The One Caribbean Music Festival (OCMF), which is planned this evening at the Queen’s Park Savannah in Trinidad, will continue without his head artist, after being announced that the Dancehall Vybz Kartel icon will no longer perform during the highly anticipated event.
The announcement was made earlier in the evening by the artist’s management team, who, in a statement, said that “non-compliance with contractual obligations” was the reason for the end of cancellation.
“Vybz Kartel has always undertaken to offer captivating and unforgettable performance for its fans. However, we cannot in all conscience allow it to participate in an event where the organizers have not honored their basic contractual obligations,” the statement said.
The promoters of the event, Jacho Entertainment, have since responded to the ad, admitting that payment problems were at the heart of the issue.
“Vybz Kartel was officially committed to performing at the OCMF 2025 for a total sum of 1.35 million US dollars. To date, US $ 950,000 have been paid directly to the artist, while an additional $ 150,000 supplement was disbursed to his legal representative,” said the promoter.
“The remaining balance has been made available in its entirety; however, due to legal and financial regulations in Trinité-et-Tobago, the organizers could not pay the final amount in cash,” they continued.
The announcement of this evening was only another obstacle that the owner of World was confronted in his attempt to return to the Republic of Twin Island, where he played for the last time more than 15 years ago.
In May, Defense Minister Wayne Sturge said he was planning to impose restrictions on Kartel’s performance on the OCMF. He also weighed the possibility of modifying the performance permit granted to Kartel to prevent the appearances of radio or television in Trinidad.
The authorities had already prohibited Kartel with several other events – an interview with morning radio, an appearance on midday television, a visit to a school center or a youth and a cultural lunch with unpertified community leaders.
In a video on social networks, Kartel said that these events had been included by the promoter of the show and that he had no problem with the restrictions.
“There is no problem with Vybz Kartel to play in Trinidad. The necessary permits were granted. The problem lies with the promoter, who took it upon them to try to fill the Vybz Kartel route with things that have nothing to do with the performance of Vybz Kartel,” he said.
“Rightly so, the Minister of Defense disconnected part of the route, and there is no problem there because Vybz Kartel represents Trinidad, Jamaica and all the Caribbean. My job is to come and play for the inhabitants of Trinidad and Tobago,” he added.
Earlier this week, reports indicated that if the Clarks Deejay had obtained a permit to enter and play, he came to the price of the limited movement and the obligation to publish a security obligation.
It was also explained that Kartel could only do radio interviews at 9 a.m. and noon and 3 p.m. only three days before the OCMF, he could not do crime awareness activities, discussions on panels, community procedures, meet similar officials and activities and meetings at all times in Trinidad.
The promoters of the event, in their release, expressed their disappointment in the face of the absence of Kartel, but said that the show was to continue. “With all licenses, permits and staff in place, and with key artists already on the island … Fans can be assured that the show is still underway,” the promoter said in a statement.
Kartel, whose first name is Adidjah Palmer, was to perform alongside Chronic Law, Sizzla Kalonji, Rvssian, Moliy and more. However, the Ghanaian-American singer and composer Moliy then withdrew from the event, quoting a failure of promoters to respect “the main contractual obligations”.
“Moliy arrived in Trinidad ready and delighted to perform, but since landing, his team has not received any communication from the organizers of the festival. Combined with their inability to comply with key contractual obligations, this prevented the performance,” said the press release from Wondergirl and Co., the management team of Moliy.