With increasing complaints from residents of New Kingston, St Andrew about noise pollution, Councillor Kari Douglas (Jamaica Labour Party, Trafalgar Division), is calling for a temporary suspension of the issuing of amusement licences and entertainment permits in the area.

Douglas told the Jamaica Observer that she is concerned about the noise nuisance that affects residents of Belmont Road, Worthington Avenue and Terrace, Haining Road and Altamont Crescent.

“Belmont Road alone has about three of the venues and Haining Road has two. There was a plan put in place in partnership with the JCF (Jamaica Constabulary Force) to enforce, and enforcement takes place in two ways. On one hand the JCF patrols the area and has promoters turn down the music to an acceptable volume, which sometimes is still not acceptable for the residents.

“On the other hand they enforce by turning off the events by a certain time because once the venue or promoter does not have an entertainment permit or an amusement licence it means they are really not operating legally in terms of hosting the event, so the JCF can turn it off. If they have a permit or a licence the event can go up until 2:00 am.

“What I have done recently is to ask the Mayor [of Kingston Delroy Williams] not to approve any amusement licences and entertainment permits for that zone. So far the troubled spots, including some of the actual restaurants and lounges, have not been granted amusement licences,” added Douglas.

She pointed out that the problem is not limited to New Kingston but other sections of her division, but also affects residents of Hope Road and communities surrounding Mas Camp, which is located just outside the National Stadium.

“It seems as if residents from Trafalgar Park and sections of the Golden Triangle are now suffering from noise emanating from the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre, which recently has become a hot spot for events. Also, there is the car park at the front of the National Stadium. During the [novel coronavirus] pandemic all these places were closed and events weren’t being held so the residents had some peace. Now that the restrictions have been lifted and people are hosting events again, it is really causing a problem.

“What I normally do is pass the information on to the necessary members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force when complaints are made and they enforce, but it is not sustainable because sometimes they turn it right back up when the police turn it down. We are going to propose that they have a police post in these areas that is there when these events are being hosted or if we are going to allow them to host them.

Douglas added: “I think we have to really take a serious look at pursuing the type of development and infrastructure where we believe these events should take place which is really in indoor spaces and clubs. People need to start thinking medium to long term and start establishing themselves and infrastructure to facilitate that. If not, it isn’t sustainable and I personally am not giving my support to it. It is too much.

“How do we have two roads adjoining each other where there are about six or more gated communities with more than 200 residents and we are going to allow four or five party venues to affect their standard of living? I don’t agree with that at all.”