Several Jamaican musicians and artistes were left stranded in Trinidad after the organisers of the One Caribbean Music Festival in Trinidad on May 31 ‘ghosted’ them not long after their arrival in the Twin Island Republic.
“None of the man dem no get dem per diem. The promoter send drive for Ruff Kutt to go sound check but dem no send no per diem so no man no go nowhere. Chronic Law was the only one who performed two songs because he got three quarters of his show money, Sizzla go the venue to get money, but him no get pay, no per diem no run and no artiste no get pay,” one source said.
The sold-out show was hobbled by the non-appearance of Vybz Kartel due to “non-fulfilment of contractual obligations by the event’s promoter”. The festival had been scheduled to be held at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port of Spain at 9 pm.
“The promoter say Kartel tek all the money, but the promoter dem a pussy, him shoulda low the rest of the man dem and just use Kartel alone, Kartel need fi get him money,” the source said.
Vybz Kartel’s recent performance at the One Caribbean Music Festival in Trinidad was canceled due to a contract dispute. The promoter reportedly failed to meet contractual obligations, prompting Kartel to pull out of the event, despite having been paid a significant portion, $950,000 of the contracted fee of $1.35 million. The festival organizers expressed their disappointment and stated the show would go on, but Kartel’s absence was a major blow for fans.
“The promoters dem cancel Moliy hotel room from she inna the air inna the plane. When she reach the airport, she tell them she not performing unless she get the rest of her money, so her hotel cancel. Ah bear fuckery. Malie Donn team never get no per diem, no weed, no nothing, from dem reach hotel on Friday, the promoter dem no look pon dem again, harmony singer hungry, bandsman hungry and entourage hungry,” the source said.
The management team of Adidja Palmer, also known as Vybz Kartel, says that his team said despite numerous efforts to resolve the issues over the past couple of months, the promoter was unable to fulfil the stipulated requirements as outlined in the performance agreement.
“Vybz Kartel has always been committed to delivering captivating and unforgettable performances for his fans. “However, we cannot in good conscience allow him to participate in an event where the organisers have not honoured their basic contractual obligations.”
FEVERISH ANTICIPATION FOR VYBZ KARTEL
There was feverish anticipation for the World Boss’ arrival.
“When we ah come through the airport, bear excitement outside, G Wagon park up for the World Boss, security guard fi watch the Teacha headback and no Teacha…security guard like rice grain. The promoters dem mess up, dem claim say is a bank holiday and dem couldn’t transfer the money but dem too unprofessional,” the source said.
Palmer had requested payment via a single bank transfer.
The missed opportunity to finalise the transaction on Thursday prompted the promoter to reach out to business partners in the US. Twenty-two of them agreed to pool their cash resources and deliver the remaining fee to Palmer in Miami by cheque.
The official stated that after the initial offer was rejected, a new proposal was made to Palmer—this time involving the transfer of four condominiums in Trinidad, each valued at $2.9 million, to the artiste also known as World Boss.
“This was all done as acts of good faith to show him we were serious,” the official said.
He further explained that following Palmer’s appearance in Trinidad and his subsequent return to Miami, they would have completed the banking transaction tomorrow. A last-ditch appeal was made by One Caribbean Music for Palmer to perform at the event “even for one hour, and we assured him the remaining monies would have been paid still”.
But despite these efforts, the official said, “They were all rejected.”
The official expressed hope that Palmer would have accepted the offers, noting that their primary concern was the thousands of patrons expected at the QPS last night to see him perform.
RUFF KUT SAID “NEVER SEEN SO MANY SECURITY”
Ruff Kutt was there to book Chronic Law, Sizzla, and Malie Donn, and there were security concerns about the safety of the musicians and the artistes.
“Sizzla was ready to perform, the promoter came into Sizzla’s room while we were having a meeting with Sizzla and said he is going for money to pay SIzzla and he didn’t return, so we never went to the venue. We had an 11 a.m soundcheck and we hear that Sizzla is going to still perform. Sizzla’s booking agent made sure we got our per diem and we got minute by minute updates,” Drummy said.
There were plain-clothes cops sporting AK47s at the airport, creating a ‘scary situation’ for many of the performing acts and talents.
“The kind of security and police I saw in Trinidad, and I have never seen that anywhere apart from Africa, when we came off the flight, and went out at the airport, there were a lot of officers with rifles, and they made sure we stay together. They escorted from the bus to the hotel, and on every floor we were on, there were police with rifles, I have never seen that, there were there until we left this morning,” Drummy said.
Officials said 165 police officers had been assigned to the event on extra duty, with two emergency teams from the Guard and Emergency Branch (GEB) on standby.
However, following the announcement of Palmer’s non-appearance, senior police officials indicated additional GEB personnel along with officers from the Inter-Agency Task Force and the Defence Force would have been called out.
RIOT AVERTED
One social media video showed that while the stage was being cleared, the woman dressed in a white romper and a red cloth over her head began throwing speakers and other equipment off the stage. Stage security tried to apprehend the woman, who then dropped to the ground. Patrons began raining cups and other items at the stage, while the woman continued her parade on the stage.
As the show came to an end, the Guard and Emergency Branch in riot gear was called into the venue, due to the objects being hurled onto the stage by angry and disappointed attendees. Several of the members of the Guard and Emergency Branch, were seen hitting an attendee dressed in red with their batons.
Another video showed what seemed to be an attendee of the concert in one of the bar areas, smashing bottles of drinks on the ground.
The release said Kartel’s team values professionalism and respect in all business dealings and expect the same in return.
“We would like to thank the government of Trinidad and Tobago for granting Vybz Kartel permission to enter the country to perform for the One Caribbean Music Festival.
