Ban On Parties Still in Effect
The ban on parties and related gatherings as per the Disaster Risk Management Act (DRMA) will remain during the holiday period.
“I wish to reiterate that the ban on parties and related gatherings, such as round-robins, gate parties and so on, are still in effect,” stated Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Honourable Desmond McKenzie during a recent address in the House of Representatives.
“No permits will be issued for any such events by the Municipal Corporations or the police. Any breaches will be dealt with in keeping with the Disaster Risk Management Act.”
He noted that the public health emergency created by COVID-19 cannot be ignored despite the decline in the positivity rate and the number of people hospitalised with the virus.
“I therefore appeal to everyone to be responsible, and to remember that after Christmas, comes the new year. We want the New Year to continue on the trajectory of improvement, so Jamaica can continue the process of returning to normal.”
The ban was placed on the staging of parties and events in 2020 as part of the Government’s measures to reduce the transmission of COVID-19.
Last December, Minister McKenzie revealed that more than 300 illegal events were still being held weekly across the country in breach of the health and safety protocols. There were also venues registered as restaurants operated as nightclubs, in addition to nightclubs being run under the disguise of restaurants.
