Former footballer Campbell charged for COVID breach

Former Jamaica footballer Kenneth 'Bop' Campbell will face the courts on Thursday, January 7 for breaching the Disaster Risk Management Act, after he was arrested and charged with playing music at a party in Olympic Gardens on December 16.

The former coach, who is also very popular in the music sector, admitted his guilt. However, he argued that his current financial predicament brought on by the coronavirus pandemic forced him to take the risk. He has also called on Sports and Entertainment Minister Olivia Grange to give them some assistance as members of the fraternities who are desperately in need of earning.

"I was prosecuted on the 16th of December for playing music. Thursday I will be going to Half-Way Tree court. I am guilty because they (authorities) are not giving out any permits and I was playing, so it is illegal," he admitted.

NO CHOICE

However, he said the nearly complete lockdown of the local sport and entertainment industries due to the global health crisis has severely affected his livelihood and he has no alternative but to take whatever little gig comes along.

Nevertheless, he believes Government can ease restrictions somewhat to allow those that rely on the industries to get some earnings.

"I am 70 years old and it is the first time I am ever being threatened with going to jail. I use to coach football but I don't do that anymore. So it's only music I play now and I have responsibilities. So for those of us that rely on music, what are we to do when there is nothing happening and we have bills to pay? So they have to work out something for us because the people that I owe, I cannot tell them about COVID.

"So we are asking the authorities to take a look at it and allow us to work within the curfew time, as long as there is proper social distancing and people have their masks on and things are done in the right way," he reasoned.

Campbell, owner and DJ of the Alonzo Hawk sound system, had some equipment seized at the party. "I wasn't playing but I had hook up my console on the set. I played my hour and the youths (other DJs) were playing their hour. I was actually eating when they (police) came. They confiscated the equipment and I must face the courts before I can have them returned," he disclosed.

"But I am asking Ms 'Babsy' Grange if a little allotment can be made available for the people that actually depend on sports and entertainment for their living. But most of all if they can't give us (entertainers) until the curfew time, with restrictions of course," he added.