Member of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) debating team, Matthew Samuda has declared that a new JLP-led government would ensure that all urban planning for the country’s town centres will contemplate the establishment of entertainment zones.

Samuda was responding to a question based on what strategy the party would implement to balance the hosting of large-scale entertainment events and the disruptions they cause to motorists and citizens.

“It’s no secret that urban planning was lacking for the last 50 years. It’s no secret that the heartbeat of Jamaica has been its cultural and entertainment industries. It’s no secret that under the leadership of Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange, Jamaica has grown from strength to strength in harnessing the power of these awesome industries,” Samuda explained.

“In the next term of government, the JLP will ensure that all urban planning for our town centres contemplates and plans for entertainment zones. We have also moved rapidly to ensure we have reserved space for 24-hour event zones, but that is but one part of the parcel,” he added.

The next component, said the Cabinet Minister, is how the human capital is encouraged, pointing to the JLP establishing a pension scheme for the island’s entertainers.

Meanwhile, Crawford, in his response to Samuda’s answer, said the PNP has been “central to the development of entertainment” in the country.

According to Crawford, the idea for the entertainment zones originated from the parliamentary Opposition.

“What is crazy is that the Jamaica Labour Party believes that the solution is in one single venue and one single venue cannot solve a problem that exists throughout the entire country,” he asserted.

“We (the PNP) will ensure appropriate (entertainment) zones and community zones,” he added.