Stakeholders Supporting Move to Establish Entertainment Zones

Minister of State in the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment, Hon. Damion Crawford, said the proposal for the establishment of entertainment zones across the island has been gaining traction among the players in the sector.

In an interview with JIS News, Mr. Crawford said meetings have been convened with representatives of a number of state agencies during which the issue was discussed and plans generated for future implementation.

“Just last week, we had a meeting with the parish councils, the police, the Urban Development Corporation, (UDC) and the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA). The police will be reporting to me within two weeks on issues relating to security for downtown Kingston and the venues that will be used there. NEPA has already gotten back to us as it relates to some of the things by the Palisados areas…turtle nesting and other things. We are all on the same page,” Mr. Crawford said.

He said that he will continue to meet with and have discussions with the relevant agencies with a view to getting the zones fully established.

“In short order we will be having zones and that will be coupled with the parish extension committees. Jamaica is an entertainment country. One of the biggest complaints is the inability to find entertainment,” he said, noting that this will be addressed in a meaningful way once the entertainment zones are clearly established.

The move to establish entertainment zones is to allow for the staging of events under limited restrictions in terms of lock-off time and to prevent breaches of the night noise act.

Mr. Crawford has announced that an entertainers’ registry will be established to ensure that all promoters and entertainers are duly registered and recognised by the Government and the industry.