分类： entertainment

Prominent Jamaican dancehall artist Vybz Kartel (legal name Adidja Azim Palmer) is facing a substantial breach-of-contract lawsuit filed by Trinidad-based event promoter Jacho Entertainment Ltd. The legal action, submitted to the High Court of Justice on January 13, alleges the artist wrongfully canceled his headline performance at the One Caribbean Music Festival in Port of Spain despite receiving over US$1.1 million in advance payments.

The dispute centers around a performance agreement executed on November 22, 2024, which stipulated Kartel would headline the festival for a total fee of US$1.35 million. According to court documents, the event was initially scheduled for February 28, 2025, before being rescheduled to May 31, 2025, though no formal amendment to the payment schedule was executed.

Jacho Entertainment claims it had fulfilled approximately 81% of its financial obligation prior to the event date, with the remaining US$250,000 scheduled for payment upon the artist’s arrival in Trinidad. The promoter attributes the delayed final payment to temporary foreign exchange restrictions in Trinidad and Tobago, which they maintain were properly communicated to Kartel’s management team.

The lawsuit alleges that Kartel failed to board his scheduled flight to Trinidad on May 30, 2025, with his management subsequently demanding full payment before his arrival—a condition allegedly not stipulated in the original contract. The artist then publicly announced the cancellation on the day of the event through social media channels.

Jacho Entertainment is seeking significant compensation for incurred expenses exceeding TT$7.3 million covering staging, production, marketing, and logistical costs. The claim includes demands for special damages, general damages for reputational harm and lost opportunities, restitution, and interest. The filing additionally references allegedly defamatory statements made by Kartel on social media that the promoter claims falsely attributed blame for the cancellation.

Legal representatives Criston Williams and Anthea Smith are representing Jacho Entertainment in proceedings that highlight the complex financial and contractual dynamics within the international music performance industry.

After more than five decades of artistic dedication, renowned artist and poet Sarah Beckett prepares to depart Trinidad and Tobago with a profound final exhibition that mirrors her lifelong connection to the nation. ‘Echoes of a Lifetime,’ hosted at Horizons Art Gallery on Mucurapo Road from January 21-24, serves as both a retrospective and heartfelt farewell before her relocation to the United Kingdom.

The exhibition assembles approximately 100 works spanning 25 years of creative output, including oils, drawings, acrylics, and gouache pieces ranging from monumental canvases to intricate miniatures. While some works have been previously exhibited, others will debut publicly for the first time. Accompanying these pieces will be a selection of Beckett’s personal sketchbooks, offering visitors an intimate glimpse into the genesis of her artistic ideas.

At nearly 80 years old and following a year of health challenges, Beckett acknowledged her children’s encouragement to relocate closer to family in the UK. She embraces this transition as an opportunity to ‘learn a new song in my 80s,’ maintaining optimism about establishing her own flat while remaining near loved ones.

Despite this geographical shift, Beckett emphasizes this does not mark the conclusion of her creative journey. While conceding that large-scale works requiring physical endurance may become impractical, she intends to continue painting on a reduced scale. Additionally, she remains engaged in developing an illustrated poetry book, a project she plans to advance within her new environment.

Beckett’s connection to Trinidad defies simple explanation. First arriving at age 20 from Southampton with her three children and Trinidadian husband, she subsequently lived elsewhere but consistently returned to the island. A 2015 relocation attempt to the UK lasted merely nine months before she recognized her unreadiness to leave Trinidad permanently, describing the nation as ‘entwined in my blood.’

Her profound affection found expression in the 2024 poetry collection ‘Iere: Living in the Land of the Humming Bird,’ where she reflected that Trinidad nurtured her development as both poet and artist. The publication stands as her lyrical tribute to the island’s beauty, cultural complexities, and enduring spirit, while also acknowledging its struggles.

The current transition inspired her newest poem ‘My Song,’ which opens with the verses: ‘Do not call this ending,/do not name it closure,/I know how to carry the sun/in the palms of my hands,/dye drab walls with color.’ These lines encapsulate her perspective that this departure represents transformation rather than termination.

Beckett acknowledges the emotional complexity of preparing her final exhibition while dismantling decades of life in Trinidad. She expresses gratitude for her extraordinary experiences and artistic opportunities while acknowledging the inherent sadness of farewell. Nevertheless, she affirms the timeliness of this decision and anticipates familial connections in her next chapter.

