The committee for Dancehall Week 2025 has expressed deep disappointment over how the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) handled the authorization and subsequent permit for the second annual Dancehall Street Parade in Kingston, Jamaica, on Sunday, March 2.
After months of planning and global promotion of the parade’s route, 5:00 p.m. start time, and 8:00 p.m. conclusion, organizers were blindsided during a consultation last week with a team of officers led by SSP Michael Bailey from the Strategic Planning Division. Authorities cited Jamaican laws prohibiting marches outside of 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., insisting that the parade be held within those hours or face prosecution.
“We brought a few things to their attention when they suddenly told us we had to change the time—after our entire advertising campaign was already in its final phase,” said Dave Goldson, CEO of Dancehall Week Limited. “One, we had previously consulted with the police, who actually suggested our 5:00 p.m. start time when we initially requested a night parade late last year. Secondly, we pointed out that a Carnival event has hosted road marches beyond the 6:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. window on numerous occasions, which SSP Bailey vehemently denied.”
According to Section 3(2) of the Public Order Act, public processions or marches are prohibited outside the specified hours unless granted special permission by the Commissioner of Police. While acknowledging the existence of the law, Dancehall Week organizers argue that classism played a role in its enforcement, as Carnival events have consistently received exemptions. This belief was further reinforced by the announcement of a Carnival road march set for April 25, 2025, at 3:00 a.m., as well as confirmation that a similar night march took place on April 6, 2024.
Despite the challenges, the Dancehall Street Parade—featuring trucks sponsored by HITZ FM, SUN CITY RADIO, DOUBLE 7 ENERGY DRINK, CLEARSOUND, STR8 VYBZ, and IRIE FM—was eventually staged in a rushed manner. It started from the Ranny Williams Entertainment Center an hour earlier than the advertised 5:00 p.m. time and departed Half-Way Tree at 6:00 p.m., 90 minutes ahead of schedule. This abrupt change left many attendees arriving at the planned start time, only to realize they had missed the main event.
“We are trying to make Dancehall operate professionally, which is why we had these discussions with the authorities long before any public advertising began,” Goldson added. “Ultimately, this feels like sabotage of our own culture by the police—who should be working to support it. We need answers at the highest level, especially considering our event has remained completely incident- and violence-free for the past two years.”
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