Bounty Killer (left) and Tyrical performing at Follow The Arrow. - File

The beautiful Magnum girls had the men lusting all night at Magnum Follow The Arrow's 10th anniversary show, held at James Bond Beach in St Mary last year. - File

Marred by a bottle-throwing incident last year, promoter Dexton Ennis says he is cancelling this year's Follow The Arrow in protest against the actions of patrons who caused the premature ending of the show.

The event was in full flight last year at James Bond Beach in Oracabessa, St Mary, when Bounty Killer took the stage in the wee hours of the morning. After speaking about Black History Month, the topic changed to Vybz Kartel when he questioned: "How mi an' Kartel fi have showdown? Mi a giant!"

Not resonating well with some patrons, bottles were hurled on stage and some persons scrambled to the beach while others found the exit. The crowd later tried to reassemble but the bottles rained again. Vybz Kartel also made an attempt to restart the show but had to also make a hasty retreat as bottles pelted the stage for a third time.

disappointed

Speaking with THE STAR recently, a disappointed Ennis said he made the decision to cancel the show as a form of protest.

"Mi cancel it in protest. Mi a protest about the uncivilised behaviour by some of the patrons that brought the show to a premature end," he said.

"Mi never short-change the people yet. People mash up show and behave a certain way if the promoter does not deliver and mi sure mi deliver but it end in a way weh mi neva like."

Since making his decision, Ennis says he has been getting calls from artistes and loyal patrons begging him to keep the show. With the decision already made, he said the show is likely to return next year.

"Based on the calls and the mounting pressure from patrons and artistes, I think I will keep it back next year. I have been doing this show for 12 years and di people dem misbehave. If you coming to enjoy yourself, come, but if you coming for any other reason, don't. It was like 5:30 a.m., and everything a run good then that happen so it just hurt me," a disappointed Ennis told THE STAR.

With his event helping to bring income into the community and part proceeds from the event going to the St Mary Infirmary, Ennis says it is unfortunate that he will not be making a donation this time around.

"I express sympathy to those who benefit from the show each year. Mi really sad fi know seh they won't be getting the well-needed funds. But it's business, plus it's your reputation. We haffi just re-group and come next year with the hope seh the people dem get the message," he said.

But Ennis also pointed out that the show, like many others, was being streamed live and was being viewed all over the world. Therefore, he said Jamaicans should be mindful of the light in which the country is being sold, especially as it relates to tourism.

Following in the footsteps of Supreme Promotions' Sting that is held yearly at Jam World in Portmore, St Catherine, where the promoters prohibited bottles at the event in 2008, Ennis says he will follow suit, and no bottles will be allowed in the venue for Follow The Arrow next year.

"No bottles will be allowed, everything will be served in cups. It wasn't 100 per cent enforced before because Magnum had a bucket deal so it did kinda hard fi enforce. So instead of bucket deals, you get cup deals. If we can't give you bottles like adults, we will have to give you everything in cups like children," he told THE STAR.