Fans indisciplined at Sean Paul show
-Promoters say they will not hold another show in Guyana
Stabroek News
April 22, 2003
Promoters of last Saturday’s ‘Easter Fest’ at the Guyana Cricket Club (GCC) ground, Rawle Ferguson and Kurwin Bollers vowed never to hold another show in Guyana following the riotous behaviour of the crowd at the show.
The two recently held the ‘Mash Washdown,’ featuring Barbados up and coming star, Rupee, at the Splashmins Fun Park on February 24. Easter Fest featured Jamaican dancehall superstar Sean Paul, among others.
Seal Paul who began singing in his early teens burst onto the dancehall scene in 1994. He has since had four successful albums and several top grossing singles including the mega hits, Gimme de light and Deport dem.
Paul visited Guyana as part of a Caribbean tour. He performed in Trinidad last Thursday and was scheduled to do another show in Antigua on Sunday.
The show, which was dubbed a “Family affair,” and slated for an afternoon start at 4:00 pm sharp, got underway after 10:00 pm and lasted a mere two-and-a-half hours. Promoters cited Paul’s late arrival for the delay.
Paul, who was expected in the country at 2:00 pm, arrived an hour late. After making a few stops around Georgetown the superstar rested before his performance later in the evening.
Scores of dancehall fans filled the GCC ground as early as 7:00 pm to get a glimpse of the Jamaican superstar, his electrifying dancers and supporting artistes Cecile, Determine and General Degree.
Local band, Mingles Sound Machine entertained the crowd before the foreign artistes appeared on stage. Cecile, Determine and General Degree to a lesser extent, failed to make a splash with the audience.
With confidence and zeal the three entertainers belted out some of their most popular hits. During their respective performances the crowd engaged in various forms of indiscipline.
A section of the crowd smoked cannabis, much to the disapproval of other fans, while one excited fan discharged several rounds from a gun at intervals. Others used the time to repeatedly lock fists and disturb the peace.
Paul, who took to the stage a little after 11:00 pm opened his act with the hit single, Get busy, and sent the visibly weary crowd into a frenzy. He kept the momentum going for some time before delivering a few cheerless numbers.
After some 45 minutes Paul’s act came to an end with the popular Gimme de light. At that point some fans had already left the ground and others were making their way out.
Speaking with Stabroek News after the show, promoter Rawle Ferguson said he was disappointed with the behaviour of some of the fans, and as a consequence, would not be promoting a show here again.
According to him they [the fans] were oblivious to the efforts that had gone into the production.
However, Ferguson maintained that the show had been a success, despite the many hiccups. He said Paul was ecstatic after his performance and had vowed to visit Guyana once again. (Iana Seales)
