MONTEGO BAY, St James — Dancehall stars Beenie Man and Bounty Killer are slated to headline the inaugural staging of the Western Jerk Festival and Fun Day at the popular Dump Up Beach in this tourist resort city today.

Among other top acts booked for the event are Romain Virgo, Khago, Kiprich, Tanto Blacks, Richie West and Food Kartel.

According to Yash Bowl, one of the two promoters, proceeds from the event will go towards financing the staging of the Yash Bowl Under-16 community football league and workshop in Granville, St James.

“For the past two years we have been doing an Under-16 corner league in the Granville community where we run a football programme for delinquent youths,” he said.

He explained that the workshop, a literacy programme that targets inner-city youths, is undertaken with the assistance of students attending the Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College, located in the community.

“During the workshop we are assisted by the Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College which gives us teachers to tutor them to get them to read and write,” Yash Bowl disclosed.

The community activist was busy last week distributing 50 complimentary tickets to students in primary schools across St James to attend today’s entertainment affair.

Activities will kick off under the watchful eyes of organisers of the Boston Jerk Festival during the day with the sale and display of a variety of jerk foods, Yash Bowl explained.

The day’s activities include modelling competitions, games and much more.

The stage show is scheduled to begin in the evening with a plethora of acts from Montego Bay before the more established acts hit the stage.

Meanwhile, Yash Bowl said the inaugural staging of the jerk festival in the month of May is a tribute to the family.

“The idea behind the jerk festival staged in May is because of the significance of Mother’s Day, Child Month and Teachers’ Day, so it is a family month,” he said.