Cops not issuing permits in western Jamaica

Bjorn Burke, STAR Writer

The party appears to have ended for many promoters in western Jamaica as several bemoan the apparent hike in criminal activity, resulting in the reluctance of the police to grant permits.

This, the police say, is a move in aid of protecting law-abiding civilians attending the customary dancehall events held throughout Area One.

"Well, it is throughout Jamaica. In areas where we have a lot of violence, the police will not grant permits to stage any event in those areas. It is not a Westmoreland situation, it's all- island," said Deputy Superintendent Artel Colley, head of the Hanover Division. "Once we are having problems, and when I say problems, I'm not speaking about break-ins, but shootings and murders. It is evident that if this happens, enemies will visit particular locations to take out other persons."

Particular areas

Colley said each case may vary: "It is the action that the 14 parishes are taking now. Sometimes, you have to speak to particular situations. For instance, in Negril, it's hard to grant permission for people to play loud music in particular areas. We have another problem where people are using clubs in order to stage particular events and that is another problem. We don't grant permits for those. If you are going to stage particular events at a club, then you would have to seek permission from the superintendent."

Popular Westmoreland party promoter and socialite, Ted 'Mr Universe' Brown, 32, told THE STAR of his own misfortunes of having to cancel his annual birthday bash as a result of increasing levels of crime.

"I would get it (permit), but I wouldn't get the extension time that I would want because the superintendent say him not giving out no extensions," Brown said. "I spoke with them and they say because of the hike in crime they not giving out extension and that would bring me up to 4 o'clock. If it don't go up to 4 o'clock, it wouldn't make any sense. Remember that at 1 o'clock people just a come out to party. I would have to lose [profits]. They want to get the thing under control because the hike of crime, they don't want to have the people dem out there. They want to keep the parish under a little control. When it get to 2 o'clock, they can drive around, whosoever they give the permit to, they can turn them off and by certain time they lock down and everybody can reach home. They want to better control it."

Increase in crime

Recording artiste Dennis 'Mackie Conscious' McKay told THE STAR that he too is incensed, after attempting to stage a memorial event for popular Montego Bay selector Soul Fait. McKay was unsuccessful following a decision made by the police to decline his request for a permit, presumably as a result of an increase in crime in the troubled Mount Salem area of Montego Bay, where the event was slated to take place.

"I'm fully aware that there are areas, volatile areas, where they give no permits at all like a Mount Salem," the artiste said. "For nothing at all because Soul Fait died and they wanted to have a memorial in the community he is from. That is exactly what is happening right now."

Mackie Conscious further explained that promoters are not the only ones who are beginning to feel the pinch, as the move taken by the police have affected the livelihoods of many.

"It is definitely hurting because people need some place to go in times of stress," he said. "It hurts the sound system people, it hurts the vendors, it hurts everybody who would have something to benefit from that event."