Junior minister in the entertainment ministry Damion Crawford says he expects that by next month car parks in downtown Kingston will be used as entertainment zones.

Entertainment zones are areas that will be dedicated exclusively for entertainment events and represent an attempt to balance the need for venues that will not violate the Noise Abatement Act.

Last year, Crawford announced that discussions were underway with the Urban Development Corporation, National Environment and Planning Agency and the Kingston and St Andrew Coporation to establish the Palisadoes and sections of downtown Kingston as the first entertainment zones.

He says the ministry is awaiting an environmental report from NEPA in relation to the Palisadoes while the UDC’s permission for the downtown car parks is expected soon.

In recent weeks residents of some communities in the Corporate Area, particularly Hope Pastures, have complained that parties and other events throughout the holiday period were being conducted in breach of the Noise Abatement Act.

They complained that senior citizens especially were suffering as a result of the loud noises emanating from these events.