The Opposition has accused the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) of usurping the role of municipal corporations (MCs) by effectively deciding which entertainment events receive permits, depriving cash-strapped councils of a major revenue stream. But the police have rejected the claim.

At a press conference yesterday, Councillor Scean Barnswell, minority leader of the Clarendon Municipal Corporation, accused the police of increasingly blocking approvals for places of amusement, despite municipal corporations having the legal authority to issue the permits.

“We have been having issues with places of amusement because the police are of the view that they have the last say in approval of permits,” Barnswell charged. “The last time I checked, it is the municipal corporation that has that authority to give an approval. All that is needed from the JCF are comments on these applications, and then we give the approval or not.”