The family of slain businessman Melvin Chung has secured an interim agreement allowing them to reopen the five gas stations he operated.

The five Total gas stations, located in the Corporate Area and St Catherine, were closed hours after Chung was shot and killed by gunmen in downtown Kingston on Saturday.

It is unclear why they were closed and managing director of Total Jamaica Dr Michael Faulkner told The Gleaner yesterday, through his assistant, that he was "unable to respond to that question".

President of the Jamaica Gasolene Retailers Association (JGRA) Derrick Thompson said Chung's wife has taken over the operations on an interim basis, but is in discussions with the gas company for a new contract.

"I don't believe they (Chung's family) have got it yet, but they are on their way. It's the second day of business (since Chung's death) and as you can imagine any contract is going to take some amount of time to put together," Thompson said.

"The important thing is to re-open the stations and they have been reopened," he added.

Thompson said the JGRA would continue to provide the family with support to keep the stations open until they decide their next move.

No new developments

Meanwhile, police investigators said yesterday there were no new developments in the probe.

The Major Investigations Taskforce (MIT) indicated that detectives still believe robbery was the primary motive for the killing.

However, Superintendent Michael Phipps, who heads the MIT, said investigators would examine all theories, including claims that Chung's murder was "an inside job".

livern.barrett@gleanerjm.com