Sound System Promoters: Bribes Or Vibes

Sound-system promoters are finding it hard to make a living due to Jamaicas 1997 Noise Abatement Law, which makes it illegal to produce disturbance-causing noises after the time of 2am.

Since many Jamaican party-seekers only arrive at a dance bout 2am, the promoters face three choices:

1. Lock off the system and disappoint the late-comers
2. Run the system past 2am and face the rath of the police
3. Run the system past 2am and bribe the policemen with money to look away

"You have to pay them (the police) when dem come fi lock it off. Yuh haffi fi gi dem a ting fi mek di dance gwaan. They come and ask fi money and seh dem wi lock off the dance. Sometime yuh gi dem a J$10,000." says one promotor quoted by The Star.

"The law needs to be amended. It's an old act, it needs to be amended. There are some things in the law from 1887, when the police force was established, that are still in effect from then. Development and technology improved and advanced so it needs to be amended, if not, educate the people and enforce that two is two right across the board" The Star also quotes Dennis Ennis, promoter, as saying.

Source