Promoter Odane Anderson, behind the One Caribbean Music Festival, has indicated that his life may now be in danger after borrowing large sums to fund the event, which ended in disaster. Anderson, founder of Jacho Entertainment, says he is now neck-deep in debt following the shocking and unsatisfactory ending of the Vybz Kartel-headlined concert in Trinidad.
Anderson revealed that in order to secure the event, he took on significant financial risk by borrowing from investors and service providers. The show went on without major international performers who pulled out at the last minute, causing patrons to demand a refund and leaving Anderson in a difficult situation as he is unable to meet his financial obligations.
“Kartel said the fans get robbed; his supporters get robbed. I get robbed too because right now my life is in danger,” he said in an interview with Guardian Media. He expressed that he has been trying to find a way to settle his debts with the various parties he owes.
According to Anderson, Vybz Kartel received the majority of his US$1.35 million performance fee in a single transfer of US$950,000. However, Vybz Kartel did not show up and blamed the promoter for failing to deliver the remaining balance in time. His withdrawal led other advertised entertainers such as Malie Donn, Rvssian, Sizzla Kalonji, and Moliy to pull out of the event. While Chronic Law fulfilled his contractual agreement and performed, patrons were angry to see only one foreign act take the stage Saturday and demanded refunds.
Statements released by some of those who withdrew cited breaches in their contractual agreements, which Anderson denied. The large sum transferred to Kartel has since caught the attention of the authorities. Trinidad and Tobago’s Acting Police Commissioner, Junior Benjamin, confirmed that the Financial Investigations Branch is reviewing the origin of the funds.
Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo also questioned how so much foreign currency was involved and requested a report from the ministry. Despite the scrutiny, Anderson insists that all financial dealings were legitimate.
He added that he even made last-minute efforts to fly Vybz Kartel in on a private jet, but they were rejected. Anderson said Kartel’s late decision to cancel the performance left no time to reschedule, which did not sit well with him.
“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,” Anderson continued.
He added that if Vybz Kartel told him he was uncomfortable with “performing in Trinidad at the moment” due to the government’s stance, he could have postponed the event. Anderson’s legal team has since reached out to the artists’ representatives, seeking details on the alleged breaches that led to the event’s collapse.