‘Jesus was at Freedom Street’ - Patron wants Kartel to become man God intends

While many persons over a 'certain age' choose a place of worship to start a new year, for 50-year-old Dr Natanya Duncan, "Jesus is also at Freedom Street" and that's where she chose to ring in 2025 - celebrating with her favourite deejay, Vybz Kartel.

"I come Jamaica regularly but Kartel got me to get on the plane for New Year's Eve in Jamaica," said Duncan, who's been living in New York for the past 30 years.

"What Vybz Kartel has done for Jamaican/black diaspora, for reggae music on a global level, is something to witness in person and it is to be commended," said Duncan, adding that despite the public's criticisms of the renowned deejay, "none of us are perfect people". Duncan said she grew up on the deejay's music and named Fever, as one of her favourites.

Fashionably dressed in a black and silver onesie pants suit with matching silver sneakers and accessories, the 'naturally curved' Duncan strutted around the National Stadium with grace and class, as intrigued patrons watched in awe at her beauty and physique. When asked the secret behind her very youthful beauty and fit build, she stated "drink water and pray", with a laugh.

"This is me, this is natural. This is cornmeal porridge and dumpling baby. This is yam and green banana baby - this is natural food," a chirpy and vibrant Duncan uttered.

Despite a four-hour flight delay to get to Jamaica due to the volume of air traffic, the music enthusiast said she cherished the good times spent in Jamaica.

"I also went to Agent Sasco's 'Grateful' concert and that was a beautiful experience - showers of blessings, and I am so glad that I was able to arrive in time to witness it because my flight was delayed twice because Mr Kartel cork up air traffic...but I didn't mind. This is a beautiful time in Jamaica and I'm just looking forward to all the good things because God's grace is completely sufficient," an emotional Duncan shared.

She said that even while Kartel was behind bars, she was "hoping and praying that he would evolve into the man God called him to be".

"Listening to some of his interviews, I think he's getting there - he's evolving and growing and I hope that he continues on that path, because there are so many people in the black diaspora that look up to him, imitate, 'big up' Vybz Kartel. Yuh realise the reach [and] power that he has and the ways that he's been blessed and he got to use that to do good things," she opined.

When asked about honouring the new year in Church instead of a secular space, Duncan replied "This is my church."

"I know God through dancehall - yes I grew up in the church but I know more about God listening to my dancehall artistes. Mi neva leave out God yet. I never leave out the resurrected Christ...he's here right now [because] he's in me, is him bring me here," she expressed passionately.

Holding back the tears, Duncan struggled for a moment when asked what she would tell Kartel if she got a chance to meet him.

"Wow...in all honesty, [I'd say] 'Go and sit with Lizard's [Clive Williams'] mother; respect Lizard's mother," she said, referring to the man for whose murder Kartel and three others were incarcerated before having their convictions squashed. Duncan also opined that that if Kartel is using the name 'Gaza' for his Portmore-based following, the 'Gaza Nation', then he should also lend a supportive voice to the Palestinians currently involved in a war.

Freedom Street, which ignited the National Stadium on Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, saw thousands of local and international patrons packing in to witness a magical, historical, almost four-hour long session of entertainment with Kartel and friends in concert, celebrating his freedom after spending more than 13 years being incarcerated.

Among the performers were Spice, Popcaan, Lisa Hyper, Gaza Indu, Shawn Storm, Bounty Killer, Tommy Lee Sparta, Busta Rhymes and Shatta Wale.