Last Saturday’s “end of summer” beach rave at Pigeon Point was shut down almost four hours ahead of time, reportedly because of patrons “getting on bad”. Could the announcer of the bad news have referred to the mud-rolling, the demonstrated drunkenness and aggressive gyrating?
Police have confirmed that a 25-year-old was stabbed and had to be taken to Victoria Hospital for attention. They proffered no other details, because the victim had not yet pressed charges. The police press officer also confirmed that ten other criminal incidents were reported in relation to the event but refused to elaborate.
The weekend mass event marked the third in recent times by the same organisation. The one prior to Saturday’s made headlines, largely because it was linked to one fatal road accident and allegations of criminal activity. But there is no indication from police whether any new precautions will in future be taken, or whether stricter measures will be placed on the shoulders of promoters. The most the press officer would say on the matter was: “Whether performing special duty or regular duties, our responsibility is to preserve life, to protect property as well and to enforce the laws of Saint Lucia.”
At last Saturday’s party there were reportedly “over 40 uniformed police officers in attendance. There was also a complement of plain-clothes cops, senior officers in and out of uniform, patrol teams, including mobile units.” As for the number of patrons to be policed, the police said the promoter was licensed to stage a mass event. Again, no elaboration as to what figures determine mass and non-mass events.
Some party-goers claim they were searched at the entry point, many more said they were not. No-one this reporter spoke with had been required to prove their age via ID. The police press officer had this to say about excessive and under-age drinking: “People look at these things in isolation: it’s a police responsibility. No, it’s a community responsibility. All of us have our part to play. So if you see under-age drinking you need to bring it to the attention of the police at the activity or to the police stationed closest to the bar; or to the attention of the bartender. Because there are times when you might assume somebody is 18 years old when in fact that person is actually a 15-year-old with adult characteristics.”
One police officer told this reporter that there is nothing more that event promoters can do about excessive drinking, especially at “cooler fetes”; that there will always be a way around efforts once people want to consume alcohol. But some promoters beg to differ. “Sometimes we would have over 2,000 people in the marina,” a former events organiser at IGY Rodney Bay Marina told the STAR, “and depending on the crowd that you have, you would determine what type of security is needed. Sometimes you have an older, harmless crowd. Other times it’s young and rowdy and they use the unlimited bar. In these situations you tell bartenders to stop serving certain people alcohol, or serve only water for an hour. If you know them personally, you would take their keys.”
Dwayne Mendes claims experience in managing crowds of up to 20,000. Recently he took to Instagram to share his “unwritten rules” when planning mass events. This included well-lit parking areas and traffic management, establishing a relationship with the security team, searching everyone and having a list of licensed firearm holders in the crowd, requesting identification from everyone, refusing to serve visibly intoxicated people with more alcohol, having water always available and serving it for free after a party. Also monitoring music in lesser controlled, open environments.
He added: “Undoubtedly, there are a lot more promoters like myself in Saint Lucia that have never had serious incidents at their events. I’m very concerned that one promoter, because of negligence, will make it more difficult and more expensive for all other promoters.”
“We have a responsibility,” said the former Marina manager. “If it’s only about making money, then you won’t care. But these people are our customers and it affects our product if they are not safe. In the States, if anything happens at your event, or there is a drunken accident afterwards, your organisation gets sued. I guess that’s why people can get away with it here. Going to court is such a long-winded process and no legislation forces event promoters to be responsible.”
