The Ministry of Culture Entertainment, Culture, Gender and Sports is distancing itself from any blame in light of concerns surrounding the granting of an entertainment permit for an event which caused a traffic gridlock along the Palisadoes strip on Monday night.

While many are questioning the circumstances which led to a permit being issued for that area, in 2015 the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) approved the Palisadoes strip as a suitable designated entertainment zone, with a growing number of events having been staged in and around the same vicinity over the years. However, it was only in October 2017 that the Ministry of Entertainment, Culture, Gender Affairs and Sports declared Fort Rocky in that same vicinity as Jamaica’s first entertainment zone.

In a press release Minister Olivia Babsy Grange stated that she wants to make it clear Fort Rocky is restricted to Fort Rocky and that the declaration does not include any other place including Palisadoes Road, Gun Boat Beach where the party was held or anywhere along the corridor to the Norman Manley International Airport.

The promoters of the event held at Gun Boat Beach, have since issued a public apology, insisting they were in their legal rights having obtained the necessary permits, and providing adequate parking with a shuttle service, but unfortunately indiscipline patrons chose to park along the strip causing a traffic pile up.