Trooper blasts cop for ‘mashing up’ sound system

Dr Deborah Hickling Gordon, opposition spokesperson on culture and creative industries, is calling for urgent attention to ensuring mutual respect and regard between members of the police force and the entertainment community.

This follows the circulation of a viral video appearing to show a police officer destroying sound system equipment at an event held in the Corporate Area last Sunday.

"This is not just a matter of property damage; it affects the perceptions and the reality of longstanding tension between the authorities and some cultural and creative practitioners, in particular sound system owners and event promoters," she said.

Hickling Gordon stressed that while the rule of law must be upheld, and the police legitimately have cause for concern in many instances, enforcement must never be executed in a manner that appears excessive, vindictive or a disrespectful abuse of power to those who work within the creative industries.

"Sound systems are not only business investments that advance the livelihood of Jamaican people, they are an indigenous part of our cultural fabric. They represent the ingenuity of Jamaica's global musical leadership by citizens in pursuit of opportunity and community upliftment," she stated. "Similarly, promoters and sound system operators must ensure that they adhere to the rules of law, including agreed shutdown times and decibel levels."

Veteran sound system selector Ricky Trooper, in his own video expressing his disgust at the incident, suggested that he would not have taken the situation lightly.

"If a did my sound system him put him foot pan...dat policeman woulda haffi kill me. Because mi and him woulda have it out. Nuh police can put dem foot on my equipment. A mi business dat. Turn it off, seize the equipment, lock me up if anything. But that a destruction of property," he said.

Trooper said that the sound system industry, despite being a "pivotal mechanism" in Jamaica's music, has faced many challenges over the years, especially in dealing with the police. He said that after several meetings, many issues have not been fixed. He condemned the cop's actions, citing how expensive sound equipment is. Trooper lauded Police Commissioner Dr Kevin Blake on the job he's doing, and clarified that he was not endorsing bad behaviour by persons toward the police. But Trooper said many cops still need to be reined in.

"Come een like unnu make two step forward and 40 step backward because of some of dem unruly police yah weh inna the force," he said, while urging the owner of the sound system in the incident to sue. He also urged music stakeholders to abide by the rules, including the obtaining of permits and playing their music at an acceptable level.

Hickling Gordon also called on Blake to launch a transparent investigation and to clarify the protocols governing police interaction with public entertainment events. She stated that when the People's National Party forms the next government following the general election, the culture ministry will work with the ministries responsible for citizens security, social transform-ation and local government to establish a structured, respectful engagement process between law enforcement and entertainment stakeholders.

"Our entertainment spaces cannot become sites of fear and disrespect in any direction between law enforcement officers and event promoters." Hickling Gordon added.