In a dramatic turn of events on Easter Sunday, what was billed as a major highlight on Barbados’ entertainment calendar ended abruptly when police pulled the plug on Jamaican dancehall superstar Vybz Kartel during his performance.
Vibbian Fagan, chairman of Zulu International, the promoters behind the show, firmly defended the event’s organization, stating that Kartel was contracted to perform for one hour. However, midway through his set, law enforcement officers intervened, ordering the sound cut and bringing the concert to a halt.
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“I guess we are getting the blame also for Vybz Kartel’s short performance, but let’s be realistic, it’s not my fault,” Fagan told reporters. “The police said ‘shut down’ and came on the stage and pulled the plug. I can’t plug it back in, you know.”
According to Fagan, the organizers had submitted their running order to the police weeks in advance and secured formal approvals, with the understanding that the show would conclude by 3:30 a.m. “They asked for 15 minutes past 3:30, and then at 2:30, they tell me I must shut off the show at 3,” he said. “To me, that’s unfair.”
Fagan criticized the inconsistency, pointing out that other events such as the Hennessy show were allowed to continue until 5 a.m., even though he had also paid for police coverage up to that time. “If you’re doing it to one promoter, you’re going to give the same balance to every promoter,” he emphasized.
Despite a peaceful and vibrant crowd, free of violence or incident, authorities insisted on the shutdown. “It was nothing. There was no cursing on stage. It wasn’t anything that would warrant an early closure,” Fagan lamented.
Adding to the night’s chaos, Fagan revealed that Kartel, born Adidja Palmer, was determined to continue performing even without full sound support. “He even tried to sing without the DJ,” Fagan recounted. “But the police came to his manager and told him to pull him off.”
Kartel, clearly disappointed, expressed regret over the abrupt ending. Fagan suggested that the experience may affect future collaborations. “I’m not even sure [if I would bring Kartel back],” he admitted. “All the negative things that were said about him and the backlash we got for bringing him… It’s a decision we all have to think hard about.”
There were additional frustrations. Fagan disclosed that overseas artists were detained for hours at Grantley Adams International Airport. “The artistes came to the airport on Saturday. They were held for two to three hours for nothing,” he said, hinting at broader issues of bias against the event. “You talk about church and God, but they say God is a fair God. So where’s the fairness in that? You attack one event but let others slide.”
Responding to the controversy, Assistant Superintendent Adrian Broome clarified the police’s stance: “The organizers did not stick to the running order,” he said. Broome indicated that poor stage management and failure to adhere to the agreed 3 a.m. cutoff were key reasons behind the enforcement action.
As the dust settles, questions remain about fairness, consistency, and the treatment of certain artists and promoters in Barbados’ evolving entertainment scene. For many fans and organizers alike, the sudden end to Kartel’s performance left a sour note on an otherwise peaceful night of celebration.
Meanwhile, Fagan gave the Caribbean Music Festival show, which was held at Kensington Oval, a pass rate, lauding the public for their good behavior.
“I’m thankful that it was an incident-free event and at least 95 percent of the people who appeared on it did enjoy themselves,” he said.
He also responded to social media postings complaining about the food in the VIP section and a video showing a half-naked woman “skinning out”, noting that while surprised, he had no control over a person’s inappropriate behavior.
He added that the caterer usually worked at many big events in Barbados and had served up Caribbean cuisine.
