The handbag of a patron, at Air Jamaica's Jazz and Blues Festival, that had been sliced at the side, allegedly by crafty pickpockets during a congestion caused by a disorganised shuttle system on Thursday night. - FABIAN LEDGISTER
DESPITE A SPECTACULAR night of premiere entertainment, theft, chaos and confusion reigned at the end of Thursday night, first night of the Air Jamaica's Jazz and Blues Festival.
Held at the beautiful Rose Hall in Montego Bay, St. James, a disorganised shuttle system ruined the night for many patrons, as delays and miscommunication resulted in reports of hundreds of patrons fighting to get unto buses.
"I was scared and confused ... After having to walk a distance to the main road to wait on a shuttle bus, I couldn't believe what I was seeing ... I saw an elderly couple being shoved to the ground, persons putting their hands into people's pockets and purses ... Good show or not, this is unacceptable," stated a patron.
Patrons who experienced the ordeal, were highly disgruntled and shocked that an event of this stature could have such poor organisation and security.
MORE SECURITY
"This aspect of the event was not properly organised, as there needed to be a single line to the buses, and more security .. If this was done then there would have been less pushing, and no 'first-come-first-serve' attitude among the patrons," explained Janet Flynn, a Cayman citizen who was among the unfortunate patrons.
Aside from pickpockets and the elderly persons being pushed to the ground, one patron will have vivid memories of the ordeal, as she later discovered a seven-inch slash in the side of her handbag.
"There I was looking at the mayhem, oblivious to someone slicing a large hole in my bag...John Legend was excellent and i'm not bashing the event, but this lack of security was just ridiculous," exclaimed Mrs. Juliet Kossally-Chang, a businesswoman from Kingston.
Mrs. Chang reported the matter to some of the persons who were in charge of security for the event and was told they were in the process of changing two security companies that had been contracted. They assured her that the matter would be reported to the police.
Efforts to contact Walter Elmore, one of the promoters for the event, proved futile up to press time, as several attempts to call his cellphone were met with voice mails. Messages were left.
Police, however, confirmed some of the allegations of the patrons. "I know that on the way back to the 'car park,' there was some congestion, caused by the shuttles not being clearly marked to the respective parking areas ... The promoters were advised to make the necessary preparations for the following night (Friday), and they must have done so as there was no repeat of that night's occurrence," explained Superintendent Warren Clarke, of the Montego Bay Police Station.
MASSIVE CONGESTION
Though he attested that there was a massive "congestion," Supt. Clarke could neither confirm nor deny allegations of multiple robberies during the ordeal, nor a report of any bags being cut.
"There are 13 stations in the parish and I'm not privy to all reports first hand, but it would be foolhardy to think that with a crowd of this magnitude, there would not be thieves within the midst ... Only in heaven would you expect that," jested Sup. Clarke.
Although most patrons that had experienced Friday morning's ordeal were highly critical of the lack of organisation in the shuttle system to get them to their parked vehicles, they still lauded the night's performances.
"It was a horrible experience, but Shaggy and John Legend were amazing and the show was superb ... Promoters need to ensure that this will not happen again because I'll definitely be there next year," explained Mrs. Chang.
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