‘Use COVID-19 marshals to monitor parties’ - Security expert also suggests drones can help maintain protocols

Recently, Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie promised that the entertainment sector would see increased monitoring as the municipal corporations continue to receive applications for permits and grant approvals.

There have been various suggestions as to how the authorities could efficiently monitor events, especially in light of the hundreds of illegal parties that have been held since the reopening.

Senior communications strategist at the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) Dennis Brooks said the JCF's enforcement of the Disaster Risk Management Act continues in earnest.

"Throughout the pandemic we have sought to protect people from themselves," he said, adding that "at some point people will have to accept personal responsibility for how they entertain themselves during this pandemic."

For events which are held under legal parameters, Brooks explained that it would not be "desirable use of police resources for JCF members to be deployed to parties to enforce safety protocol." The implementation of COVID-19 marshals could be a way forward but that "promoters may need to invest in making that a reality."

Security expert Robert Finzi-Smith suggested that the implementation of COVID-19 marshals or amendment of security protocols can be made easily.

"We currently do that at the Jamaica Karting Association and we were the first motorsports organisation to be sanctioned to start (so) it is part of our protocols. There are marshals that handle compliance with protocols and we do it in association with the Ministry of Health, which sends representatives to assist," he told THE STAR. As part of their protocols, the event announcer reminds spectators of social distancing, where it applies, and the wearing of the masks. While situating marshals at illegal parties is not practical, it is not hard for those who have received approval, Finzi-Smith explained.

"Part of Jamaica's problem is we search for complex solutions to simple problems. The same way events would have bouncers and security personnel doing checks around an event, the roles could be expanded to be COVID-19 marshals with the very same amount of expenditure," he said.

Finzi-Smith further explained "In the past, when I was at UTech, there was a decibel meter that could monitor sound. Something like that can be used to keep track of events playing music. There is also the option of flying drones which can use GPS and log the location of illegal events. At the end of the day we need to adhere to what the requirements are if we are going to successfully launch the full reopening of the sector."