THE EDITOR, Sir:
ANYONE WHO has ever attended the annual reggae concert Sumfest in Montego Bay, has been subjected to a search upon entry.
The purpose of this, is of course to ensure that no one can bring in knives, guns or other weapons which could at the very least ruin the concert and at the worst result in the loss of life. I certainly appreciate these efforts to protect the patrons of this event.
However, in conducting these searches are the organisers of Sumfest forgetting one important weapon of potential mass destruction? Anyone who has attended Sumfest in the last three years can tell you that when Sizzla says that we should "bun fire", flames suddenly leap out of the crowd. People are no longer satisfied with "flashing up dem lighter"; now they have to flash the lighter and spray the contents of an aerosol can through the flame, transforming an innocent can of hair spray into a lethal flame-thrower.
At various intervals during the performances it is a terrifying sight to see two feet of flames being fired into the air, sometimes by children. So my question for the organisers of Sumfest is, why seize someone's pocket knife when they are entering the concert area, but allow people to shoot flames into the air in the middle of a huge crowd?
Now I am not saying that you should seize cans of hair spray and deodorant, however, if you see people using these cans to shoot fire in the middle of the concert area, why not stop them? And what of the police who stand around idly while the threat of third degree burns is sprayed into the crowd by people with aerosol cans? Why not prosecute them?
Organisers of Sumfest, let's not make our efforts in ensuring a safe and enjoyable concert be misguided. Many concert-goers certainly appreciate that you have discouraged entertainers from using profanity. Frankly, I am much less offended by profanity than by the threat of death by fire. Why can't we devote the same amount of attention to people who threaten our safety with their over-enthusiasm?
I am, etc.,
MISS P
E-mail: simsimma99@hotmail.com
Via Go-Jamaica
