The management team of popular dancehall artiste Mavado says it is planning to sue the promoters of the Monster Energy Truckfest day and night event, held last Sunday at Richmond Estate, in Priory, St Ann.

The decision came hours after a breached contract, between Mavado’s management team and organisers for the event.

A report in yesterday’s STAR, quoted one of the event’s organisers as saying there was a breakdown in communication between himself and a police corporal, at the gate.

It was reported that Mavado and his entourage approached the gate and were turned away by the police who felt Mavado’s entourage was too large. Mavado and his entourage reportedly went back to his bus.

“Mavado came to perform and an officer violated the programme … He asked the artiste how many men were with him, he told the officer six. The officer then said that he did not want so many men in the backstage area … but Mavado and his men were covered completely,” said the promoter, who declined to give his name.

The promoter also said the situation could have been easily solved, because an agreement was made and everyone already knew what their different duties were, prior to the artiste’s arrival.

“A meeting was held before the show, everyone got their different responsibilities … even if Mavado came with a hundred men … he was supposed to go in, because he was the headline of the show.”

“What we will do is to write a letter of apology to the public, because all the people need is some clarification … It is not the promoters fault, or the security guards’, it was the police,” he added.

However, when THE STAR contacted Mavado’s manager, Julian Jones-Griffith, he told a completely different tale.

“He (Mavado) didn’t get paid. I went to the venue like an hour before for Mavado to collect the balance of the payment, and there was nothing … We did not even receive passes,” said Jones-Griffith.

Half payment

Jones-Griffith said the contract stated that a 50 per cent payment be made before the event and that the rest be paid prior to the artiste’s performance. An agreement was also made for Mavado to perform and leave because he had another show to attend.

“I reached the venue before Mavado to collect the balance and he agreed to work early and move … Any show you go to, you will get 50 per cent of the money and then the rest before you perform … Up to now, I don’t hear anything from them, right now I’m planning to sue them.” Jones-Griffith said.

“When I went to one of the promoters, she said that she had the money and that she will soon pay me … I was there waiting and then I again asked about the money, them start tell me all different story.”

“Mavado came to me and ask what was happening, me tell him and he said that he had no choice but to leave, because he had another show … This mash up the whole night because we missed the other show,” Jones-Griffith added.

Despite the controversy, the show turned into a memorable event, as top performers like Busy Signal and Professor Nuts contributed positively to the night’s proceedings.

Wayne Marshall, came up strong and RDX’s stage antics provided the dance moves for the patrons.

The show, however, ended prematurely, as bottles were hurled on stage when Mavado did not take the stage.

Source: JamaicaStar