Dear Editor,
As one reflects on the holiday period just passed it is with some level of disappointment for a lot of young entrepreneurs, mainly those who contribute heavily to the entertainment sector in Jamaica and more so the parish of St Thomas. Many of our young men and women would’ve spent the better part of three months planning and promoting their events for the Christmas season only to be told by authorities two days before Christmas Day that all event permits would either be cancelled or rejected.
While I’m cognisant of the fact that the killing of the two police officers at Poorman’s Corner on Tuesday, December 22, 2015, and the subsequent manhunt launched by the armed forces to apprehended the suspects in the shooting, could not a better solution than the wanton cancellation of permits be done?
I am by no means disregarding the lives of these two police officers, nor am I downplaying the impact such an incident had on the community, but as a fellow young entrepreneur I ask the question: couldn’t the police have provided additional security at these events?
This highlights the need for fast-tracking legislation speaking to the establishment of entertainment zones, which would be secured and can provide the necessary event management for the benefit of security personnel, investors and promoters.
A number of events, some staples to the parish, were cancelled or downsized, one such event was the annual street dance ‘Unda Di Light’, an event which has been held in the community of Albion for the past 27 years. This event is an annual donor to the Grant’s Pen Primary and Infant School with proceeds going toward school projects each year. And there are others from which many communities and individuals benefit each year and the cancellations have left an already poverty- stricken parish in a bad economic state heading into the new year.
Promoters and patrons both local and abroad would’ve saved up to come home to host and attend these events which would’ve seen an influx of currency and transactions in the parish. The jerk chicken, soup vendors, Wrigley’s, peanuts vendors also venue owners, sound system owners and selectors would’ve made good money to send their children back to school in January.
We, as entrepreneurs, are calling on the Government and the security forces to, in the future, have a more consultative approach and let us work out better solutions in an effort to ensure that the people who have worked so hard to make a living do so, especially during the holidays.
M Maurice Clarke
marvinclarke2014@hotmail.com
As one reflects on the holiday period just passed it is with some level of disappointment for a lot of young entrepreneurs, mainly those who contribute heavily to the entertainment sector in Jamaica and more so the parish of St Thomas. Many of our young men and women would’ve spent the better part of three months planning and promoting their events for the Christmas season only to be told by authorities two days before Christmas Day that all event permits would either be cancelled or rejected.
While I’m cognisant of the fact that the killing of the two police officers at Poorman’s Corner on Tuesday, December 22, 2015, and the subsequent manhunt launched by the armed forces to apprehended the suspects in the shooting, could not a better solution than the wanton cancellation of permits be done?
I am by no means disregarding the lives of these two police officers, nor am I downplaying the impact such an incident had on the community, but as a fellow young entrepreneur I ask the question: couldn’t the police have provided additional security at these events?
This highlights the need for fast-tracking legislation speaking to the establishment of entertainment zones, which would be secured and can provide the necessary event management for the benefit of security personnel, investors and promoters.
A number of events, some staples to the parish, were cancelled or downsized, one such event was the annual street dance ‘Unda Di Light’, an event which has been held in the community of Albion for the past 27 years. This event is an annual donor to the Grant’s Pen Primary and Infant School with proceeds going toward school projects each year. And there are others from which many communities and individuals benefit each year and the cancellations have left an already poverty- stricken parish in a bad economic state heading into the new year.
Promoters and patrons both local and abroad would’ve saved up to come home to host and attend these events which would’ve seen an influx of currency and transactions in the parish. The jerk chicken, soup vendors, Wrigley’s, peanuts vendors also venue owners, sound system owners and selectors would’ve made good money to send their children back to school in January.
We, as entrepreneurs, are calling on the Government and the security forces to, in the future, have a more consultative approach and let us work out better solutions in an effort to ensure that the people who have worked so hard to make a living do so, especially during the holidays.
M Maurice Clarke
marvinclarke2014@hotmail.com