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THE National Assembly on January 3 passed the Music and Dancing Licences (Amendment) Bill which was tabled by Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh. The Bill increases the fines and prescribed fees in the Music and Dancing Licences Act to make them more meaningful in view of current currency value and present day market prices for goods and services, considering the fees have not been adjusted for decades, and can barely, if at all, be associated with covering the costs of administering the simple regime that exists for licencing public events.
PPP/C MP, Odinga Lumumba explained that the objective of this amendment is not just to raise revenue, but to signal to those who intend to break the law that there are penalties. He added that while entertainment is a fundamental aspect of life, it has to be properly managed and controlled.
From the Opposition benches, AFC MP Khemraj Ramjattan expressed his party’s unstinting support for the Bill, while APNU MP, James Bond, in signalling his support, emphasised the need for strong enforceability.
He also called for these types of amendments to be brought to the House more rapidly and collectively so that they can be dealt with in a comprehensive manner.
Minister Singh concurred that there is need to address and update matters of a similar nature and assured of government’s commitment to doing so.
Clause two of the Bill amends the principal Act to increase the fee from $65 to $2500 when applying for a music and dancing licence; while clause three increases the penalty for using an unlicenced premises for public dancing to $10,000 from $4,875.
The Bill also caters for a penalty increase for the breach of any term or condition subject to which the licence was granted. This fine is increased from $19,500 to $25,000 and the daily fine is increased $4,875 to $10,000.
The penalty for failure to give 24-hour notice at a police station nearest to the place licenced as the venue for every dancing, singing, music, or other public entertainment goes from $4,875 to $10,000.
With regard to the breach of the terms and conditions of the music and dancing licence, the penalty has been increased from a fine of $19,500 to $25,000. (GINA)
PPP/C MP, Odinga Lumumba explained that the objective of this amendment is not just to raise revenue, but to signal to those who intend to break the law that there are penalties. He added that while entertainment is a fundamental aspect of life, it has to be properly managed and controlled.
From the Opposition benches, AFC MP Khemraj Ramjattan expressed his party’s unstinting support for the Bill, while APNU MP, James Bond, in signalling his support, emphasised the need for strong enforceability.
He also called for these types of amendments to be brought to the House more rapidly and collectively so that they can be dealt with in a comprehensive manner.
Minister Singh concurred that there is need to address and update matters of a similar nature and assured of government’s commitment to doing so.
Clause two of the Bill amends the principal Act to increase the fee from $65 to $2500 when applying for a music and dancing licence; while clause three increases the penalty for using an unlicenced premises for public dancing to $10,000 from $4,875.
The Bill also caters for a penalty increase for the breach of any term or condition subject to which the licence was granted. This fine is increased from $19,500 to $25,000 and the daily fine is increased $4,875 to $10,000.
The penalty for failure to give 24-hour notice at a police station nearest to the place licenced as the venue for every dancing, singing, music, or other public entertainment goes from $4,875 to $10,000.
With regard to the breach of the terms and conditions of the music and dancing licence, the penalty has been increased from a fine of $19,500 to $25,000. (GINA)
