Kandré McDonald, Freelance Writer
The women came out in their best 'ghetto couture' dresses at Rendezvous, Temple Hall Estate, on Saturday, May 10. - Nathaniel Stewart photos
"Lock off that, now. Nuh call nobody. Two o'clock is the law and we give you until three. When mi seh lock off that, mean me mustn't hear any amps or sound," a police officer ordered last Saturday night at Rendezvous, staged at Temple Hall Estate, St Andrew.
"Yuh want mi come pull the plugs fi yuh?" he added.
With that said, there was an exodus from the VIP area, and despite the fact that there was no announcement made, the persons in the general area quickly got an idea of what was transpiring backstage and soon followed suit.
However, it did not just end abruptly for many of the patrons, who openly voiced their disgust at the revived attempt by the lawmen to enforce the Noise Abatement Act. "A we the people fi get the blame because things neva suh bad under the PNP. Nuh unnuh talk 'bout unnuh want Labour (JLP)," one man argued.
When THE STAR team arrived at the venue at midnight, it was basically empty. A few persons dotted small sections of the large venue as the music echoed, trying to fill the void. When the selector behind the turntable played a hard-hitting song, he blurted into the microphone: "Yuh can imagine if the lawn did full a woman?"
More energy
With the Bug Rhythm in full swing and Wayne Wonder singing Keep Dem Coming, the selector got vocal once more, this time declaring, "Mi a go put some energy inna di thing now".
Turbulence gestures on his way out of the abbreviated Rendezvous.
The first and only fragment of information that grabbed the patrons' attention before the arrival of the police was the reminder by a selector that the May 12 deadline by some Canadian Gay Groups to abolish buggery laws was approaching.
The patrons responded fervently when the selector played Bounty Killer's Eagle and The Hawk in response.
The first performer hit the stage at minutes to three Sunday morning and kicked off the performance segment of the show. Fresh act artiste Savage followed, and immediately launched an attack on the Portmore Empire and its leader, Vybz Kartel.
Soon after, four police cars made their way to the entrance of the venue to join the other officers who were already present. The writing was on the wall. The party stopped well before it had started to heat up.
Several entertainers slated to perform, including Bounty Killer, Mavado, Busy Signal, Turbulence, Future Fambo, and Vybz Kartel, did not get a chance to set foot onstage, although some of them were present.
A policeman motions to the selectors to end Rendezvous - Nathaniel Stewart photos
This patron soaks up some of the fun.
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