MONTEGO BAY, St James

Root House, a group of Montego Bay musicians, is planning to stage a big welcome home fete for jailed singer, Siccature ‘Jah Cure’ Alcock, who is serving time in the Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre for rape, robbery and illegal possession of firearm.

The big celebration party, dubbed ‘Welcome Home Jah Cure’ is scheduled for Paradise Row, Montego Bay and will co-incide with the entertainer’s expected release from captivity in three months.

Patrons will not have to pay a cover charge.

“It will feature a lot of local entertainers not only from across western Jamaica but the entire island,” said Gregory ‘Tica’ Williams, one of the organisers of the event.

Barring any breaches of prison rules over the next three months, Jah Cure who was sentenced to 13 years in prison in 1998, is expected to be released on July 27.

Since 2004, Root House has been staging annual events under the banner ‘Jah Cure Must be Free(d)’ at Paradise Row on October 11, the entertainer’s birthday.

However, Williams told the Observer West that in light of Jah Cure’s impending release, this year’s celebrations will be brought forward to July.

It is not clear if Jah Cure will attend the event but Williams has made it clear that the party will go on with or without him.

” I haven’t heard from him (Jah Cure) in a long while but if him don’t come wi still a keep it,” he said. ” It would be joy for us though if him come because over the years we have been holding the strength for him,” he added.

According to Williams, a number of Montego Bay businessmen have signalled their intention to sponsor the event.

” Some of them sey a good thing and have decided to help us with money to buy material to put up banners and to print posters,” he said.

Many of the acts are yet to be confirmed, but Williams said already a slew of entertainers from the western region have indicated that they will participate.

“….. so far Jah Mason, Little Hero, Mr Perfect, Major Lloyd, Changa Changa, Nature, Mikey Ranks and many many more youths say they will perform,” Williams said.

Additionally, a raft of Montego Bay – based sound systems are expected to blast reggae music, particularly songs done by Jah Cure, along the narrow Paradise Row street.

Over the past three years Jah Cure’s popularity has skyrocketed following the release of a number of hit singles including Longing For, Reflections and Love is.

Jah Cure, 27, was born in Cascade, Hanover but spent most of his childhood days in Flankers and Kingston.