JACKASS SEY DI worl' no level. Jackass sey New Kingston people a bawl sey dem cyaan sleep 'cause a music a night time, but de big big carnival season a run on ya now an Jackass can bet sey dem session nah get lock off.
Jackass read in The Sunday Observer that people who live in New Kingston are 'cross, hangry and misarable' about the night noises that are robbing them of their sleep. And it is very expensive robbery too, as residential space in New Kingston, whether it be rental or purchase of apartment, townhouse or house, is certainly not cheap.
It is interesting that this complaint, which is certainly not new but this time the residents seem to be really serious, comes at a time when the 2006 Carnival season is warming up, as there are regular sessions at the Mas Camp Village (hey, that's why it has that name in the first place) in New Kingston.
Because, while Jackass has heard of events being locked off at Mas Camp (and been to quite a few which have gone way past the 2:00 a.m. curfew and into near morning), he has never heard of a soca session being cut short.
This is especially striking because of what a policeman was quoted as saying in THE STAR some months ago when one instalment of a popular retro party series was cut short when the Night Noise Abatement Act was enforced. The policeman told the reporter that if it had been a soca session the people would have come out on their balconies and danced, but because it was dancehall music that was being played they had called and got the party closed down.
That may or may not be so, but Jackass knows that there is a different attitude from the 'society people' towards dancehall and soca music. Even when they are played at the same volume and in the same places, dancehall is deemed noise and soca sweetness.
It is not only the Mas Camp that the New Kingston Citizens Association is concerned about. There is Carlos' Café, The Deck and Escape 24/7, Jackass notes.
But the world is not level at all, because in other parts of the world commercial and residential housing mix without it causing a tremendous problem. It will happen in a city, as the place gets crowded and housing goes up, rather than out, as it does in the countryside where there is room to spread out. Why can it not work in Jamaica? Having business close to where you live is supposed to be good, very good. After all, you can walk to the bank, the gym, the supermarket and yes, the night-club.
What is needed is not a huge rezoning like what some wish to have, but an enforcement of the present legislation to keep the music down and turn it off where appropriate and necessary.
And the New Kingston residents should look on the bright side. If more and more businesses are coming in, it should not be that hard to sell your place to a commercial concern when you are ready to move out, should it?
Jackass sey di worl' no level. Jackass sey it hard when yu boasy address tun shop paza.
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