Sadeke Brooks, Staff Reporter

Patrons dance at the Puma Finish Line show held at Marketplace. - file

Finish Line is getting set to stage their show this Saturday, after having advertised three different venues where the event should have been previously been held.

The new venue will be at the Palisadoes Go-Cart Track on June 21. The event was renamed 'Finish Line The Summer Edition: Stop The Violence'.

Finish Line was originally scheduled to take place after GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Championships finals on March 15. However, the event was not held as the police believed violent clashes were likely to erupt among students at the events as this has happened over the years. Another after-champs party 'Up To The Line' was only given a permit a few days before the event although permission was earlier denied.

Too big, no permission

In the initial stages Finish Line was held at Market Place on Red Hills Road, but promoters say it outgrew the venue, and was then slated to be held at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre earlier this year, but the promoters were not granted permission by the police.

In the meantime, all seems to be set for this Saturday's event as promoters says Vybz Kartel and Mavado will be performing on the same stage.

This Saturday's event, was being advertised for the Police Officers' Club but the venue changed at the last minute due to complaints from the public.

Noise concern

One of the promoters for Finish Line, Maurice Williams says the event will not be held at the Police Officers' Club as the public was concerned that the noise would affect the nearby Andrews Memorial Hospital on Hope Road.

However, he said the noise would not have affected the hospital as the sound boxes would not be put on stage where the noise would travel far distances, but around the grounds so that it would be contained. It has been moved to its new location where the noise might not be a problem.

'No Violence' theme

Nonetheless, the 'No Violence' theme was chosen as the promoters want to show that they are not in support of violence in society.

Another promoter for the event, Dexter Patterson said Vybz Kartel and Mavado, who were once rivals, will perform on the same stage at the event, but it is not yet confirmed if they will perform together. He says both are in support of stemming the violence in society.

"They all said they want to play a part in stemming the crime in the country and for the kids sake. The artistes have come together to spread the no-violence and love in society," he told THE STAR.

He added, "People were saying that where Mavado and Kartel perform there is always violence, but they have come together to show that they are not in support of the spiralling violence in society."

Other acts that will be at the event include Lutan Fyah, Coppershot, CD Master, Chromatic, Little Richie, as well as other guest performers.

Proceeds from the event will go towards the $1.5-million surgery of a child who has lost her hearing.