Night noise laws may be in effect to cut noise nuisances for citizens, yet it has become quite a nuisance for promoters and patrons alike.

Section 3 of the Noise Abate-ment Act, which came into effect in 1997, makes clear that "no person shall, on any private premises or in any public place at anytime of day or night

(a) sing, or sound or play upon any musical or noisy instrument; or

( operate, or permit or cause to be operated, any loudspeaker, microphone or any other device for the amplification of sound, in such a manner that the sound is audible beyond 100 metres from the source of such sound and is reasonably capable of causing annoyance to persons in the vicinity."

However promoters are finding it increasingly hard to work with the stipulated 2 a.m. cut-off time, especially since Jamaicans are known for waltzing into a fete no earlier than 12 a.m.

According to promoter Dennis Ennis "I have gone to Bermuda and as clock strike 3 (a.m.) sound lock off. It is something you have to instill in people. Law is there but police have to use discretion. Law makes way for discretion. It is the culture. If you want dance to lock off 2 o'clock you have to educate the people bout time. Based on the nature of event, police have to use discretion. If you know show a go lock off 2 o'clock people will come out early. Two o'clock people just a get ready fi come a show."


The party raved all night to the music of Kurt Riley, Mixmaster MC and DJ Billy at Slips, the soca party held at Students Union, University of the West Indies, last Saturday. Patrons tend to like when the party goes beyond the stipulated 2 a.m. cut-off time. - Nathaniel Stewart

Patron Simone Chambers ex-plained that the issue is two-sided as patrons need to take responsibility and obey the laws. She also argues that the rule needs to be changed for some events and venues. "It can stay at 2 a.m. for places like Mas Camp but campus events and stage shows should go on to 5:00 a.m.," she said.

At the University of the West Indies (UWI), a lock-off time of 2 a.m. is usually enforced. C.E.A.C (Cultural and Entertainment Affiars Chairperson) of the Guild, who oversees all campus events, Andre-Majhail Willams explains that 3 a.m. is the latest a party on campus is allowed.

"When it comes on to UWI, 2:30 is the usual cut off time so we try to encourage patrons to come out early. Sometimes they do but there are those who don't mind, they want to make a late appearance. On campus people live here so we have to be considerate of that," Willams stated.

To extend a party past 2 a.m. may involve an incentive for the police. Julius Morgan, a pro-moter for Rum and Roses and Rhythm and Booze explained that he hasn't paid off the police but he has heard of persons who have. Another promoter who wished to remain anonymous claims "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."

According to Ennis, the best way to deal with the situation is to change an outdated law, "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" he said.