Ghetto Splash deserves more respect - Organiser believes corporate Jamaica should take another look at event

Following another successful staging of Ghetto Splash, event conceptualiser Patrick Roberts is urging corporate Jamaica to take another look at the show and reconsider channelling their support behind it.

Having attracted a huge crowd to the Drewsland mini-stadium in Waterhouse, St Andrew, on Tuesday night, the 30th anniversary of the event saw performances from some of Jamaica's best in the industry, including the likes of Grammy-winning artistes Sean Paul and Shaggy.

Roberts wants sponsors to focus on what the show is capable of delivering and not the fact that it is held in the inner city and dubbed 'Ghetto Splash'.

"Look at this product, Ghetto Splash. Don't look at the name 'ghetto', because the production is equivalent and on par with a Reggae Sumfest. When yuh hear Ghetto Splash, is not a ghetto thing like nothing good nah come from it. It's not a mediocre thing; it's a professional event," he said. "I hope that the sponsors will come on board now, knowing that we have a next successful staging, because that's one of the things most sponsors want to associate themselves with. They want a product that is violence-free and where there is unity, and we displayed that here tonight."

He noted that the show lasted for more than 11 and a half hours "and it was great".

"We had a cut-off time at 6 a.m. and we stuck to it and finished at 5:40 a.m. You can see the people came together and worked with us. They want this to continue, and I want to keep giving them what they want," he said.

A number of politicians, including Prime Minister Andrew Holness, attended the event.

Another was Opposition Senator Dr Andre Haughton, who, in an interview with THE STAR, joined in on the plea for sponsorship.

"Sometimes corporate Jamaica don't understand exactly what's happening at these events because they don't visit these spaces. I want to advise sponsors to pass through these events and see how spectacular they are. I'm here tonight and I'm looking at at least 5,000, 6,000 people, which would be good exposure for a lot of sponsors," he said. "I think sometimes they underestimate the value of what exactly is being proposed, and they really need to pay attention to this event. A platform like this is too important for us to allow it to discontinue. We must not let that happen."

Munga, Popcaan, Beenie Man, Capleton, Tarrus Riley, I-Octane, D'Angel, Kemar Highcon and Jahvillani were among the acts that performed at this year's staging of Ghetto Splash.