Sting shocker - Patron travels from Montego Bay and finds stage being torn down

With a Guinness stout in one hand and a 'draw' of herb in the other, Joseph Wright sat on a concrete wall at JamWorld Entertainment Complex in Portmore, St Catherine, on Boxing Day, bewildered and crestfallen. He had made the trek from Montego Bay, St James, eager to witness the legendary dancehall showdown, Sting, only to find workers dismantling the stage.

"Mi and mi bredrin did fi deh a the show yah later on down inna the night, but mi reach early cause a Montego Bay mi a come from," Wright told THE WEEKEND STAR about 2 p.m. yesterday.

The Montego Bay native, who had been attending Sting for eight years, was the sole patron at the venue at 2 p.m. yesterday. There were no vendors manning jerk chicken, roasted peanuts, or cane, no blaring music, and no anticipation of the 40th anniversary of what is often hailed as 'The Greatest One Night Reggae and Dancehall Show on Earth.

"I shoulda realise when mi nuh see no vendors or much activity. This nuh look good fi Sting," Wright admitted, his voice tinged with disappointment. "Mi deh here sit down and a watch and seh how dem fi a pull down stage when dem fi a put up," Wright lamented.

The abrupt cancellation stemmed from a financial dispute between Sting promoters Supreme Promotions Ltd. and Clearsound Production Services Group Limited, the contracted production company.

Clearsound revealed in a press release that it had only received $1 million of the agreed $8 million mobilisation fee by December 23, despite promises for the remaining amount. The company alleged that Supreme Promotions sent a photo of a purported $6.5 million transaction, but the funds never reached Clearsound's account.

"Clearsound Production has been paid in full, but the show, sadly, cannot go on," said Isaiah Laing, head of Supreme Promotions Ltd., blaming Christmas Day banking delays for the debacle.

Laing expressed regret, noting the ripple effect of the cancellation: "Hundreds of vendors and concessionaires have invested their money and wanted to recoup during the show, dozens of artistes have rehearsed and are waiting for their chance to shine, and thousands of patrons will be disappointed."

While Wright was blindsided, many locals had long suspected trouble brewing for Sting. A nearby taxi operator shrugged at the news, claiming financial struggles had made Sting a hard sell this year.

"Nobody nuh have money fi go every party. Christmas gone, so a Freedom Street everybody a think bout now," the operator said, referencing Vybz Kartel's highly anticipated Freedom Street concert on New Year's Eve, which boasts a star-studded line-up including Busta Rhymes, Spice, Skillibeng, and Kartel's own family members, Likkle Vybz and Likkle Addi.

For Wright, the cancellation was a crushing blow. A dedicated fan of Sting, he had hoped to see performers like Tommy Lee, Gyptian, Jamal 1Dunceman, and TikTok sensation Pops YG light up the stage.

"Mi always come fi see the clash dem. It give artistes an opportunity fi buss. Mi a artiste too, so it really disappointing fi this happen," he said, shaking his head as he walked away from the deserted venue.