Westmoreland Police Chief Says Artists’ Lyrics Among Factors Considered Before Granting Or Denying Event Permits

Commanding Officer of the Westmoreland Police Division, Senior Superintendent Wayne Josephs, says the lyrical content of artists and the character of the promoters booking them, are among the key factors that determine whether event applications are approved or denied in that parish.

Speaking at the Negril Entertainment Conference on Saturday, the SSP said that the locations of events, their proximity to other places considered silent zones, and parking were among the things considered, and that persons of questionable character or those who are under police investigation would be denied permits.

“We look at the type of events.  Is it a stage show?  Who are the artistes?  Because we know some artistes draw certain kind of crowd with the type of lyrics,” the Senior Superintendent said, noting that the Disc Jockey at the controls and the “type of rhetoric” they spew was also a factor.

“We also look at who is the organizer, because if the organizer is of questionable character… if you are a lottery scammer; if we know that you are involved in lottery scamming and you are applying for an event, we are nit giving you permits for events.  That is why we have to do our investigations.  That is why we ask that you apply for your permit at least 10 days before the event… We are not going to allow any event, if we know you are involved in criminal activity,” he added.

The decision of the Constabulary appears to be in light of the fact that 140 people were murdered in Westmoreland last year, a highly worrying figure.  Westmoreland has recorded 12 murders and 15 shootings since the beginning of the year to February 20.

Earlier this month, thieves broke into a service station in Darliston, Westmoreland, in the wee hours of the morning where they removed an Automated Teller Machine and took off with more than $8 million a quantity of cigarettes and assorted liquor, hours after the ATM was replenished, the Jamaica Gleaner reported.

In September 2019, Montego Bay-based promoters and lawyers had complained to National Security Minister Dr. Horace Chang, during a meeting to discuss the impending amendment of the Noise Abatement Act, that the police high command in Montego Bay had been “unlawfully” targeting Squash, Tommy Lee Sparta and others, by barring them from performing in the four parishes in Western “Jamaica.

One promoter had told the Minister during the meeting that he had to remove Tommy Lee from his event while Montego Bay Jerk Fest had to remove both Squash and Shane E, and that Squash did not get to perform at Reggae Sumfest.

He said was not informed that the artiste was not approved until two weeks before the event, and described the situation as resulting in a “loss of income” which could be even viewed as “false advertising” by the public.

One attorney had also told the Minister that she was representing a “group of young men from St James who have had a particular difficulty performing in the region”, as promoters had complained that the police had informed them, that if her clients were billed for any shows in Western Jamaica, their permit application would be denied.

She had also said she had indicated to the Commanding Officer that “if he has any questions as it relates to the content of their music, that it can be modified”, but that the Superintendent had instead said the saying artistes “are not to be seen in these four parishes”.

The attorney had also said that the artists had legitimate business in the region, but that if their fans wanted to see them they had to travel to Kingston, as the artists “are legitimately concerned that they will be victimized, oppressed and taken into custody.”

Dr. Chang, in his response, had said that he was of the view that law enforcement discretion ought not to have been part of the framework of the Noise Abatement Act as it tended to create “some form of unnecessary pressure, and has the tendency to lead to issues such as favouritism and corruption”.

Additionally, he argued that if artists were on the police’s wanted list, then it ought to be made public, as “we are one jurisdiction on the island from Negril to Morant Point, so if he is wanted by the police in Montego Bay, he is also wanted in Kingston”.

Conversely, Dr. Chang said while the police might have concerns about artists spouting lyrics that incite violence onstage, such cases would not warrant a ban, but a warning.

“You cannot stop an event because somebody is on the programme that you don’t want on it.  If they have a case, that is far different than just labelling somebody. The law does not allow any adjustment in the Executive of Government or the police officer to brand somebody as a criminal, without having a case and to stop them from doing their business. If they have a case, then the police should contact the lawyer and ask them to bring the person in for an interview…,” the Minister had said.

“If a person has a charge, that’s a different ball game. To tell a person because he is a convict, he can’t perform, we don’t have that in law,” he added.