If the people who blocked Barnett Street and other roads in Montego Bay, St James, last Friday morning think they are impressing anyone with their actions, in protest against the police closing off an event at midnight, they had better think again.

For what they are doing is giving those who are not a part of their community and who were inconvenienced by the protest ample reason to support the police in enforcing the law, as they publicly warned they will do.

As was reported in THE STAR last Saturday, the roadblocks were mounted in the morning after the police closed down the 'Japzy Thursday' dance in the Barnett Lane community at midnight.

Now all that will happen, or all that should happen, is that the police refuse permission for it to be held again.

There are many reasons why the poor remain poor. One is that they often engage in activities which are either entirely counter-productive or are inappropriate to the time and/or location. A Thursday night session in an area where there are sure to be children who are supposed to attend school on Friday any at all is sure to keep them up. To extend it even to midnight, much less past it, is madness.

And, to top it off, those who are blocking the street on a workday morning certainly have nothing productive to do.

The police now have no choice but to react decisively to this clear challenge to the law. We really hope they do, establishing clearly who 'run tings' before exercising any leniency.