The Jamaica Star :: Entertainment :: 'A St Mary Me Come From' set for prompt start

Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer

Capleton. - Winston Sill photo

A long line-up for the 2008 staging of 'A St. Mary Me Come From' was announced at the concert's official launch on Tuesday evening at the Top of the World, Jamaica Pegasus hotel, New Kingston, on Tuesday evening.

The annual stage show takes place at the Gray's Inn Sports Complex, Annotto Bay, St Mary, on Tuesday, August 5.

But although Capleton, who stages the concert, Sizzla, Beenie Man, Cocoa Tea, Jah Cure, Anthony B, Ninja Man, Richie Spice, I-Wayne, Lutan Fyah, Chuck Fender, Munga Honourable, D'aville, Noddy Virtue and many others are on the bill, it is slated to end early by stage show standards.

Ainsworth Williams, in giving the security details of the show, ended by saying that it would be starting early, reminding those present about the restrictions of the Noise Abatement Act. It stipulates a cut-off time of 2:00 a.m.

Children's treat

At the end of the launch's formalities, before the guest performances, Capleton's personal manager Claudette Kemp said that after the children's treat during the day, the main concert starts at 9:00 p.m., Roots Hi-Power and Cavemen taking charge from 6:00 p.m. until showtime. And, by 9:30 p.m., top performers would be on the stage in order to ensure a good run up to 2:00 a.m.

"Until we get some news about an extension, we have to work towards that," she said.

Guest speaker Miguel Lorne was not amused about the cut-off time. He said that as he sat and listened to persons speak about how much the show has given back to the community, "I said to myself, why should a show like this end at 2:00 a.m.?"

Capleton's charity work

"How can Sumfest go on to 6:00 a.m. and you stop a show that, to me, is doing a lot more for the people of this country than Sumfest?" he demanded.

He said that Sumfest does bring in a lot of money, but questioned where the profits are directed, noting that the proceeds of 'A St Mary Me Come From' do not go into hotels and big businesses.

They do go towards charity and Capleton's charity work which took top billing on Tuesday evening, as a number of persons spoke about how much he has used the proceeds of the concert to help others.

Caplteon's manager, Claudette Kemp, said 'A St Mary Me Come From' "marks Capleton's contribution to the community", naming the Port Maria Hospital (a new X-Ray machine), Islington High School (a computer lab) and the Annotto Bay Hospital ($500,000 to build a waiting area for patients) among the numerous beneficiaries over the years.

Beneficiaries

"This year's beneficiaries won't be a long list," she said. They are the Port Maria Primary School, the Port Maria Hospital, the Annotto Bay Hospital, the St. Mary Police Youth Club netball and football teams and a proposed recording studio for the people of St Mary.

Among the guest performers on Tuesday night were I-Nubia, Begane N'Dour from Senegal, Noddy Virtue and Jodian Pantry and students of the Jacks River Primary, Haile Selassie High and Oberlin High schools.