WESTERN BUREAU:

Not even the fervent prayers of gospel artiste Kevin Downswell could stop members of the Montego Bay police from bringing the annual Genesis gospel festival to a close on New Year's Day for breaching the Noise Abatement Act.

A patron who decided to ring in the New Year at Genesis said the police team, led by Superintendent Maurice Robinson, turned up about 8:15 a.m at the festival which was being held at the Montego Bay Community College, just a stone's throw away from the Area One Headquarters at Freeport.

"Kevin Downswell was on stage performing and when he realised that the police were going to shut down the event, he began to pray and worship, but the police still insisted that the show should end because it had gone over the time," the patron said. "So the music stopped, but we had a big prayer meeting before we left the venue."

Robinson told The Gleaner yesterday that he had no comment on the matter, except to say that the event should have ended at midnight as it was being held on a weekday. He also said charges should be levelled against the organisers for the breach.

As a result of the police intervention, Joan Flemmings, who was scheduled to close the show, was unable to perform.

This was the first time in the history of the 20-year-old event, which features gospel acts such as Goddy Goddy and DJ Nicholas, among others, that the police have had to close the show. Efforts to reach the organisers for a comment proved futile.