Not enough time - Promoters want shorter processing period for event permits

As the phased reopening of the entertainment industry came into effect yesterday, sector stakeholders are hoping the various municipal corporations will expedite the process to obtaining permits.

As it stands, an application to secure a permit must be submitted at least 10 clear days before the event. But given that the first stage of the reopening expires on July 31, promoters are calling on the authorities to make adjustments to accommodate persons wishing to host their events within the next week.

"Persons wishing to have events during that time period knew they had to send in applications as soon as the Government made the announcement, but based on all the requirements that you would have to meet, a lot of persons couldn't start that process right away," said sound system operator Tallman. "The time to get all the documents ready in order to submit the application would have been too short. We know that before an application is approved, it takes quite a few days to be processed. They can cut that to at least five with everything going on. Everybody is willing to work with the Government in regard to the guidelines they have set out that we must follow in order to host these events, but we need a little ease up where the wait period for permits is concerned."

'Show you care'

Ian 'Container Boss' Miles, who hosts events such as Container Hotspot Sundays and Girls' Night Out, said the Government has to do its part to show how much it really cares about entertainment.

"I think they can cut it (processing period) down to even three days, and then vet you quickly and make you know from day one if you a go get the go-ahead or not. Yuh nuh wah people a plan and den boom, dem nuh get no permit," he said. "A lot of persons depend on these little round robins and street dances for their daily bread, and dem did more than excited when dem hear say we would get the go-ahead. I know for a fact many were looking forward to it and to get a glimmer of hope, only to get let down a go hard."

But an expedited process may just be wishful thinking. In an interview with THE STAR, Senior Superintendent (SSP) Stephanie Lindsay, head of the police's Corporate Communications Unit, explained that to the best of her knowledge, the minimum 10-day processing period for permits remains intact.

"You have to apply within the confines of the law in order to qualify for the permit, which includes applying within the time frame that the law requires, and that is 10 days.

It was announced a week or two ago that there would be some consideration come the 21st, so from that time when the announcement was made, it was sufficient time to apply if they had a date in mind. Because the period runs from the 21st to the 31st does not mean that's when you should apply, you could have applied before," she said. "The application would then have to meet all the requirements of the Disaster Risk Management Act, in addition to the regular provisions under the Noise Abatement Act, in order to be approved."

Lindsay said that she is aware that persons will go ahead with their events, with or without a permit. But she advised that if caught, these persons will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

"This is about more than getting a permit to host events, because it's not everyone who applies that will get approval. What is most important is the safety of citizens. That is our number one priority. We want to prevent a spread of COVID-19, hence the additional guidelines in terms of social distancing. All we're doing, we're doing to prevent an outbreak," she said.