Section 8: Provision for public safety

8. Provision for public safety (1) No person shall present, or perform, or allow to be presented or performed, a stage play in public in a building, unless the building has been certified by the Authority as a fit and proper place for the purpose, and by the Chief Fire Officer that the building is adequately protected against fire. S31 – 3 [Issue 7] Stage Plays Act (2) (a) The Authority, or the Chief Fire Officer, may refuse to grant the certificate, or may grant it subject to such condition or restriction as may be specified in the certificate. (b) Where a condition or restriction is not complied with, the building shall be deemed not to have been certified by the Authority, or the Chief Fire Officer, as a fit and proper place for such purpose. (3) An appeal shall lie from a decision of the Authority, or of the Chief Fire Officer, under this section to the Magistrate of the district, and sections 59 to 62 of the Building Act shall apply, with such adaptations and modifications as the context may require, to appeals made under this section. (4) This section shall be in addition to, and not in derogation from, the Building Act. (5) (a) The Authority, or a police officer not below the rank of Assistant Superintendent or an officer not below the rank of Station Officer of the Mauritius Fire and Rescue Service may, at all reasonable times, enter a building in which he has reason to believe that a stage play is about to be, or is being, presented or performed in public, with a view to seeing whether any regulations made under section 12 (1) (b), or a condition or restriction of a certificate granted under this section, have been complied with. (b) Where the Authority or police officer is satisfied that the regulations or the condition or restriction have not been complied with, he may order the presentation or performance not to take place or to cease, or he may give any other direction as he may determine for the safety of the public. (6) Any person who obstructs or hinders the Authority or officer in the exercise of his powers under this section, or refuses to obey any order or direction given by the Authority or officer, shall commit an offence without prejudice to prosecution under any other enactment. (7) Any person who contravenes subsection (1) shall commit an offence.