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UPDATE ON SANDZ BLOCKING THE AIRPORT ROAD

1/2/2018

4 Comments

 
The INROADS investigative team (me, assisted by a friend) tracked down the promoters for the Sandz beach party last night. I spoke to a member of The Supreme Team, the promoters, who asked me not to use his name. He was respectful, forthcoming, sounded very young – I have not met him, so don’t know if this latter impression is correct – and was obviously chastened by the events of last night. This is what he told me:
 
The 2018 #Sandz event was the second time they had used the Seventh Harbour venue. He conceded problems the year before, but nothing like what happened last night. He felt the venue was suitable and they had done all that was required – got the permits, including a parking permit from the Norman Manley International Airport, police on site, wreckers to remove those who parked on the shoulder etc. Parking was to take place at a different site “one minute away” and there were shuttle buses. The problem was – no one wanted to use the designated parking area and the buses. Patrons parked where they chose along the soft shoulder. The wreckers removed a few cars, but then could not get back to the scene because of the traffic gridlock. A JUTC bus broke down as well. At 5.30 pm, the promoters turned off the music to encourage people to leave, but they became disgruntled. The music was turned back on, but low. He was inside the venue so not on the road to witness what was happening, but they were getting reports. At about 7.20 pm, they turned off the music for the night. I told him that people reported problems well after that time, but he was not able to say why the road had not cleared more quickly.
 
He asked me if I was going to be negative in what I wrote. “Certainly,” I said. “The airport road was blocked for hours and people missed their flights. But I am calling you to get your side of the story.”
 
He agreed what happened was bad. He did not want to get into “the blame game” but ascribed the problem to the unruly behaviour of his patrons.
 
And I had some sympathy with him because I could so easily visualize how quickly our capacity for indiscipline and disregard for any kind of order could overwhelm attempts at traffic control.
 
“Maybe we’re not ready for parties?” I ventured. “Or any kind of large event?”
 
He didn’t respond to that, of course, but he asked me if I thought the venue was suitable. I told him of my experiences running beach cleanup further down the strip, and as a result, that the Palisadoes Road is NOT a suitable venue for large entertainment events. “I wish I had known you before to ask your advice,” he said.
 
The thing is – he should not have had to ask my (or anyone’s) advice. The regulatory bodies concerned should have anticipated these problems and not given permission, particularly as there were problems last year. It’s a given that far too many Jamaicans will not obey parking rules and this has most serious consequences when the location is the only road to an international airport.    
 
Will we learn anything from #Sandz 2018? To be seen. Would also love to hear from patrons who attended, what their experience was like. Why did they park on the road? Do they take any responsibility for what happened?

4 Comments
Jeremy
1/2/2018 10:33:30 am

This is identical to what happened at the Jazz Festival at the Trelawny Stadium some years ago. A main thoroughfare was blocked by indisciplined motorists/patrons of the event. Who is responsible for maintaining law and order on our roads? The Police! Just like in Trelawny, they dropped the ball....again. They would have to have been involved in the planning and should have anticipated what would have happened and ensured that there was enough Police on that road to PREVENT what happened!

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A weatherly
1/3/2018 08:04:56 am

Whilst I do not disagree with what you are saying, I have to ask the questions: Are we not living, thinking beings? When I park my car in a position that blocks a main tthoroughfare, am I oblivious to that fact? Do I need a policeman to tell me that I am blocking the road, even if I am from another planet and is not aware it is the airport road? It is time for us Jamaicans to stop being so thoughtless, selfish and just downright indisciplined. It is also time for us to start taking responsibility for our actions. All of those persons who parked and blocked that road should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves and should issue an apology to the persons who were so greatly inconvenienced.
None of the powers that be are blameless but the promoters had a duty to have their own security personnel in place to assist with ensuring patrons did not block the road and as was said - permission should not have been granted for the event to held at that venue.
It is a new year, people - start getting your act together!!

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Diana McCaulay link
1/3/2018 04:50:35 am

Thanks for your comment. I was caught up in the Jazz Festival jam too, and have been stuck on the North Coast Highway due to the St. Ann Kite Festival. In my view, permission just should not be given for these kind of large events on main roads and certainly not the airport road. We need proper music venues and above all, ENFORCEMENT.

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Iyesha
1/3/2018 04:51:42 pm

But then again almost all areas in Jamaica has a main road which could be affected by not all but most venues. Baring in mind that the traffic build up went to as far back as the Michael Manley Highway and beyond. Jamaica is probably just too small for ease of congestions of these intense stagings which is really a negative aspect for our economy since entertainment and tourism is our core revenue builders.An added solution to this problem might be creating more lanes on these roads and bridges to areas like Port Royal.

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    Diana McCaulay

    INROADS: To go deeply into something, often something new, perhaps with disruptive intent; to look inward; to start anew

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