Amidst an uptick in murders in St. James, President of the Montego-Bay Chamber of Commerce, Oral Heaven, has welcomed the imposition of a State of Public Emergency, in the parish.

SOEs were declared for St. James and Westmoreland, on Thursday.

The measures which will run for an initial 15 days, were imposed as a response to a surge in criminal activities in the respective parishes.

Speaking in an interview with Irie Fm News, Mr. Heaven said the Montego-Bay chamber is in full support of the law enforcement activities, to combat the rise in crime.

Mr. Heaven said he does not expect the SOE to impact business operations in the parish, negatively.