The organisers of Reggae Sumfest have released a statement explaining the non-appearance of four scheduled performers on Festival Night 1 of this year’s edition of the annual show on Friday.

The organisers in a statement on Saturday said “unforeseen issues” prevented Jada Kingdom, Valiant and Marcy Chin from making their billed appearances while Kraff, the promoters said, had an “unavoidable emergency”.

“We understand that many of you travelled from various parishes and countries to see the full lineup, and we apologise for any inconvenience to our patrons and sponsors this may have caused. We ensured all commitments were met to guarantee the festival’s overall success,” the organisers said.

However, according to the promoters, despite these challenges, the festival delivered the anticipated “surprise artiste” in superstar Miss Lauryn Hill, who performed alongside her sons YG Marley and Zion Marley much to the delight of the more than 18,000 patrons in attendance at the Catherine Hall Entertainment Complex.

“The festival remains committed to our core values and the trust you place in us. We are dedicated to working diligently to uphold the exceptional entertainment experience that our global audience expects and deserves,” the statement continued. “Our goal is to continue being the greatest reggae show on earth, a beacon of excellence that shines brightly in the world of music festivals.”