Prime Minister Dr Holness to Entertainment Promoters: “We’re Not Against Parties, We Just Want to Keep You Safe”
Prime Minister of Jamaica, the Most Honourable Andrew Holness, has made a direct appeal to entertainment promoters and community members, assuring them that the Government is not against parties or events being held. Rather, he emphasized that the Government is calling for greater understanding and collaboration between promoters and the police to ensure entertainment spaces in communities across Jamaica are made genuinely safe.
During an Area 3 police update, covering Clarendon, Manchester, and St. Elizabeth, Prime Minister Dr Holness addressed concerns from residents about restrictions placed on parties due to police curfews and other enforcement measures. These concerns have been especially prominent as the country enters the summer entertainment season.
“As I’ve been moving around, one of the issues that keep coming up is the security forces allowing parties to go on… And I keep saying to the promoters that there is no institutional bias against keeping the events.”
He explained that the real challenge lies in the fact that some of the most serious crimes are occurring in entertainment settings.
“The challenge that we are facing is that much of the crime and many of the murders are being committed or taking place within the entertainment space, whether it is a party, street dance, a bar or at a “nine night,” he pointed out.
The Prime Minister said that addressing the issue requires honest dialogue and meaningful collaboration between the entertainment community and law enforcement.
“There has to be some kind of understanding between the promoters and the police as to how we’re going to work together to make local entertainment spaces safer,” he explained.
Prime Minister Dr Holness warned that without this cooperation, the country risks losing the hard-won gains made in reducing crime, gains that directly benefit communities and businesses alike.
“It makes no sense to reopen events only to see all the progress we’ve made wiped out overnight, and that would ultimately hurt the very businesses we’re trying to support,” he continued.
Underscoring the Government’s recognition of entertainment as a vital part of Jamaican life and the economy, the Prime Minister sought to dispel the misconception that authorities are trying to shut down events.
“I want the people who are in the entertainment space, who are the promoters and who keep the party, to understand that the Government is not against the parties,” he clarified.
Instead, he called for a new framework of shared responsibility, where safety is seen as a priority and a prerequisite for the growth of the entertainment sector.
“What we want is to develop a partnership and understanding where entertainment is seen as a safe space.”
To begin this process, the Prime Minister proposed a formal meeting with stakeholders in the region.
“I think it may be necessary to bring in all the party promoters and the relevant stakeholders and let us have a conversation about how we’re going to make entertainment the genuine safe place that it ought to be.”
He closed by commending the Area 3 police for their outstanding performance in reducing murders by 56% compared to the same time last year and encouraged all stakeholders to build on this momentum by working together to make Jamaica’s entertainment spaces safe, vibrant, and community-friendly.