Mavado headlined the One Love Music Festival, a huge peace concert in St Croix, on December 30.
Despite the withdrawal of the Stop The Bleeding organization from the initiative, Mavado said he is happy to be apart of the anti-violence movement.
“I am very happy to be a part of this anti-violence movement. I am always ready to use my influence and celebrity in a positive way and I’m honoured to have been asked to get involved. Violent crime is on the increase all over the world and it’s important to me to help stem the tide. I’m hoping to partner with the right agencies in Jamaica to do something similar in the near future. We are often criticised for our influence over the youths but a campaign like this shows the potential to use dancehall acts such as myself to motivate and uplift young people.”
“Mavado is loved by the youths and has dominated the charts with his lyrical style and energetic performances,” said organiser Lenny Hansen in the release. “Mavado’s participation extends the importance of this movement through media campaign and promotional efforts. As a leader within this industry, it is greatly appreciated that Mavado has extended himself and services for the youths of tomorrow. We look forward to him blazing the stage and deliver a string of hits to the VI community as well as delivering a positive, uplifting message to the youths in the region.”
Stop the Bleeding head, Cheryl Francis, wife of the Lt. Governor Gregory R. Francis, says her organisation is no longer part of the One Love Music Festival and by extension Mavado is not working with it. On November 3, a decision was made that Stop the Bleeding would not be part of the concert due to unmitigating circumstances.
One Love Music Festival will be held at the Randall ‘Doc’ James Racetrack on December 30 beginning at 8 p.m. St Croix artistes Ras Attitude, Cruz Rock, Da General, Sabbatical Ahdah, Junior P, 103.5 The Reef DJ’s Dave Martinez, DJ Karl and Selecta Kuff, DJ Big Kat and Supa Trax Sounds are also in the line-up.
