Attorney wants entertainment zones in every parish

Attorney-at-law Bert Samuels says Jamaica will need an entertainment zone in every parish to give back what is rightfully due to reggae music and its artistes.

"Entertainers should not be begging the Government to 'free up' reggae music," said Samuels. "Because reggae music is such a huge part of Brand Jamaica [and] we have marginalised our entertainers whilst at the same time taking the gains from the international popularity of reggae music - the people's music," the renowned attorney told THE STAR.

"So in my view, there should be an [entertainment] space in every parish and this is due to the artistes; it's not something that they [the Government] should see as a gift, because their gift is to Jamaica through entertainment," he added.

Samuels made these comments in regards to Finance Minister Dr Nigel Clarke's Budget Debate speech on Tuesday, on the implementation of 24-hour entertainment zones in Kingston and St Catherine, where "reggae music will [be played] 24-hours" weekly. Clarke directly acknowledged reggae artiste Protoje, who made the music request recently, after his Lost In time Festival ended abruptly. Last December, police pulled the plug on Popcaan's Unruly Fest event. The deejay was also slapped with five charges, including a breach of the Noise Abatement Act.

"As the attorney for Popcaan and bearing in mind the unfortunate dragging of this artiste before the court, for breaches of the Noise Abatement Act, I'm heartened by the intervention of the Government to create two spaces where there can be 24-hour reggae music entertainment. However, because of Popcaan's passion and commitment for his own parish - St Thomas, I think there should be one [entertainment] space per parish so that artistes can go back to their place of birth [to host events]," Samuels suggested.

While reflecting on the 'discrimination' reggae has been facing from the past, Samuels said the hypocrisy faced by Jamaica's biggest reggae icon - Bob Marley, was far more 'stomach wrenching', but today, he is highlighted worldwide for putting Jamaica on the map through his musical contributions.

However, he believes it's now time for the relevant authorities to set aside funds garnered from tourism, through music, to build all these entertainment hubs.

"With all the contribution reggae artistes have given to Brand Jamaica, there ought to be a tourism tax supporting the building of entertainment centres in all 14 parishes. These venues would be specifically designed for the people of Jamaica and visitors, so they can enjoy the artistry of our reggae icons unfettered by restrictions on time, or noise abatement laws. We have surrounded musical heroes and heroines with so many roadblocks, when they ultimately bring so much foreign exchange to our shores," Samuels stated.

He further underscored that, "You can't have [ Bob Marley]: One Love film being circulated internationally and is a hit, and at the same time, the players of reggae music have to cut off and their music shut down when the music is just beginning to feel so good," he added.