This week I intended to continue the fascinating Cherene Anderson story. As so frequently occurs however, I have opted to postpone the second instalment, in order to comment timely on some of the recent developments impacting the entertainment sector.

Since the start of this year, sound system operators, event producers and promoters have found that the police have become very strict in their enforcement of the Noise Abatement Act, especially as it relates to the nightly deadlines for the ending of events. Additionally, popular events that have been held repeatedly at the same venues have suddenly been refused permission for their staging by the police.

Whereas in the past a little flexibility has been displayed, informally at any rate, by the police, under certain conditions, allowing this timeline by which functions should be completed to slip a bit, this is currently no longer the case. But for so long the Act has been observed in its exception, that as a consequence, we have developed a cultural propensity to arrive at these events at around midnight and “bleach”. This renewed convergence between policy and law, is now playing havoc on the entertainment life of the country. To many party fans it seems that the law has suddenly become a shackle.

Many events, since the start of the year, have therefore ended up casting the organisers. Nevertheless, from the police’s perspective, there are good and valid reasons for their rigid operational strategy.

The crime rate in the country, and especially the urban areas, continue to spiral upwards — seemingly out of control. Furthermore, the deterioration of public order in our communities has long reached an unacceptable level. There is little or no regard by some of us for traditions and customs which, in the past, were the glue that held the fabric of our society together.

In no other sector, is this more apparent, than it is, in the entertainment sector. As I have said on many occasions, we have flouted the law and standards of public decency, without regard for our fellow citizens and neighbours for far too long. This fact has shifted public sentiment against us. At the same time, it has increased the pressure on the police from all sectors of the society to stem the tide, and put a lid on the escalation of infringements and infractions.

High on this list is the disdain shown to citizens and police officers when they, within their right, request of promoters and sound system selectors voluntary compliance with the Noise Abatement Act. They have had to suffer verbal and sometimes even physical abuse.

Then there is the persistent in the playing of lewd lyrics at inappropriate times and places, regardless of the immorality and public outcry against this practice.

If we are to obtain the co-operation of the police and win back the sympathy of the public, we must begin to curb these negative features of the entertainment industry. This is by no means negating the fact that in the medium to long term the country has to correct the desperate shortage of appropriate adult recreational spaces and venues. Also, the revisions of the Noise Abatement Act is long overdue.

The second issue which I wish to address is the new tactic of the tax authorities in restricting the travel of our artistes to perform abroad for non-compliance . The reputation and ability of Jamaican acts to perform overseas is already under extreme pressure in certain international markets, because of the indiscipline of a few well-known performers. This is now being further aggravated by these new measures by the Tax Compliance Authority. Have they carefully thought about the implications of their actions? When an artiste is not able to fulfil his international contractual obligations, it stigmatises that person as well as his/her management team, not only with that promoter, but the entire marketplace. In the music industry, we already have to contend with a bad rap for reliability, this just makes it worse. We all lose in the long run. Is this really in “the national interest” too, in the same category as other issues which have recently been in the headlines? One really has to ponder these things.