The promoter behind the failed Vybz Kartel concert in Trinidad says he now fears for his life, as pressure mounts from unpaid investors and suppliers.
Speaking with Guardian Media, Odane Anderson, who runs Jacho Entertainment, said he had to borrow heavily to fund the ambitious show and is now struggling to repay those debts.
“Kartel said the fans get robbed, his supporters get robbed. I get robbed too because right now my life is in danger because of borrowing investors’ money; (I) cannot pay it back. The shareholders have to get paid. Other service suppliers have to get paid. So, my next step is to try to find common grounds to work it out,” Anderson said.
Vybz Kartel was reportedly paid US$950,000 via a single bank transfer — more than three-quarters of his contracted US$1.35 million fee — to perform at the event, which ultimately saw only one foreign act, Chronic Law, take the stage. Other big names, including Kartel, Malie Donn, Rvssian, Sizzla Kalonji and Moliy, pulled out citing contractual breaches.
Vybz Kartel blamed his no-show on the promoters’ failure to deliver the remaining portion of his agreed fee before the event took place.
Trinidad and Tobago’s Acting Commissioner of Police, Junior Benjamin, confirmed that the Financial Investigations Branch (FIB) is investigating the origin and timing of the US$950,000 payment, although no official complaint was lodged.
Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo also expressed concern about the transaction, given the country’s ongoing foreign exchange challenges. “I am also intrigued by the amount of foreign exchange being mentioned in the media reports as having been involved in this venture and I expect in other similar ventures,” Tancoo said.
“I have requested the Ministry of Finance to investigate and report,” he added, describing the effort as merely “a fact-finding effort.”
Anderson, however, continues to defend how the funds were sourced. He maintains everything was done “above board” and says he even made last-minute efforts to get Kartel into the country on a private jet, which were refused.
During the interview with the Trinidad Guardian, he again blamed Kartel’s late withdrawal for the event fallout, saying the entertainer could have pulled out earlier and allowed time for the show to be postponed.
“My problem is not him cancelling, my problem is the time he do it. If he knew he was uncomfortable with the Government restriction on him, I find weeks before or days before he could have said it and make a notice to the public, ‘Well, I’m not comfortable performing in Trinidad at the moment because of the stance the Government take’ and I would make preparations to postpone the show to move forward,” Anderson said.
Despite Anderson’s stance, Kartel issued a public statement saying the promoter was to blame for attempting to add unauthorized activities to his itinerary — some of which were blocked by Defence Minister Wayne Sturge. Vybz Kartel also said the promoter missed several deadlines leading up to the event, and ultimately, “just couldn’t manage a Kartel show.”
Anderson revealed that his legal team has contacted attorneys representing the artists who did not perform, requesting specifics on the alleged contractual breaches.
