Emancipation Day came early for residents of the section of Waterford, St Catherine known as ‘Gaza’ as their almost 13-year-long call to “Free Kartel, free Worl Boss” was finally answered.

As president of the Court of Appeal Marva McDonald Bishop announced that the panel of judges had decided against a retrial and would order the release of hometown entertainer Vybz Kartel and his co-accused residents on the Gaza erupted in joy.

Kartel, whose given name is Adidja Palmer, along with Shawn “Shawn Storm” Campbell, Kahira Jones and Andre St John were convicted of the September 2011 murder of Clive “Lizard” Williams.

However, with Wednesday’s ruling the entertainer and his crew were set free, with the exception of Jones who is facing another charge.

News of the ruling quickly spread on the Gaza, sending residents into wild celebration.

Noting that Kartel’s freedom came just in time for Emancipation Day celebrations on August 1, the residents repurposed the national holiday.

“It’s Kartel National Freedom Day not Emancipation Day. Gaza Freedom Day,” Kareem Beckford told the Jamaica Observer.

Another resident, who gave his name only as ‘Gazaman’, declared, “We know they have to give him a public holiday so mi like how they did it. They did it the day before the holiday so dem nuh have to cut a work day to be a public holiday. It just happen naturally. We get a holiday tomorrow. We give thanks for that. So great.”

Gazaman told the Observer that he was awaiting the ruling outside the Court of Appeal from 7:15 am on Wednesday.

The ruling was handed down some time after 2:20 pm and by 2:40, Gazaman was back in his Portmore community celebrating with family and friends.

“Bwoy, mi cyaa even talk how mi feel… mi feel so great, great, great. Mi ah one of the fans dem weh a push this case from the start to the end, so you must know how mi feel,” said Gazaman.

“When mi lef court, a tears come from mi eye. Ah swear from mi heart, mi a tell yuh. Mi have to leave town, come back a Portmore cause mi affi a work but mi nah lie, the whole case a history, everything a history. When we talk bout greatness, we talk bout Vybz Kartel, so great. It’s a history day,” added Gazaman.

For Aaliyah Grant, who celebrated her birthday on July 30, the ruling was the best birthday gift.

“Mi feel like fi cry. Oh God, the time has come. Time come, time come. Best birthday gift. What a thing, eh,” said Grant, declaring that she always believed Kartel would be freed.

According to Grant, she wants the entertainer to take a different approach for the community.

“Mi not even wah the boss deh yah. Mi nuh wah the boss deh yah. Mi want the boss just tek a different approach and stay from far and love we,” she shared.

As the celebrations continued and the community came alive with the entertainer’s music filling the streets, residents could be heard chanting “weh di weed deh, weh di henni [Hennessey] deh”.

One resident was overwhelmed with emotions as she soaked in the excitement, commenting, “A di real Emancipation Day this.”

Meanwhile, a man who described himself only as Kartel’s right hand told the Observer, “We just glad seh the boss free, man. A long time, too. Bout time now. We did a hope for the best, still.”

He said he hopes the artiste will focus on progressing his music career.

“A progression same way, man. A progressive youth. Do him tune dem same way and know seh the likkle thugs dem, we alright, we nah give nuh trouble, nuh war, nuh shot, nothing nah gwaan inna the scheme,” said the man, who did not give his name.

He continued, “Nice place we deh, so mi glad how Fada God set the thing and know seh yeah, Shawn Storm same way. Kahira Jones same way. Mi glad and pray fi dat. Ah dat fi happen. Ah God a God.”

Sean Henry, who has lived in Waterford for years, said he expects Kartel’s return to society to bring economic benefits to the community.

“Being free means more trades, more business, more employment, a lot more. We’re just grateful to have back one of our family and I know he is very ecstatic just to get his health good and just to see his family. So let’s go,” said Henry.

“A lot of this has been tampered with and a lot more things so, yes, we had expected that. Thanks to everybody that had believed and it’s just free Vybz Kartel, as in the entertainer and free Adidja Palmer back to society,” added Henry.

Lawyers representing Kartel and his co-accused appealed their conviction in 2020, but the murder convictions were upheld.

The appeal was then taken to the United Kingdom-based Privy Council, and on March 14, 2024, their murder convictions were overturned on the grounds of juror misconduct.

The Privy Council also remitted the case to the Jamaican Court of Appeal to decide whether there should be a retrial.

Wednesday’s ruling ends a long court battle to free Kartel and his co-accused in a moment his hometown community has labelled “historic”.