Downsound music producer Skatta Burrell is calling for stakeholders within Jamaica’s music industry to unite to protect the future of musical events on the island.
Burrell made his comments in an Instagram post, against the background of a story published today by The Star newspaper, which stated that members of the police force were “pulling the plug on events”, with the latest to be cut off early being the Footloose event, held at Mas Camp in Kingston on the weekend.
“These methods by cops does not reduce crime nor does it benefit a country that was built as the Mecca for the best in entertainment that gave birth to so many genres of music, has influenced so many cultures and produced so many iconic figures the entire world looks up to. Our culture is dying, and once it’s gone we can be sure that’s when more bodies will be piling up,” Skatta said.
According to the Downsound executive, he is imploring “entertainers, producers, managers, promoters, publicists, booking agents, vendors, liqueur companies, bloggers, media houses and ‘governing’ departments to put in place clear infrastructure and regulations that ensures the protection of our music and culture.”
“Eighty percent of the events that use to take place in this country have been terminated and the ones that remain are barely surviving because we have no voice. We need to get organized if we gonna fix this. As players in this industry, we all benefit from it in some way shape or form and it’s our duty to do what we must to protect this essential part of our BUSINESS,” he added.
He was supported in his call by Dancehall artiste Konshens, who claimed that Dancehall events were under attack.
“Call when unnu a organize this meeting let me try be a part. The fight that Dancehall get is unreal in Jamaica. And the methods have zero positive effect on crime. IN FACT it actually benefits CRIME!! I’d love to discuss these things with actual decision makers in JA, and have it explained to me,” Konshens said.
According to The Star, fans who turned out for the Footloose event left the venue disappointed after the police ordered the promoters to shut down the event at 2:00 am, in keeping with the terms of the Noise Abatement Act.
The tabloid said the organizers claimed they had all the requisite permits for staging the event, including an “official letter requesting that the police use their discretion and allow the party to continue until 4:00 am, similar to prior years.
Promoter Tyrone Dixon accused the police of lying in wait from as early as 1:15 am and that at precisely 1:59 am, an officer stepped into the venue and ordered them to “lock-off” the sound system. He begged the police for an extra half hour to allow Bounty Killer who was booked to take the stage at 2:30 am to perform, but his plea fell on deaf ears, as the officer said his “hands were tied.”
