A popular jerk spot in Kingston was ordered closed effective immediately by the Kingston and St Andrew Public Health Department on Wednesday.

Information reaching THE WEEKEND STAR is that about 11:45 a.m., public health authorities went to the Sweetwood Jerk Joint along Knutsford Boulevard in New Kingston and served a notice for the management to close its doors.

THE WEEKEND STAR understands this is due to the fact that they were found in breaches of the Public Health Act.

One customer who witnessed the ordeal said, "Speculation is that they failed to meet certain requirements needed to operate a restaurant."

A representative from the Public Health Department told THE WEEKEND STAR that, "The inspectors went there and closed it. We gave them a work plan for them to correct the problems."

He subsequently refused to answer any further questions referring us to the senior medical officer. All efforts to get a comment from that person proved futile.

Meanwhile, Desmond Handy, the restaurant's manager, told THE WEEKEND STAR yesterday that they were already reopened for business.

"It was just some little minor things, we just had to set up a screen door for the prep (preparation) room. They gave us the ok for us to reopen this morning (yesterday)," he said.