The Noise Abatement Act of 1997 was not upheld last Friday at the Vybz Rum Mix Up Party staged at Weekenz, Constant Spring Road, despite the presence of several police officers. There was also the case of gunshots being fired by the officers in a bid to quell boisterous patrons who wanted to enter the venue without paying.

When mediazone team arrived at the venue at 11:30 p.m. it was like a ghost town. When we revisited at 1:30 a.m. there w as a handful of patrons rocking to the music being played by members of the Realistic Sound System.

The presence of a number of patrons sporting 'dark glasses' in the night not only told the tale of their folly, but also that of where the party was heading. At 2:30 a.m. selectors from the Hard Rock crew were outlining that: "The party early same way." Soon after they received the first forward of the night when they played a song from Vybz Kartel's catalogue. An officer complaining that the unrest at the gate should discontinue or else the partying would be stopped, soon interrupted the proceeding. The police again disrupted the partying once more to reiterate their statement.