain under curfew until 1 a.m. on Saturday.