Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie - Gleaner file photo
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Desmond McKenzie
Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie says no entertainment permit was granted to the promoters of Mocha Fest, the party held at Rick's Café in Negril, Westmoreland.
There has been a ban on entertainment events since March last year.
In an interview with Radio Jamaica News, Mr. McKenzie said the promoters are facing prosecution.
"The government wants to make it abundantly clear that there is no two Jamaica (sic). We are not giving anyone any preferential treatment," he declared.
Mr. McKenzie said the police will be clamping down on other events planned for this weekend that have come to their attention.
"I want to say to the public, whether you are visiting or you are Jamaican, that none of these events have the approval of the Office of Disaster Preparedness [and Emergency Management], OPDEM, who's the only authority that can grant these approval," he pointed out.
In a tweet, Health Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton said neither the ministry nor the Savanna-la-mar Health Authority gave permission for the staging of Mocha Fest.
Jamaica Tourist Board
The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) is also seeking to distance itself from the firestorm that has erupted in the entertainment industry in relation to the videos which have surfaced showing patrons at the party at Rick's Cafe.
In a statement Friday, the JTB said based on the videos circulated, the promoters and the venue were in clear breach of COVID-19 guidelines.
TPDco has commenced an investigation into the matter with the assistance of local authorities.
The JTB said the investigation will include the sequence of events that led to the breach with the objective of ensuring that sanctions are enforced.
The board said it will ensure the corrective actions are swift and send a strong message about the importance of following the required protocols to safeguard the public and the integrity of the sector.
The JTB said it was disturbed that its logo was included in promotional material for Mocha Fest events.
It noted it has given no undertaking for sponsorship or endorsement of such activities since the start of the pandemic.
The JTB sought to explain that the visitjamaica.com platform hosts a calendar for all events staged in Jamaica that it endorses.
It said the dates for these events are typically set years in advance and listed on the site to facilitate pre-planning for visitors and travel agents that sell the destination.
The JTB said it regrets that the events section has remained on its website during the pandemic. It has since disabled this section on the site.
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