Her parting wisdom encourages focusing on life’s small blessings rather than lamenting circumstances, emphasizing appreciation over longing for alternatives. The exhibition not only showcases artistic legacy but embodies Beckett’s philosophical approach to transitions—honoring the past while embracing new beginnings.

PORT OF SPAIN – More than 100 children from three Trinidadian children’s homes experienced an immersive introduction to Carnival arts during Spirit Mas’ second annual Children’s Carnival Workshop at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) on January 11.

The event brought together youth from St Mary’s Children’s Home, Credo Foundation, and Rainbow Rescue for a comprehensive exploration of Carnival’s creative dimensions. Participants engaged in both theoretical and practical sessions across multiple disciplines including songwriting, costume design, deejaying, stilt-walking, and traditional soca and cultural dance.

Guiding the young participants were nationally recognized practitioners in each field. The songwriting segment, led by Freetown Collective’s lead singer Muhammad Muwakil alongside music producers Kitwana Israel, Kyle Phillips, and Mevon Soodeen, provided deep insights into musical creation. Facilitators demonstrated fundamental songwriting techniques, vocal dynamics, and the transformation of creative concepts into polished productions.

The workshop culminated in a collaborative achievement as participants composed and performed their own unofficial soca composition. Fifteen-year-old Aliyah emerged as the lead vocalist, recording verses while other children contributed supporting vocals and additional lyrics. The emotional impact was palpable when participants heard their collective work played back for the first time.

“It was shocking. It sounded amazing, and I didn’t even recognise my own voice,” Aliyah expressed, adding with hopeful anticipation, “Maybe one day I’ll be a singer.”

The program featured specialized instruction across multiple Carnival disciplines: Marvin Dowridge led cultural dance sessions, Rocstars Deejay Academy provided DJ instruction, Nkwame Martin taught soca dance, and the National Steel Symphony Orchestra introduced steelpan fundamentals. Costume design was facilitated by Nakitah Hyatali and Deshaune Fitzwilliam, while stilt-walking instruction came from the Kaiso Kai Valencia Cultural Group, with makeup artistry handled by Madame Maharaj Beauty School.

Aliyah highlighted the workshop’s significance for cultural preservation, noting: “This is a way of passing down knowledge and experience so the next generation will be educated on our culture and heritage. It’s important that Spirit continues this.”

San Fernando’s Skinner Park underwent a spectacular transformation on January 17 as thousands of music enthusiasts clad in white converged for Xperience: Equilibrium, the acclaimed cooler fete experience that marked a significant venue transition for this annual carnival celebration.

The event showcased an impressive roster of over 30 performing artists, highlighted by the iconic King of Soca, Machel Montano. Montano delivered a powerhouse performance featuring his potential Road March contender ‘Encore,’ though it was his collaborative piece ‘Pull d Pin’ with soca stars Lil Natty and Thunda that truly electrified the audience. The musical extravaganza further included stellar appearances from Nadia Batson, Bunji Garlin, Voice, Iwer George, Yung Bredda, Lyrikal, Mical Teja, Patrice Roberts, and Lady Lava.

Audience engagement reached fever pitch during Full Blown’s rendition of their massive hit ‘Respectfully Yours,’ with the crowd demonstrating unwavering enthusiasm throughout the evening. The entertainment package was enhanced by traditional carnival elements including moko jumbies, an energetic rhythm section, and a vividly painted fire-breathing character (a blue devil adorned in green) that maintained the event’s dynamic atmosphere.

This year’s relocation from the Brian Lara Cricket Academy to Skinner Park followed Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s directive prohibiting carnival events at sporting venues. Sheldon Stephen, Managing Director of Lollabee Group of Companies and event promoter, confirmed to Newsday that the production concluded without incidents or accidents. While acknowledging the successful turnout of both artists and patrons, Stephen remained noncommittal regarding whether Skinner Park would become the event’s permanent home.

Newsday photographer Innis Francis documented the vibrant spectacle, capturing images of revelers immersed in the soca experience, artists delivering memorable performances, and the sea of white-clad attendees that defined the visual aesthetic of Xperience: Equilibrium.