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Minister says no preferential treatment as event blocked

HEALTH and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville. Photo: Donavan McIntosh/Tribune Staff

HEALTH and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville. Photo: Donavan McIntosh/Tribune Staff

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Senior Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

AFTER promoters of a Dexta Daps concert failed to secure approval from the Ministry of Health and will not host the event, there has been renewed criticism about how differently the Davis administration treats events held at hotels versus those held off hotel sites.

Organisers wanted the Reggae Valentine event to be held this Friday at the Thomas A Robinson Stadium carnival grounds, but Health Minister Dr Michael Darville said officials first rejected their application on January 17 and then rejected it a second time this week.

He said it is unlikely the promoters will gain approval should they submit a third application.

The promoters were also planning a concert in Grand Bahama on Saturday.

“We are in the middle of a pandemic, our hospitals are still under tremendous strain and it is important for us to get our schools opened fully,” Dr Darville said before heading into a Cabinet meeting.

“The only source of control that we can execute at the Ministry of Health is large gatherings and the science is clear that large gatherings, irrespective of the circumstances, are high risk for community spread and so we have to protect the country and we must execute the tools that we have in our toolbox in order to do so. With that being said it’s always a difficult thing to try to stop commerce and we are seeing some good signs in the country right now, we’re hopeful that they will maintain on the same trend. If that happens, the Ministry of Health and Wellness as well as EOC will take into consideration the possibility of relaxing some of the rules but I do not want to focus on that at this time.”

Residents were quick to note the far more lax rules related to events at hotels. Bahamians are not barred from attending concerts on hotel properties and many have attended popular events in recent months, including a Doja Cat concert at Atlantis on New Year’s Eve. A Sheryl Crow concert is scheduled at Atlantis on May 28 and a Shaggy concert is scheduled for February 25-27 at Resorts World Bimini.

“We have definitely spoken to all of the hotel properties and we have made our position very clear that we do not approve any of these concerts anywhere and record will reflect that the Ministry of Health and Wellness made that extremely obvious and clear and we hold that same position as we speak,” Dr Darville said when asked about the differential treatment.

Asked if promoters can carry on with events like hotels do even after the Ministry of Health’s disapproval, he said: “The Ministry of Health is responsible for policy, the Ministry of Health is not responsible for enforcement. Once we lay the policy and we reject an event, it is the responsibility of the Ministry of National Security to move in and to address the issues.”

Yesterday, the promoters of the Dexta Daps event said the concerts will not be held after they were denied approval. They advised that full ticket refunds will be made available.

Comments

TalRussell 2 years, 10 months ago

As a For Hire Observer Political Strategist, I sees de promoters for de Reggae Valentine concert's bad timing of having unintentionally stepped between de minister of health's attempts at snatchin' back his own cabinet longevity from de with other intentions operating out office colony's premiership's...Surreptitiously Dubai traveling Big Fella Clinty.
I'd wager a Blue Marlin that de health minister was on de shortlist containing de names government officials, not invited jet off to enjoy Dubai's luxuries', ― Yes?

mandela 2 years, 10 months ago

So! Minister of National security Munroe you need to explain why the hotels can have the so called ( large gatherings ) with hundreds of guests, partying, having a great time and not be sited or disrupted, and soon as we innercity folks, want to or have a gathering with a couple of people over the 30 person limit will have more police on their premisses than the guests that are there. Why? Maybe there's a perfectly understandable reason.

pro_test 2 years, 10 months ago

Because the hundreds of guest are actually living on the same property and they are special. like it or not

stillwaters 2 years, 10 months ago

And don't forget that they are spending the money that Bahamians need to take care of their families, so this here talk about unfairness.....please get real.

thomas 2 years, 10 months ago

A glance at the flyers for the event: one lists about 12 artists the other just 1 artist. This alone suggests far more persons needed for one of these shows than the other.

Sickened 2 years, 10 months ago

This decision saved many injuries and probably lives. From drunk driving to shootings to the random jook.

stillwaters 2 years, 10 months ago

Yep.....girls get loose like a goose at these events and their guys get upset (understatement)

LastManStanding 2 years, 10 months ago

How is having the Ministry of Health make these kinds of decisions constitutionally acceptable?

jamaicaproud 2 years, 10 months ago

Well, I ma a Jamaican here. I guess there are constitutional issues. However why people want to gather up and "gwaan bad" with these concerts, in this time is beyond me. That being said. Mr. Daps cannot get any concerts in Jamaica at this time. No Sir.

So I guess he is trying his constitutional luck in these Bahamas.

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