Show us the evidence - Entertainers say police claims of babies being carried to dances is untrue

Entertainers in the dancehall sphere said they are flabbergasted by claims made by Deputy Commissioner of Police Clifford Blake last week in Hanover.

Blake claimed that when the police patrol major dance events at 3 or 4 a.m., they see close to 40 children some of whom are in strollers and proms.

However, party promoter Ricky Trooper said this is not true.

"Mi never see that yet and a bare country mi play. If him a go seh something like that, him need fi bring proof because now we in a age of technology. Him fi do video mek wi see. Mi nah seh him nuh see it, enuh, but which woman a go carry dem baby go dance and park up the stroller like car? People nuh carry baby inna night due, enuh, especially inna country," he said.

He told THE STAR that in the event that these claims are true, mothers should be held responsible and be given the full force of the law.

"If he comes with proof, then we should naturally reprimand those mothers," he said.

Entertainer Pamputtae agrees and said women should be more responsible and take better care of their children.

However, she does not believe the claims made by the senior lawman either. Rather, she thinks it is another way to tarnish the image of dancehall.

A negative picture

"If you can't find a babysitter, stay home wid you pickney. To how me see it dem a try everything right now fi lock off dance and make dancehall bear a bad name," she said.

"Anything fi paint a negative picture pan dancehall is weh dem deh wid the thing. They are grasping at straws. They blame crime on dancehall, they say dancehall mek moral standard drop, and now him come with this," Trooper said.

Children's advocate Diahann Gordon Harrison said that if these claims are true, a deeper investigation needs to be done to figure out whether the parents are fit for taking care of these children.

She told THE STAR that party promoters and persons manning the gate of the event should hold some responsibility for this senseless act as well.

"There needs to be a deeper investigation into the entire living conditions and supervision that the children have at home. It goes without saying, a baby in arms should not be at a session," she said.

"Organisers need a check, balance, and control at the gate that they are looking out for as to say, you are here with a child, you can't come in. And if we get back to standards and principles and what is appropriate from all players in security, we will start attacking the problem from all sides," she said.