DESPITE the recession, Jamaica held a record 17,613 registered entertainment events in 2009 or 12 per cent more than 2008, according to just-released data from the Planning Institute of Jamaica.

It meant that there was about 48 registered entertainment events a day in 2009 or five more per day than 2008. The figures represent amusement licences and permits issued by parish councils to promoters holding mostly sessions but also sports events, weddings and so on. It does not include the many illegally held events.

Nine parish councils issued more permits in 2009 over 2008 including Kingston and St Andrew up 4.4 per cent to 4,499, Clarendon up 14.7 per cent to 1,734; St James up 31 per cent to 1,036; St Elizabeth up 14.5 per cent to 1,606; Westmoreland up 83 per cent to 1,310; St Thomas up 59 per cent to 1,139; Manchester up 16 per cent to 1,260; Hanover up 17 per cent to 337; and Portmore up 72 per cent to 900.

Four parishes recorded declines including St Catherine down 18 per cent to 1,706, Portland down 42 per cent to 249, St Mary down 12 per cent to 472 and St Ann down by two permits to 655. Trelawny was the only parish which held firm year on year at 710 permits.

The number of permits granted in 2009 has nearly doubled since 2007 when 8,936 permits were issued due to the enforcement of the Noise Abatement Act by the police and the parish councils. Under the act, promoters must register and apply for permits to legally hold events. Also parties must end by 12 midnight on weekdays and 2 am on weekends.

“The police has been very vigilant in the parish to get people to comply,” stated the secretary manager at the St Thomas parish council who chose anonymity for media mistrust. “Basically, the police has been working with the parish council.”

The manager added that the most popular events in the parish are ’round robin’ sessions where promoters form groups and hold alternating sessions that require members to spend equal amounts at each event — similar to a partner draw.

The data published Monday in Economic and Social Survey Jamaica 2009 also quantified the relationship between entertainment and the state as parish councils earned $61 million in revenue or 23 per cent more than in 2008 from these permit fees. However, three parishes earned less from issuing permits year on year including St Mary, St Catherine and Clarendon. The parishes with the largest revenue increase was Westmoreland up $3.5 million to $8 million, Kingston and St Andrew up $2.2 million to $17.1 million and St Elizabeth up $1.8 million to $6.6 million.

Increased compliance resulted in a 100 per cent jump in fees collected between 2007 and 2009 from $28.6 million to $61 million respectively with Westmoreland benefiting the greatest from $2 million in 2007 to $8 million in 2009.

Some have criticised the selective enforcement of the act whilst granting extensions beyond 2:00 am to select events. Just this month, Sylvie Grizzle, director emeritus of the Negril Chamber of Commerce in a letter to the Observer, was upset about the extensions given to the annual March parties in Negril.

“We would like to point out that such extensions make a mockery of the law, prevent any enforcement of the 1997 law, and render the police helpless. Really now, why are some shows extended and others are not,” Grizzle said, adding that Negril had “sunk into a daily, loathsome hell of noise”.

Dub poet/philosopher Mutabaruka, shocked by the rise in number of registered entertainment events, last year requested that a study be conducted on its effect on society.

“Jamaican people a dance, dance and dance. That is not a good sign, if a country a dance so much, something wrong, Rasta,” Mutabaruka had said.

Parish councils charge between $2,500 to $15,000 to hold these events. The fee depends on the size of the venue and expected patronage. Separate fees are charged for advertising from $1,500 to $30,000 for billboards.

Permits granted in 2009 include:

* Kingston and St Andrew at 4,499;

* Clarendon at 1,734;

* St Catherine at 1,706;

* St Elizabeth at 1,606;

* Westmoreland at 1,310;

* Manchester at 1,260;

* St Thomas at 1,139;

* St James at 1,036;

* Portmore at 900;

* Trelawny at 710;

* St Ann at 655;

* St Mary at 472;

* Hanover at 337; and

* Portland at 249.