December parties going virtual - Promoters say decision had been made months ago

Promoters of some of the island's most popular December events say the Urban Development Corporation's (UDC) decision to cancel this year's staging of its signature New Year's Eve events, Fireworks on the Waterfront and Fireworks on the Bay, come as no surprise.

They also say that, despite the potential of relaxed restrictions for the fast-approaching Christmas season, they were already gearing up to make the cancellation of their events public.

Speaking with THE WEEKEND STAR yesterday, Ghetto Splash conceptualiser Patrick Roberts said that, given the recent spike in the island's COVID-19 cases, he knew it was highly unlikely that huge events like his would be held.

"Fireworks on the Waterfront is an event supported by the Government, and so, once you see that cancelled, we (promoters) can't continue to plan no event for December," he said. "What's happening with this pandemic is unprecedented, and so, although disappointed, we cannot be too down about it. We have to be very creative in order to continue doing the things we used to. We realised from about summer that there was no way we could pack 10,000 people in a venue, and so we started planning 'Ghetto Splash 2020: The Virtual Experience'."

Final stages of negotiations

Roberts added that he and his team are now in the final stages of negotiations with a local telecommunications group to live stream the event.

Stone Love founder Winston' Wee Pow' Powell says he is also actively looking into ways to get his annual Stone Love Anniversary online.

"It's a sad time for us because, since our 21st anniversary when we start hosting the physical celebrations, we never cancel yet. We will, however, be looking into how we can do a virtual event this year, just to keep the vibes going. We nah go earn nothing from that, but there's no way we can do any form of planning for no event in December," he said. "The whole cancellation of the Fireworks make mi get nervous again innu, because if the Fireworks nah go happen, that means it is a 'no-no' for everybody. Still, we just have to sit and watch and see for now and go from there, come 2021."

Gyete Ghartey, a member of the promotional team for the New Year's Eve event, Midnight at Bal Harbour, told THE WEEKEND STAR that the show, like Fireworks on the Waterfront, attracts hundreds of people to the downtown Kingston location, and it would just not be possible to stage it this year.

"The UDC is extremely careful, and so are we. From about June, it was evident to us that our event was not possible," said Ghartey.

The annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony that is usually held in St William Grant Park the week before Christmas, is also at risk of not being held.

When contacted, town clerk at the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC), Robert Hill, revealed that the municipality was 'still deliberating' on how to proceed with the yearly event. When pressed for more details on the deliberations, Hill said that the KSAMC was not able to speak on the matter at this time, and would advise the public whenever the information is ready.