Left: Carey Wallace, president of the Negril Chamber of Commerce. Right: Egbert Parkins File

Western Bureau:

The rigorous enforcement of the Noise Abatement Act, heavy-handed policing and the banning of several established venues are said to be crippling the entertainment industry in the resort town of Negril, resulting in massive dislocation and the loss of millions of dollars in potential revenue.

At a meeting called by Negril's 80-member strong Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the resort town last Thursday, stakeholders in entertainment, commerce and tourism blamed their plight mostly on Negril's police chief, Superintendent Egbert Parkins, who they described as "unapproachable."

"Negril earns in excess of $100 million daily from tourism and contributes $300 million to the Tourism Enhancement Fund annually," said Lenbert Williams, the chairman of the Negril and western Jamaica MSMEs. "However, because of the insensitive stance by Superintendent Parkins, the entertainment sector, which is the life *lo** of Negril, is being destroyed."

In seeking to strengthen his point, Williams pointed to a recent joint Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA)/Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) statement, declaring that occupancy was down in Negril and expressing the view that orderly entertainment could have an impact in retrieving the situation.

anxious to cooperate

"We are not advocating for the breaching of the Noise Abatement Act or any other laws," said former bank manger turned entertainment consultant Ryan Morrison. "We are anxious to cooperate but we have a police superintendent who is unapproachable.

"He basically does as he pleases without due consideration of the impact his action is having on the town itself and the people who are involved in business and entertainment."

While repeated efforts to get a comment from DSP Parkins proved futile, a senior officer in the police hierarchy in western Jamaica told The STAR that he is fully aware of the situation in Negril as many complaints have come to his desk from entertainment stakeholders in the resort town.

"I have been receiving several reports and it is something we will have to look into," said the senior lawman on condition of anonymity. "While we cannot allow unlawful activities to flourish, our action cannot be detrimental to legitimate business."

However, as pressure continues to mount on promoters and venue owners in Negril, the 20-year old MXIII Lawn, which has been home to established events such as the Reggae Marathon Victory Party, the annual Bob Marley Birthday Bash, the Crab and Sea Food Festival and annual Bunny Wailer Live showcase, did not stage any event over the recent Christmas holidays.

"All my applications were turned down by the police and all my attempts to have dialogue with them have been futile," said MXIII's CEO Clive 'Kubba' Pringle. "I feel helpless at this time as the business I have worked so hard to build over the past 20-years is being strangled by this so-called ban by the police."

significant sums

Promoters and vendors are not the only ones suffering as a result of the so-called heavy-headed crackdown as the Westmoreland Parish Council (WPC), which generally rakes in millions of dollars from the issuing of permits to stage events, has also been losing significant sums.

"Every time we stage an event in Negril, the parish gets a fee of $25,000 and Negril is a place that formerly feature a minimum of four such events per night," said Pringle.

"If the WPC is losing $100,000 each night for seven days of the week, you can work out the maths and see that millions of dollars in potential revenue is going down the drain."

Businessman Carey Wallace, the president of the Negril Chamber of Commerce, said they are very concerned about the existing situation and want to see a return to the days when stakeholders in the resort town could work with the police for the mutual benefit of all.

"Because Negril is a tourist town, in former times we used to operate like an endless weekend, so we had a general cut-off time of 2 a.m. for events right through the week," said Wallace. "We would like to see a return to those days ... naturally the music would have to be at a level that does not constitute a nuisance to those persons who want to sleep peacefully in their homes."

In addition to losing their livelihood, some promoters said while their venues have been banned, others operating in a similar manner have been allowed to operate with impunity and without regards for the law. That situation is said to be causing a rift between those who have been barred and those who are being allowed to operate.

suspicion

"I have my suspicion about what is going on and I believe it is something worth investigating," one promoter, who asked not to be identified, told the Negril meeting. "If there is a plot to wreck some businesses so that others can benefit, it is wrong and should not be allowed to continue."

The Negril MSMEs is now putting measures in place to seek the assistance of the JTB, the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of National Security to develop a plan to revive and restore their businesses.

"We will be pushing to create an entertainment zone in Negril with special designation to extend our nightly entertainment hours to 2 a.m.," said Wallace. "We believe it is something that can work."

To give greater legitimacy to their cause, the entertainment stakeholders used the meeting to create a new organisation, the Negril Entertainment Association (NEA), which they hope to use to promote and protect their interest. Morrison was installed as chairman.

"For the 50 to 60 vendors who have been benefiting from entertainment over the years, this is how they provide for their families," said Morrison. "To rob them of their livelihood is to take away their ability to provide for their families."

honest bread

Pringle, who is still bemoaning the financial beating he took over the Christmas because of the ban on his MXIII Lawn, said he wants to see the situation settled in an amicable way as he does not see confrontation as the way to go.

"We are law-abiding people who just want to make an honest bread," said Pringle. "I have seen special consideration being given to Reggae Sumfest and the Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival because of their importance to tourism ... Negril is the hub of our tourism so why can't we be treated in the same way?"

As the entertainment and tourism stakeholders continue to hope and pray that a new day will soon dawn on entertainment in Negril, some promoters said they are anxiously waiting to see how the authorities will treat this year's staging of the popular ATI and RTI series, which are both stellar attractions on the local entertainment calendar.

"Over the years, ATI and RTI have been given special treatment," one promoter noted. "All we are asking for is the chance to operate without whatever legal limitations are in place."