Moving unto other municipal matters, Mayor Darrell Bradley held a press conference today to discuss a few major developments with city hall. But first, he had to address the issue of noise abatement. That's the controversy which erupted last week after a public consultation. Residents of Newtown Barracks said that the many nightclubs and bars and the area were a public menace. That's when the mayor laid down the law: no more extensions for opening until 4:00 am for venues which are not soundproofed, and no more bars masquerading as nightclubs. Since then he's been criticized for putting an early end to the party in an area that he designated as an entertainment zone. And today at the press conference, one of his own councillors took a seat with the press to remind Bradley that the persons who frequent those clubs form an important voting bloc. Here's how that back and forth went:...
Darrell Bradley, Mayor
"I want to go on record that the so called entertainment zone for Belize City along Marine Parade is an area of Belize City that the council strategically invested in. We did BTL park for a specific reason because we want that area to blossom as much as possible as an entertainment commercial and tourism zone for the benefit of everyone, but there must be an emphasis on planning and we have to recognize that as much businesses go into particular areas there is a balance that must be struck between the viability of these businesses and the enjoyment of people who live in the area."
Phillip Willoughby - City Councillor
"My thing is Mayor I go out and I socialize and yes I recreate, but this is a huge voting block of young persons between 18 to 40 and I wouldn't want to see all the good the council has done and have been successful with Djs and small media enterprises and the people who want to go to socialize and recreate. We cross up them and then the back lash from that is my fear."
Darrell Bradley, Mayor
"We cannot take a step contrary to what the law says, so that to the extent that there is provision in the law dealing with extensions as a implementer of the law, we don't make law we implement law as the implementer of law we have to stick by what that is. If you are saying that you are not satisfied with what the law is then your redress is not with us. Your address is with those who make the law."
And while Phillip Willoughby played the press spoiler, so did the owners and managers of a number of those night spots in that same entertainment zone. They took up the front row to challenge the mayor on his claims that he hadn't shut anyone down:...
Darrell Bradley, Mayor
"I want to be very clear on this point, the city council has taken no steps to close down the businesses. I have heard that on social media and I've heard that on the media. No person's license has been revoked, no person's license has been affected, no person's license has been changed."
Participant
"When you said that the license has not affected anybody yes is has affected me and employees because I have 25 people who are out of job right now because the whole entire poolside has been closed down. You said that it hasn't affected anything, the meeting was last week Wednesday, we got a phone call on Thursday, the man he said that we have cease and desist any activity on the poolside."
Darrell Bradley, Mayor
"Nobody could have told you that."
Participant
"The phone call, yes we received a phone call."
Darrell Bradley, Mayor
"Again, did the large issue and decisions from government would affect anybody, if you have a license, the license has to be operated within the parameters of the license, the license actually has conditions."
Participant
"Yes I understand that Mr. Mayor, but couldn't you have consulted with us more?"
Darrell Bradley, Mayor
"I consulted, I had a meeting."
Participant
"Yes but at the end of the day you had a meeting with the area you didn't have a meeting with us. We are the business people there, we are the ones feeling, I have labor department calling me, threatening me because they said I have to give the workers a week advanced to know that you will reschedule their work. So yes we are feeling. Is there a way that we could still operate while everything is going on while we."
Darrell Bradley, Mayor
"Not without a license."
Participant
"We have a license present and we have already applied for a second license."
Darrell Bradley, Mayor
"If you have a license you will operate within the parameters...that license is a night club license and you have to operate from the enclosed premises."
That club manager is form Pickwick which is applying for a publican special license which would allow them to re-open their pool side bar.
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