Government's 1 a.m. concert curfew was this week labelled a "direct hit'' to the black community.

Dred and Baha concert promoters claimed Government and Police Commissioner Colin Coxall failed to understand the impact of the policy.

They said it flew in the face of black tradition and culture.

But Government this week stuck to its guns, saying the policy would remain in force this year.

Dred and Baha have remained persistent in their efforts to extend the curfew.

"It (the concert policy) is a thing that has to be considered with regards to tradition and culture,'' Andrew Phillips, one of the promoters, explained.

"People generally leave home to party between 11 p.m. and 12 -- that is the traditional way,'' he added.

Gladwin Simmons, another promoter, said: "You have to consider the racial makeup of people, 99 percent of the people who come to our concerts are black,'' he said.

"It's therefore a direct hit to the black community to end an event at 1 a.m.

when they are only leaving home at 11/11.30 p.m.,'' he added.

"The proper way to deal with the issue is to consider black people's traditions,'' he continued.

"The motivation behind Dred and Baha was to provide certain activities and events to relieve pressures in the black community,'' Mr. Simmons said.

And he also attributed the problems to Police Commissioner Colin Coxall's lack of understanding of the issues.

"To have Coxall come along in an arbitrary way and say that we can only go until 1 a.m. is unreasonable at best and will further frustrate the people, especially the youth.'' Mr. Simmons said he felt that Mr. Coxall was "born of ignorance'' regarding the issues that the concert ban encompassed.

"I feel that Coxall is very new to our community and that in trying to do his job, he has found himself against things that he doesn't understand,'' he added.

Mr. Phillips said he would invite such authorities to use Dred and Baha Productions as a bridge and means of communication with the youth. He also said Dred and Baha ultimately were hoping to hold an open debate on the concert curfew issue.

"We would want to have it on 1340 radio or perhaps News and Views, where there could be an interactive line for members of the public to call in,'' Mr.

Phillips said.

The group have drafted a petition, which they intended to present to Premier Pamela Gordon this week. It states that concerts in Bermuda should be allowed to play until 3 a.m.

But they have since decided to meet with Ms Gordon, who they have been unable to reach, to discuss the issue before circulating the petition. "There is a bit of irony here because Pam Gordon helped us get use of the Park lands years ago when she was Minister of Youth, Sport and Recreation,'' Mr. Phillips pointed out. "Now, we are looking for her support regarding the concert curfew.'' But if they were not successful in their dialogue with the Premier, Dred and Baha promoters said they were willing turn the issue over to the public.

Mr. Phillips said he was frustrated with the situation since they were only allowed to have concerts at certain venues, such as the Snorkel Park in Dockyard, once a year.

"And even one night out of 365 others, we still have to end by 1 a.m.,'' he said.

Ms Gordon could not be reached for comment. But Youth and Sport director Anthony Roberts last month told The Royal Gazette Government had no intention of removing the policy.

"We are of the opinion that for this year it will remain in force,'' he said.

"This is the first summer that it has been in force.'' However, Mr. Roberts added: "These concerts do present problems in the community. What we are trying to do is balance the needs of the residents to have some tranquillity in the evening with the right of the concert promoter to put on a show.'' See Woolcock cartoon, Page 4 GOVERNMENT GVT