EAB happy with lobbying efforts of industry

Chairman of the Entertainment Advisory Board (EAB) Howard McIntosh has applauded the members of the Jamaica Sound System Federation and the Jamaica Association of Professional DJs, Promoters and Sound System Owners who decided to form an inclusionary board that recently addressed the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport on the concerns of their members.

McIntosh also encouraged other members of the entertainment fraternity to get aligned with the numerous associations within the creative industries in an effort to participate in future policy making endeavours. He noted that the EAB had anticipated a number of the concerns raised by the newly formed organisation and had done much work on the entertainment zones policy. He noted that the board has been advocating for an amendment to the 22-year-old Noise Abatement Act which “is in urgent need of review to meet technological and social advancements”.

He also disclosed that the EAB formed a Legal Sub-Committee which had perused the Noise Abatement Act and made recommendations for amendments.

Meetings

The EAB along with the technical staff of the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport (MCGES) convened meetings with representatives from National Environment and Planning Agency and the Ministry of National Security to discuss the Noise Abatement Act prior to the representation from the entertainment fraternity.

McIntosh urged the parish municipalities and planning Agencies to seriously consider that entertainment cannot thrive in a vacuum, adding that it is important that these agencies, along with the ministries of national security, and culture, continue to have dialogue and coordinate their efforts in order to promote synergy and harmony among the various sectors of the society.

He commended Culture and Entertainment Minister Olivia Grange for naming Fort Rocky as an entertainment zone and disclosed that efforts to have the facility ready for full activity is currently in train. He promised that there would be an announcement of additional zones to allow lovers of entertainment to enjoy themselves without creating a disturbance for those who might want peace and quiet.

The function of the board, among other things, is to strengthen private-public partnership of the industry towards economic and social development. It also provides advice to the entertainment ministry regarding key issues and strategies, specifically, on the development of an industry policy.