Disappointment as fireworks show cancelled again

For years, scores of Jamaicans flocked to Ocean Boulevard in downtown Kingston on New Year's Eve to marvel at the alluring display of fireworks.

However, for the second consecutive year, the event has been cancelled by the organisers, the Urban Development Corporation, in efforts to curb the spread of the deadly coronavirus. This year's cancellation was not well received by vendors who ply their trade by the Waterfront. But all reasoned that 'it is for the best for the country's health.'

Damion, who erected his stall by the pier earlier this month, was looking forward to making additional income at this year's fireworks show.

"Right yah now, me don't feel comfortable without fireworks with the place lock up continually so. People should a get a break, [since] dem know say the time a run back to 12'0 clock. The early curfew nah go work out for we. Me never get a Christmas sale before and me did want experience it. Right now, if a never the curfew, me feel like summen could a gwan fi we," he said.

Most Jamaicans may have to cling to the last staging in 2019 of the Fireworks by the Waterfront, which saw hundreds of persons enjoying the stellar show.

A mother-daughter duo who reside in Southside, central Kingston, make it a tradition to watch the show and to provide good food and liquor for others there.

When THE STAR visited their stalls yesterday, their faces were a picture of despair after they heard of the cancellation. Tanya Reid and her daughter Nasheba Authurs said that they may have to make alternative plans for their new year's sales.

Reid, 48, who has been present at the fireworks display for the past seven years, shared that she makes at least $50,000 on that night, from selling liquor, snacks, juices, jerked chicken, cigarettes, and even 'clappas'.

"Me think dem shoulda keep the fireworks but at the same time, if a fi the safety a the people dem with the corona[virus] weh a go round, den it is not the best for dem [to host the event]. Me really did a look forward to it but we just affi live with it. All we ago do a come out pon the day dem weh dem gi we and look work. If we get time pon New Year's night, den we ago out here. Wah day here when it was 1'o clock [curfew], down here crowded. So people ago keep them own fireworks," Reid told THE STAR.

She argued that this year's staging could have been held as persons crave some form of entertainment, having lived through the pandemic for nearly two years.

"People want dat likkle one day in the year fi feel a likkle enjoyment. Nuff people want capture the moment pon video and send it to dem family weh couldn't come see it. Me think the Government shoulda allow the fireworks cause people a walk up and down a go event same way. So wah di difference if him [the prime minister] make the fireworks keep fi the one day same way?" Reid quizzed.

Authurs, 32, said that she believes the cancellation would prevent a spike in cases, due to a large gathering in a public space. Being a mother of three, she said she would normally have her children travel with her to the Waterfront each year to enjoy the show. But this year she may have to celebrate in another way.