6 days ago
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Co-founder of Ghetto Splash, Patrick Roberts, is commending the member of Parliament for West Central St Andrew, Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness, for stepping in to ensure that ‘Ghetto Splash’, the annual free stage show in his constituency, is held tomorrow.
“This year has been extremely challenging as it relates to sponsorship ... much more than other years ... but we had faith that something good would happen and it did,” a grateful Roberts told The Gleaner.
“We confirmed the artistes and pushed out with the fliers and posters even without having all the funding, but late last week, the MP reached out, and also the Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange, and after hearing our plight, they gave their assurance that they would take care of all the costs for sound, stage and light,” shared Roberts.
He said that securing the funds to pay for those critical elements was his greatest challenge.
“Prime Minister Holness is doing all he can to make Ghetto Splash happen this year, and I have to highlight it. We are on different sides of the political fence, but that has not been a barrier ... I have to express my gratitude to him, and also to Minister Grange, for saving Ghetto Splash this year,” said Roberts, who is also councillor for the Molynes Gardens Division.
Ghetto Splash is this year celebrating its 35th staging overall and it’s 10th staging at the Waterhouse Mini Stadium in Drewsland.
Roberts, while lamenting that Wisynco, which was onboard for nine years, did not renew its sponsorship through the energy drink, Boom, this year, was also quick to commend sound, stage and light company, Clear Sound, which he described as “a giant in the staging of Ghetto Splash”.
“Over the years, Kelvin Osbourne of Clear Sound has stuck with Ghetto Splash through thick and thin. He always gives us a special rate, but the reality is that the services that his company provides don’t come cheap. And, the greatest thing is that Clear Sound always bring their best equipment to Ghetto Splash. They give us the Sumfest treatment for a Ghetto Splash price and we really appreciate that,” Roberts said.
He has plans to award plaques to those persons and entities who have always supported the event. Up for this honour this year, to mark one decade at the Waterhouse Mini Stadium are Clear Sound, Ruff Kut band, Sample Man, Burger Man, Downsound Entertainment and the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Council.
“Burger Man and Sample Man are present at Ghetto Splash as emcees every year and they do it for free. Ruff Kut always saves the date for us and it’s never about money. And we can always count on Joe [Bogdanovich of Downsound] for sponsorship. This year he called me to say that perhaps he wouldn’t be able to come through and I totally understand. He is staging the big Kartel show, Freedom Street on New Year’s Eve. But he gave me that respect to call from early out and tell me,” Roberts said.
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Roberts makes no idle boast when he said that “Ghetto Splash always have the biggest of the biggest acts every year” and, as usual, he emphasised that “they all perform for free, as it is their pleasure to give back to their fans in this way”.
Asked to name the headliners for tomorrow’s event, his quick response was, “Too many to call”.
Among the acts for this pre-Christmas bash, which is always stages on the third Tuesday in December are Beenie Man, Luciano, Aidonia, Govana, George Nooks, Tarrus Riley, Macka Diamond, Jesse Royal, Tommy Lee, I-Waata, Skeng, N’Hance, D’Angel, Jashii, 10Tik, Pablo YG, Jamal, Skippa, Renee 6:30 and Mr Easy.
Roberts added that everything will be safe and secure for patrons.
“The St Andrew South police ... that’s Hunt’s Bay ... is in charge and they will be all over the venue. The police increased the number of boots on the ground at the event from last year, and we have their assurance that everything is in place for the usual safe and incident-free staging of Ghetto Splash,” he explained.
Ghetto Splash has its origins in the Craig Town community from which Roberts and Beenie Man hail. It was first held in 1989.
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