MANCHESTER, Jamaica – Mayor of Mandeville Donovan Mitchell has doubled down on the revocation of an entertainment permit for an event on Main Street in the south-central town even as the promoter is adamant that the party will take place.

Mitchell told Observer Online on Wednesday that the Manchester Municipal Corporation cancelled the permit due to the Main Street location’s proximity to health care facilities.

“It is in close proximity to the hospitals. Two, it is the main road leading into the centre of the town and it is Grand Market night when we have extra traffic coming into the town and it is too close to a [nursing] home across the road. I have to be cognisant of the people who we serve,” he said.

Adion Peart, more popularly known as ‘Diamond Finger’, the promoter of Color Splash, said on Tuesday that he was made aware of the permit being cancelled by way of a platform address by Mitchell on Monday night at a Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Cecil Charlton Park.

Peart earlier this year, switched allegiance to the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) from the People’s National Party (PNP). The Manchester Municipal Corporation is controlled by the PNP.

“The Manchester Municipal Corporation did approve or did collect for the event Color Splash on Main Street. Having reviewed the permission a decision has been taken to cancel that permit and so I want to say to the public… that the event will not be kept there nor within the precincts of the town. The producer has to find a space outside the precincts of the town where it can hold the necessary crowd that generally comes with that event,” Mitchell said.

However, Peart is questioning the mayor’s announcement as the Main Street venue is the second area that he has proposed for the event.

“Outside the precincts of the town would be looking at residential areas. This is a commercial space and I think such an event for the Christmas and the public is the best location, it is downtown,” he said while pointing out that the property is just under two acres which he plans to sectionalise to include parking for 100 vehicles.

READ: Businessman accuses Manchester municipal leadership of sabotage in revoking event permit

When asked to define the boundaries of the town’s precincts, Mitchell said it encompasses the main roads leading into the parish capital.

“It is all along Caledonia Road on the left hand side coming into Mandeville and going to Perth Road and coming around to deCarteret Road. You can’t have anything of that sort in there, because there is no place to hold it,” said Mitchell.

“Where in the town can you have an event like that and it is Grand Market night?” he asked.

When asked about Peart’s claim of being politically sabotaged by the leadership of the municipal corporation, the mayor pointed out that Peart’s older brother is a sitting councillor.

“His brother is a member on the PNP side in the council and decisions in the council is not a one man decision, it is a collective decision… I am saying that the decision taken by the council is [by] a collective group of people,” said Mitchell.

“He can keep his event. All we are saying is it cannot be kept where it is proposed or the areas as I laid it out. If he finds a location that can hold his patrons that is not going to be affecting residents and the police, the fire department are in agreement then we have no problem,” added Mitchell.

When asked about the proposed plan of an entertainment zone for Mandeville, Mitchell said it has not been finalised.

“It is time, but we have not signed off on it. There was a time when we had looked at Kirkvine as the area for it. Most of the places around town are in close proximity to residential areas,” he said.

–        Kasey Williams