THE EDITOR: Sir
Sting! Sting! Sting has once again stung and this time there could have been fatalities!
I read with disgust, dismay and disappointment the events that led to the bottle-throwing incident at STING 2003! The questions I therefore pose are - what will now happen between Ninja Man and Vybz Kartel? Why can't the promoters control certain lyrics at this event; why must patrons have access to bottles inside the venue and why can't arrests be made of persons who were throwing bottles? After all, the show was taped! It's well past the time for us, as a country, to say NO MORE!! The aftermath has been extremely embarrassing and damaging, moreso the fact that it was being streamed live, via Internet, by CVM TV. This does not augur well for upcoming Jamaican reggae artistes.
Isaiah Laing, CEO of Supreme Promotions Ltd explained in The Sunday Gleaner of December 28, 2003 that, "the crowd invaded the bar, and took the bottles and started to fling them towards the stage", implying that after all hell broke loose, persons took bottles from the bar to throw. Where then did the bottles come from that were thrown on stage at Frankie Paul and German-based DJ, Gentleman and other artistes who "did not perform up to par", prior to the melee? Are Jamaicans a barbaric people? How in God's name could persons stoop to such a level, throwing bottles at someone who is visually impaired? And here I make reference to veteran singer Frankie Paul have we as a people gone mad? Where is the respect? What are we teaching the kids that if we do not like how someone performs throw bottles?
I think STING should not be held until the promoters make absolutely every effort to raise the standard! I am positive that it is not every artist who delivers or performs "up to standard" at Reggae Sumfest, and you don't see this type of boorish behaviour rearing it's ugly head!
My prayers are with the injured and thank God no one has been hospitalised.
Persons who were involved in the bottle throwing incident I cry SHAME ON YOU! What if someone was killed, what if you had caused someone to be hospitalised, what if, what if, what if?
The promoters of STING have major homework to do. They need to speak with the promoters of Reggae Sumfest. STING is not my forte. Notwithstanding, minus all the negative lyrics from artistes and boorish behaviour from patrons and artistes alike, it can be something good for persons who enjoy this type of show. After all, there isn't anything wrong with verbal clashes, as they can be quite entertaining, but the lyrics must neither promote nor incite violence! MR. STING please clean up the acts and bring out the positive attributes that you are capable of!
I am, etc.,
ANDREA LAWRENCE
St. Catherine
