Promoter Romeich Major blasts KSAMC - ‘Rats don’t drink alcohol or eat cups’

P opular event promoter and artiste manager Romeich Major, of Romeich Entertainment, is calling on his peers to take a stand following the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation's (KSAMC) decision to cease issuing permits for the staging of entertainment events at their parking lots.

According to Romeich, it is just another case of popular party venues being targeted.

"This is an ongoing trend where places used for events are targeted once they become popular and things start going well. I also feel it's unfair because it's a business area, no significant amount of homes are being affected by music," he told The STAR yesterday afternoon. "If we as promoters are to take a stand and say we aren't having any events for six months, big companies will also be affected by this. There will be no promoters purchasing alcohol, there will be no events in need of sponsorship or branding, and then we will see just how little of an impact our events have. Liquor sales will drop, radio ad spots will drop, even the KSAMC and other organisations aligned with permits and those things will feel it."

KSAMC's announcement was made last Wednesday, with many promoters being notified of the change via Whatsapp. Additional reports have revealed that some promoters have failed to properly clean designated areas after their event, contributing to sanitary issues on the New Kingston hip strip.

However, Romeich is refuting these reports as he says all promoters cover clean-up expenses as stated in their budget.

"They mentioned that the area suffers from rat infestation and the areas aren't being cleaned up after. I know for certain that there is a clean-up expense in all promoter's budgets and the place is cleaned up after and these events don't sell food, hence not contributing to any rat infestation," he said. "Rats don't drink alcohol or eat cups. There are a number of promoters who are affected, just as I am by this, and who don't have a voice as I do so that's why I am speaking up."

Impact on crime

He went on to add that any action which interrupts the enjoyment and income-earning opportunities of Jamaicans will ultimately defy efforts for a peaceful country.

"These events help to feed a number of people, from the peanut and soup man, to the people who clean up the event, straight up to the promoter. When these job opportunities are taken from these people, it leads to an increase in violence, petty theft and all things bad," he stated

Moving forward, Romeich said he is hoping that the relevant bodies see the importance of entertainment events to the economy and the implications of these restrictions.

"As simple as these events may seem, and as unimportant as they are to them, they play a vital role in uplifting the entertainment industry and even as far as tourism. A tourist would feel safer partying in a business district than elsewhere," he said. "I'm hoping that they understand that they need to stop fighting against people trying to make an honest living by way of our own culture. Even if designated areas are found, everyone can't have their events at the same place, that stunts creativity. I'm hoping that they stop trying to find reasons to stop these events when nothing is going wrong," he declared.