Barbados police ban parties known as "passa passa"

Barbados police on Saturday banned gatherings known as "passa passa" parties in which people often buy drugs, film lewd acts or behave violently, an official said.

Photo: Barbados police ban parties known as "passa passa"

Passa passa parties originated in Jamaica, where warring inner city neighborhoods used the gatherings featuring Reggae and hip-hop music to cool tensions.

But acting police commissioner Bertie Hinds said the passa passa concept has degenerated in Barbados and two men were recently shot at parties, with one victim dying.

"We are moving to stamp it out, and we are going to nip it in the bud," Hinds said, adding that no liquor or music licenses would be issued to passa passa organizers.

Hinds said most passa passa parties take place without required police permission.

"I have directed the police to be on the lookout for any such instances, wherever and whatever, and take whatever action is needed to bring this thing to a halt," he said, reports AP.

O.Ch.