Teino Evans, Staff Reporter
Beenie Man (left) and Bounty Killer (right)
JULIAN LEE-SAMUELS, newly- promoted president, Jamaica Carnival, says they are expecting no problems at their 'Final Hurrah' free party today at the National Stadium car park.
The event, which was also held last year at the National Stadium, was marred by incidents of unruly behaviour involving artistes and members of the audience.
However, when asked if last year's misbehaviour by Beenie and Bounty were the reasons for a change in the line-up this year, neither Jamaica Carnival nor Cable and Wireless gave answers in the affirmative.
"Beenie Man and Bounty Killer only performed last year and the year before, but this year Digicel is our major sponsor and they have signed on for three years, and they have brought on board their Rising Star winner and finalist, Christopher Martin and Noddy Virtue," Lee-Samuels explained.
The line-up this year does not include the two-time performers, but Lee-Samuels says that this is as a result of a change of sponsorship. Last year bmobile, with whom Beenie and Bounty had deals, were sponsors of the event. However, this year competing telecommunications giant Digicel is the new network sponsor of Jamaica Carnival.
BOUNTY'S CONTRACT
"Yes, Bounty is still a bmobile artiste but his contract expires at the end of May coming, but they normally renew it every year," said Sharon Williams of Solid Agency, responsible for managing Bounty.
However, according to Bounty's management company, the incident last year had nothing to do with his absence from Carnival this year.
"He was not going to be in the island at the time (of Carnival)," Ms. Williams said.
Last year, a statement was issued by the Coalition of Corporate Sponsors, (Courts, Supreme Ventures, Digicel, Red Stripe, Jamaica Tourist Board, Cable and Wireless and J. Wray and Nephew), saying that they had taken a decision to not sponsor any more entertainment events at which dancehall artistes who incite violence, as was the accusation against Beenie Man and Bounty Killer, were slated to perform.
The decision was taken in the wake of their performance at Jamaica Carnival's 'Last Hurrah' (2005) where Bounty Killer used profane language and Beenie Man incited the audience to use the same.
Efforts to get a response from the telecommunications company regarding details of the sponsorship and artistes' performance were unsuccessful. An administrative assistant told The Sunday Gleaner that, "Mr. Errol Miller is on leave until next week and there is a sponsorship manager but he is new. The only other person is Grant Mercer, senior vice-president, marketing, who is currently unavailable."
Despite missing the two top dancehall acts, Mrs. Lee-Samuels said that the concert was the biggest of its kind in Jamaica and there will be added attractions on stage this year.
"At the stadium we have the free concert, the only one of its kind, there is no event in Jamaica that has so many people attending, over 100,000 attended the concert last year, these statistics given to us by the police and fire brigade. It will also be the first time that Byron Lee and the Dragonaires, in our 17-year history, that he will be coming off the truck and performing at the Stadium. It's just going to be a lot of energy on Sunday and as each year passes, we step up the quality of what we present to the people," she said.
The dancehall component will still be present at Carnival, however. Admiral Bailey, Voicemail, CeCile, Noddy Virtue, Christopher Martin, Oscar B, Jumo, DJ Sunshine, Razz and Biggy, Coppershot, Foota Hype, Danger Zone, Marlon Young, Jerry D and MC Lady T will all join Byron Lee and the Dragonaires to add to the fun and excitement at the Stadium car park.
SECURITY BOOST
The security will also be tighter this year, as Mrs. Lee-Samuels says they have a number of security personnel working with them for the road march and stadium concert.
"The infrastructure has been upgraded, the security has been upgraded. We have two separate committees in operation this year and we have been working closely with the police and fire department to ensure the safety of everyone who turns out. On the road, we have Peter Lue and his team and the marshalls; we have the truck security (Time and Motion), the Police and Traffic Control, Milex Security, Jamaica Carnival Private Security and under cover security. We have a good complement of more than 300 personnel on the road among the crowd, outside of the police,"
Lee-Samuels assured.
"We also walk the route prior to the event each year and there is a lot of thought and planning that go into the development ... we have had dozens of meetings with the police prior to the march," she added.
COMING ATTRACTIONS
In addition to the free concert held at the Stadium car park, Mrs. Lee-Samuels also said that they "would be adding at least 50 per cent more free events on the road next year, MoBay was a first and the turnout was great."
