Former Dancehall Queen Carlene Smith, says the promoters of parties and sound system selectors, ought to abide by the law and end their events within the time limit prescribed by the law until the Noise Abatement is amended.
She was speaking on a discussion program on the Noise Abatement Act on the popular Jamaican entertainment television program Onstage, with host Winford Williams, which was aired on Saturday night.
Selectors Boom Boom and Ricky Trooper were also part of the program which came against the background of heightening complaints by music selectors and party promoters about the increasing early shut-down of events by members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) in recent times, particularly in inner-city areas.
“We should abide by the time. I know I heard a view from Boom Boom that there are several parties keeping, so for that it needs to go longer. I am a lover of Dancehall… my opinion is six to 12 (midnight) during the week, based on (the fact that) it’s unfair,” Carlene, a former girlfriend of Dancehall superstar Beenieman, said.
“There are children to go to school also in the inner-city; there are people to go to work also in the inner-city…There are teachers, doctors, nurses there too,” she argued.
Carlene also said persons who work 9 to 5 are also at risk of losing their jobs by virtue of them falling asleep on the job, due to sleep deprivation.
The Excelsior High School old girl said the staging of events every single night of the week within the inner-city, would have a grave impact on school children and college students who may be preparing for examinations and assignments. She said these students, just like their Uptown counterparts, should be afforded the opportunity to be well-rested in order to perform at their academic best.
She also said patrons needed to be more disciplined and conform to the set times, and referenced instances where she visited party venues, and people showed up way after the party ought to have ended.
“I came to Boasy Tuesdays; we go there at 2:30 am nobody was there; I had to come back at 4 o’clock. Come on. I got there at 4 o’clock, and it was in full swing… most of these events don’t start till 2 o’clock. That’s a fact,” she pointed out.
“My view is why can’t it keep at 6 to 12? I’m asking the question, what do we do then, because the law is 6 to 12 during the week. Is it that we don’t have the party because we can’t comply with 6 to 12?” she said.
