ST. THOMAS:
POLICE IN Morant Bay, St. Thomas, have warned that they will be cracking down on the sale of illicit recordings in the parish.
An officer at the Morant Bay police station told The Gleaner that persons selling illicit recordings such as audio cassettes and burnt CDs, were in breach of the Copyright Act. The officer said while operators of several establishments in the parish were guilty of the offence, the police could not make an arrest without a complaint or a report. He added that persons who purchase cassettes and CDs from the illegal establishments could also be arrested for doing so.
NEW THRUST
This new thrust to crack down on illicit recordings follows the arrest of 35-year-old businessman, James Bryan of Whitehorses, St. Thomas, on charges of breaches of the Copyright Act on March 17, 2003.
Police reports are that on the day in question an entertainer was passing through Morant Bay when he heard his music being played at one of the places noted for illicit recordings. He subsequently made a report to the Morant Bay police station. The police went to investigate and a search of the premises revealed a quantity of burnt CDs. Bryan is due to reappear in the Morant Bay Resident Magistrate's Court on April 23.
