Organisers feel that Eek A Mouse's racial outburst towards the other artistes was unacceptable.

Organisers of the Carifest CARES concert have removed Jamaican artiste Eek A Mouse from the event line-up. The organisers for Carifest CARES made this decision based on Eek A Mouse's outburst at the June 4 press conference and have cited his "inability to realise the seriousness of the issue the festival is trying to raise awareness for as well as his refusal to apologise" for statements made.

Carifest CARES has teamed up this year with Keep A Child Alive, an organisation dedicated to help fight the AIDS epidemic in Africa which crosses all racial barriers. The concert is scheduled for Sunday, July 6 at the USTA National Tennis Center: Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing Meadows Park, Queens, NY. The organisers feel that Eek A Mouse's racial outburst towards the other artistes on the panel who have all come together from a wide array of racial and cultural backgrounds to help the cause was unacceptable.

This year's festival includes a stellar line-up of performers, including the legendary Grammy award winner Lee 'Scratch' Perry, who has been an innovator and at the forefront of the reggae music scene for 50 years; Matisyahu, who brings his fusion of orthodox Judaism and classic reggae, and the most recent addition to the line-up, Slightly Stoopid who describe their music as a fusion of acoustic rock and blues with reggae, hip hop, and punk."

In addition, there will be cutting-edge St Croix roots reggae band Midnite, Brooklyn-bred and Jamaican-raised Kayla Bliss, the up-and-coming conscious reggae crooner Uriel Hamilton, Afro-fusion reggae fronted by a soaring, soulful voice in Meta and the Cornerstones, Antigua & Barbuda's Causion who has been dubbed a 'musical archer' due to his straightforward lyrics; a young American hailing from Arkansas with his voice rooted deep in Jamaica, Joseph Israel; and Groundation who bring to the table a unique infusion of reggae, jazz and dub.

Launched in 1998 Reggae Carifest was initiated principally for uniting the West Indian/Caribbean Culture for one full day of cultural awareness, consciousness and celebration of the culture here in the United States. This festival caters to all genuine cultural expressions and aesthetics and is received by an eclectic group of people hailing from all walks of life. Reggae Carifest is also an exhibition of vision for the arts and the community in the presence of its festival.

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