Of hypocrisy and the Noise Abatement Act
March 22, 2009
The seemingly selective application of the Noise Abatement Act, which sees some promoters facing rigorous enforcement while others are allowed to operate with impunity, is becoming a source of increasing concern in the entertainment industry.
Three weeks ago, Negril-based promoter Clive 'Cubba' Pringle, who is also chairman of the Negril Entertainment Committee, was hauled before the Savanna-la-Mar Resident's Magistrate Court and fined $50,000 because the Bob Marley Birthday Bash, which he staged at MXIII Lawn, contravened the Noise Abatement Act as it went beyond the legal 2 a.m. cut-off time.
Chose to breach law
When the police arrived at the venue at 2 a.m., reggae legend Bunny Wailer was onstage as the patrons, especially the large number of tourists, were having a fine time. Faced with the choice between complying with the police's "stop the show right now" and breaching the law, Pringle chose the latter.
"I just could not see myself stopping the show and turning out the visitors who had travelled from all over the world to come here for their vacation," said Pringle. "I really didn't like the idea of disobeying the police, but I felt I had no choice because of the situation."
To make a mockery of Pringle's situation at MXIII Lawn, on March 14, Negril played host to the annual Miami/New York Link Up Crew's 'Spring Break 2009' at Long Bay Beach Park. Despite being located on the hotel belt and having several policemen, including some who were providing security on location, the show went unimpeded until 5:30 a.m.
"Although they tried to stop my show and then allowed this one to continue uninterrupted, I can't say I am unhappy," said Pringle. "In fact, I am happy for this promoter and I hope that, come next year, the authorities will show me the same kind of love."
Serious inconsistency
However, for top promoter Worrell King of Western Consciousness, who was strongly reprimanded and fined $60,000 in the Savanna-la-Mar RM Court when he breached the Noise Abatement Act six years ago, the whole situation smacks of serious inconsistency, if not hypocrisy.
"The law is the law and it is wrong to treat one promoter differently from another," said King. "If the cut-off time is 2 a.m. for one promoter, it should be the same for all promoters … the law cannot be biased against some people … that is hypocrisy."...
Author: Adrian Frater
Source: Jamaica Gleaner
