-deny artistes being held hostage
The promoters of the Vybz Kartel concert are hoping that the show will be held before Christmas and they have denied a report that four artistes belonging to his entourage are being held “hostage” here.
In a statement, the management of Conscious Minds Promotions said that the four artistes who arrived in Guyana for the Vybz Kartel peace concert are still here waiting to perform. Contrary to reports they are not being held hostage, the statement said adding “they are now being accommodated at a comfortable house as they await the arrival of Kartel”.
Jamaican entertainment website yardflex.com had reported that the four members of the Portmore Empire, along with Supreme Promotions’ Isaiah Laing, were being held “hostage” at a house in Guyana following Saturday’s cancellation of a show headlined by Vybz Kartel, who was a no-show.
According to the website, yesterday morning, the members of the Portmore Empire, and Laing, who had accompanied the entourage, were moved from a hotel to a private house. “The promoters took Jahvinci, Rhyno, Laing and the others out of the hotel to an unknown location. Laing was in Room 415 and Jahvinci was in Room 436,” the website quoted a source as saying. “The artistes were complaining that they were uncomfortable at first,” the source said, adding that all in the entourage were uncertain what to expect, following the move from the hotel to the unknown location. The website said that the promoter, who has reportedly lost thousands of dollars, was in negotiations with Kartel via telephone and a deal was worked out whereby the artistes would do a number of dub plates for the promoter. “They will have to sing until their throats hurt them,” it quoted the source as saying.
But in their statement yesterday, Conscious Minds Promotions said that thus far, negotiations are ongoing for Kartel to come to Guyana to perform before Christmas. “His manager Lenburgh McDonald from the comfort of the house in Guyana said he is awaiting a call from Kartel and that if all goes well the show will be staged before Christmas”, the statement said.
The promoters requested that ticket-holders hold on to their tickets. If all goes well the show will be held before Christmas or at a later date, they said. When contacted last evening, PR representative for the promoters, Mondale Smith said that Kartel still has not said that he is not coming and the negotiations are ongoing. Asked about refunds, he said that if the show did not come through, all ticker-holders would be refunded. The promoters in an earlier statement had said that from tomorrow those with tickets would have received full refunds.
Meantime the promoters also denied that Rhyno was in Guyana and said that he never was.
According to the promoters, he was scheduled to touch down with Kartel but neither of the two arrived despite a private jet being chartered. “From our end Kartel never cancelled the show but he never boarded the jet despite giving all assurances that he would have done that”, the statement said.
It went on to say that Sean Storm Jahvinci, Pop Caan and Dose of Medicine have all slammed statements of being held hostage as “lies and wicked rumors.”
“We here in ah Guyana safe and sound and ready to entertain the fans”, one was quoted as saying. According to the statement, they dubbed the recent “unfolding” as unfortunate.
The promoters expressed regret at the inconvenience caused and assured supporters that they are negotiating to make the show a reality. They said that contrary to reports, they are not aware of any death threats being made and Kartel has not communicated any information to that effect.
On Thursday, the Ministry of Education snubbed Vybz Kartel saying that it was not supporting a ‘keep the peace’ campaign involving the artiste, which was intended for the National Park on Friday.
The ministry spoke of reaffirming its commitment to moulding the minds of young people in a statement released on the event, adding that part of its mandate is to promote wholesome and healthy lifestyle choices.
It was only recently that Vybz Kartel and his lyrical rival Mavado made a pact to keep the peace and end the ‘Gully-Gaza’ feud, which had been brewing between them for some time now. The feud had spilled into the streets of Jamaica fuelling school violence on the island and also had a bit of an impact here.
