Kingston mayor says Noise Abatement Act ‘can’t work’
ADMITTING that the Noise Abatement Act, as currently structured, “can’t work”, Kingston Mayor Senator Delroy Williams has said it must be amended to be more supportive of the island’s creative industry.
Williams, who had earlier told the monthly Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation council meeting that cities across the globe are promoting reggae music, was speaking to the Jamaica Observer last week Tuesday.
The mayor of Kingston said a proper mapping and evaluation of entertainment venues in the city is needed.
“As a major stakeholder, we must organise and play a role in helping to develop a structure for our music and entertainment,” he said.
Questioned about Corporate Area party promoters’ complaints that police officers have been forcibly ending their events at midnight during the week and at 2:00 am on weekends, Williams said the Ministry of National Security is looking at introducing regulations that would offer a better structure for the licensing of venues.
However, while the new regulations are being contemplated, the mayor said before granting a promotional licence for an entertainment event, the KSAMC is now looking at the proximity of the event to a residential area, the decibel levels of the sound system, traffic flow, public health, security, and safety.
“Each venue has to be evaluated on its own merit, as different venues will have different attributes,” Williams said.
At the opening of the 2019/20 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on April 16, Minister of National Security Dr Horace Chang said consultations with key stakeholders from his ministry and the ministries of entertainment and local government would begin in regard to the amendment to the Noise Abatement Act and the hosting of entertainment activities.
The Kingston mayor said last week Tuesday that the municipal corporation would have a voice in the amendment of the Noise Abatement Act, which was passed on March 26, 1997.