Which was more strange, a promoter in Trinidad saying that he doesn't want to make money or Clive Pantin, community activist asking the likes of hard-core Jamaican dancehall artiste Bounty Killer to go to church, one couldn't decide.
By Cordielle StreetPantin on behalf of the Foundation for the Enhancement and Enrichment of Life (FEEL) answered yet another call to assist an aid drive for the victims of hurricane Ivan and underprivileged children right here in Trinidad.
Two birds are better than one thinks Roy Maharaj of Tri Star Promotions, who says he is not only delivering on a promise, but also raising funds for the victims of Hurricane Ivan.
The free concert is to make up for the aborted but highly anticipated "Summer Fest 2004" concert in August.
Bounty Killer did not befriend himself to local authorities who promptly arrested and charged the artiste for using obscene language in a public place a mere ten minutes into his performance at the concert.
"These guys cleaned up their lyrics before they left," claimed Maharaj. "They are coming to pay the people back," he said.
With the aid of Carib Brewery, Maharaj will stage the event either in Chaguaramas or at the Queen's Park Oval, the venue has yet to be decided upon. At a media launch, Friday, the promoter announced that he intends to bring back Bounty Killer and Elephant Man along with Wayne Marshall for the event.
According to Maharaj funds raised at the event will be split as followed; 35 per cent to Grenada, 30 per cent to Jamaica, 20 percent to FEEL's SOS Children's village and 15 per cent to Tobago. "Tri Star does not want any money."
So the concert, technically is free, but there is a responsibility to be charitable. "The more fortunate amongst us have to really come out and assist," said Colin Murray, Public Relations Officer, Carib Brewery.
The concert will be divided into five parts, with a host of performers. Maharaj has asked attendants to walk with their donations.
For the soca lovers amongst us there will be Surface, Traffic, Roy Cape, Blue Ventures, Xtatik, Denise Belfon, Bunji Garlin, KMC and Red, White and Black and Maximus Dan. Representing the Hip Hop genre will be Spotrushaz, and Melo Bugs, Triveni Brass and a few other yet to be named bands will bring a chutney offering to the masses. For a little praise and thanks to the most high, Sherwin Gardner as well as a few artistes associated with the gospel star including JD and Kerwin Duncan will be there.
From Grenada Talparee, General PP and Baby Killer will perform. The concert will start at 2 p.m. and end at 2 a.m. Although Pantin confessed to first refusing to be associated with the likes of Bounty Killer and Elephant Man, the former Minister of Education reminded himself that, "thou shall not judge". "I thought Bounty Killer was going to be here...and I asked the one who chaperoned me up for five minutes with Bounty Killer," Pantin said. If the artiste was in attendance, he would have received a mouth full as, Pantin took quite a few minutes to deliver a sermon-like speech. "God gave us that talent and when we misuse that talent, God help me, you are going to lose it."
This was when the plea for artistes to attend church came in and although many laughed, one had to assume that for Pantin it was no joking matter. "We are losing our young children because all of them want to be the young artistes we see on the show," continued Pantin.
Well I guess Pantin has yet to take a listen to such songs as "Warlord Noh Business"" and "Wutless Bwoy" by the self-dubbed "poor people's governor", or he would not have hung his hopes as high as expecting to see a performance by the artiste that "your child will want to say that's my dad, that's my mom."
Either way the artistes have not only decided to make up for cancelled performances, (Elephant Man refused to perform when Bounty Killer was arrested in August) but they all have again decided to give of their time and their talents for a good cause.
With the help of this concert, FEEL and the House of Christians will open their village in San Chiquito for 44 abandoned and abused children by November and more aid will go out to those most in need. And that is a very worthy cause indeed.
