The charity stage show A St Mary mi Come From will not be held this year.

The event organised by deejay Capleton as part of his the work to give back to deserving institutions and organisations in St Mary, the parish of his birth, returns to its long-standing August 5 date come next year and not November this year.

The organisers are pointing to the damage caused to the roadway leading to the Gray’s Inn Sports Complex in Annotto Bay, where the show is held, as the major reason behind the postponement of the event.

Campleton’s Manager Claudette Kemp explained that after a review of certain key factors, the planning committee has decided to move the date for the event.

“We realise that the recent heavy rains have taken a huge toll on the roads and we have taken the decision to move the date. The change in the weather pattern and the poor condition of the road leading to the venue, together with other circumstances beyond our control, have forced us to postpone the staging of ‘A St Mary Mi Come From’ from November this year to our original August 5 date. ‘A St Mary Mi Come From’ journeyed to Kingston in 2018, after its 2017 staging was flooded due to heavy rainfall in St Mary. The move outside of the parish did not sit well with some St Mary residents and, listening to the concerns, Capleton decided to take the charity event back to his roots and also to reclaim the August 5 date.”

“It comes down to this, when the people speak we listen, and when nature speaks we must listen. The people of St Mary stated in no uncertain terms that they not only want back their show, but the want a summer show, so we just are being true to our core audience. At the same time the weather pattern has been clear and we are just making sure we stay on the side of caution,” Kemp continued.

The 2018 staging at the National Arena in St Andrew was cut short by cops who pulled the plug after the event went past its 2:00 am cut off in keeping with the stipulations of the Noise Abatement Act. The event also suffered from poor patronage. For many including the organisers, the indoor venue changed the dynamic of the event, which had become known as a ‘rootsy’, outdoor event in St Mary. As a result the organisers immediately began searching for an alternative venue and did not rule out the possibility of staying in the Corporate Area.

However, in February of this year Kemp and her team announced that the event will return to St Mary in November.

A St Mary Mi Come From was first held in 2000 at Clements Park as Capleton’s way of giving back to his parish. The dancehall deejay has continued the initiative making donations to several schools and hospitals in and outside the parish.