KSAC to be More Stringent in Issuing Licences

Mayor of Kingston, Senator Desmond McKenzie, has said that the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC), would be more stringent in issuing licences to operators of entertainment events, in relation to locations.
He emphasised that certain events should not be held in some areas and that a list of locations in certain sections of the Corporate Area, has been submitted by the police, and that these would be combined with a list created by the KSAC, to create a master list of locations, where no licences will be issued for any form of entertainment.
The Mayor was speaking at a joint press briefing with the Inland Revenue Department, at the KSAC’s Church Street offices on August 4.
“We at the KSAC have to take a firm decision on the licences that we issue, because we have to be mindful of some of the areas. We are not going to be issuing licences for certain areas. When a man goes into a residential community, block off the KSAC roads, have a pool party with four sounds and charge $3,500 and start from 10 and go right to the next morning, somebody must have some conscience,” he said.
“If promoters or persons putting on these events, if they want some form of concession, then they themselves must put something on the table also. It is just not possible for persons to be subjected to this every night,” the Mayor declared.
He pointed out that for the period June to August, more than 700 licences have been issued. “That in itself is a whole lot. I know the debate is going to get stronger, but the discussions that we have had when we met with the Commissioner of Police and the Minister of National Security, is that we are going to be monitoring these events, and we will be working closer with the police, to ensure that we get the kind of compliance that is required,” Senator McKenzie said.
He reminded that in regard to the Noise Abatement Act and the turning off of sound systems at 2:00 a.m., the KSAC issues licences for these events, but it is the police that is responsible for enforcing this provision.