Government’s Planned One-Stop Shop for Entertainment Permits Faces Pushback from Kingston Mayor

Kingston’s mayor has pushed back firmly against a government proposal that could reshape how entertainment permits are granted across Jamaica. At the center of the debate is a plan by the Ministry of Entertainment to centralise the approval process through a national one-stop shop—a move Mayor Andrew Swaby says risks undermining the authority of local government, duplicating existing systems, and creating widespread confusion.

Speaking at Tuesday’s monthly meeting of the Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC), Swaby argued that municipal bodies like his already operate under a clear legal mandate and have built a proven system for handling entertainment permits. “The role of the ministry should be to guide policy. The day-to-day operations for processing and granting permits already falls under the mandate of local government authorities, which have the expertise and established system in place,” he said.

The mayor underscored that the KSAMC’s process is not a one-man show but a consultative model that brings together multiple stakeholders. Promoters, law enforcement, the fire brigade, ODPEM, and other agencies all participate in reviewing applications to ensure that events meet safety, structural, and regulatory standards. According to Swaby, any attempt by the ministry to take over would not only disrupt that framework but also “undermine the clear legal framework” under which municipalities currently function.

Public safety, he stressed, has always been at the heart of KSAMC’s permit reviews. “We ensure public safety, proper structure, clear emergency exits, smooth traffic management and full compliance with the Places of Amusement Regulation,” Swaby noted. He reminded colleagues that strict oversight mechanisms already govern how events are staged in the capital.

Ultimately, the mayor’s stance highlights a growing tension between centralised policymaking and local governance in Jamaica’s entertainment sector. While Minister Olivia Grange sees a one-stop shop as a way to streamline the process, Swaby insists that the strength of the existing system lies in its local expertise and collaborative safeguards. For now, Kingston’s top municipal official is standing firm: “Local government must be allowed to carry out its function without unnecessary interference.”

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