00:00As Fed promoters and other stakeholders are expressing their concerns about Carnival 2026 due to the government's crackdown on noise pollution,
00:09Prime Minister Kamala Passat-Besesta says on the social media platform X on Friday that the actions taken by her administration are not random or arbitrary
00:19and are keeping a campaign promise to restore the constitutional right of every citizen to enjoy their property in peace.
00:28Prime Minister Passat-Besesta doubled down two days after having announced that she instructed that all FETs at the Brian Lara Stadium be stopped as the noise has become unbearable for residents.
00:42This followed a report by the Express newspaper on Wednesday that the chairman of the state-owned Uticot said its board has approved a policy
00:50that there are to be no FETs at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy and surrounding areas under the purview of Uticot or any of Uticot's premises.
01:01The Trinidad and Tobago Promoters Association has strongly condemned what it called the government's sudden ban
01:07as they said they were informed this week that their permissions to use those venues have been revoked.
01:13The Promoters Association said the removal of venues including the Brian Lara Cricket Academy from the already limited pool
01:21has left more than 20 of the large-scale events without a home and with far too few options to accommodate large-scale productions
01:31less than 100 days before next year's Carnival.
01:35Prime Minister Passat-Besesta declared on Friday, quote,
01:38The Promoters Association said on Wednesday that events employ over 100,000 people directly during the two-month Carnival season
02:04and called the government's actions yet another top-down decision made without consultation with their sector
02:11and one that dismantles the entertainment economy in Trinidad and Tobago, known globally as the Mecca of Carnival.
02:20Prime Minister Passat-Besesta said on X on Friday that during the 2025 general election campaign,
02:26the UNC laid out a clear manifesto, a plan which she said the people overwhelmingly voted for
02:33and noted one of the key promises was a firm crackdown on noise pollution.
02:39The Prime Minister said that she spoke about this repeatedly on the public platform
02:44and it was a message which was broadcast across every major medium
02:48and that the move by her administration was not a backroom decision
02:53and was one of the biggest public consultations ever held.
02:57The Prime Minister said thousands shared their stories, their frustrations and their hopes
03:02and their voices shaped her government's policy as she gave special thanks
03:08to all those who sent countless messages and emails in full support.
03:13On Wednesday, Prime Minister Passat-Besesta promised that before the end of this year
03:18there will be the passage of the fireworks legislation in Parliament
03:22and that in addition, enhanced noise pollution laws will be introduced to regulate designated quiet hours
03:29as well as new restrictions on FETs, music trucks, residential parties and bars.
03:35On Friday, the Prime Minister said her administration's full legislative agenda in that regard
03:42will be presented soon.
03:44Jewel Brown, TV6 News.
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