Queens, NY: Irie Jamboree, North America’s premier reggae festival will not be held this year. A release from the executive team said they “made the agonizsing decision to forgo the seventh annual staging this year” and instead focus resources on planning for the 2011 festival and “promise another spectacular, exciting presentation then”.

Among the reasons stated for the annual concert being forced into hiatus this year is the recession. “The economic recession being experienced by the US economy has had a grueling disproportionate effect on the diaspora Caribbean community. The average Caribbean family has seen an average 20% to 30% decrease in household income when compared to last year, this according to New York State’s most recent unemployment data. The sensitivity of these issues is not lost to us the organisers of Irie Jamboree. Having examined the possibility of reducing the entrance charge for the event we recognise that we would be unable to host the event without absorbing a significant deficit in 2010,” the release stated.

The organisers also named “artistes visa cancellation/incarceration” as another factor and listed the status of the following headlines acts in reggae/dancehall as proof: Buju Banton, incarcerated; Beenie Man, no visa; Bounty Killer, no visa; Busy Signal, no visa; Movado, no visa; Vybz Kartel, no visa; Ninjaman, incarcerated; Jah Cure, no visa; Sizzla, no visa and Luciano, no visa.

Also of concern is the 8 pm shutdown of the Roy Wilkins Park in Queens, where the event is held annually. The New York City mayor’s office through the 113th precinct in Queens, has issued orders for events in area parks to be concluded by 8pm (EST).

“This puts tremendous pressure on particular promoters. The event is generally scheduled to end at 10 pm. It is unreasonable to expect the team of professionals who plan and organise the concert, and whose resources are already strained to terminate the show at 10pm even under the best of circumstances. This 8 pm cut off equates to nothing short of production suicide,” the Jamboree team explained in their statement.

Of note is claims of the stagnant state of reggae/dancehall music currently. “Those promoters who have ventured to host outdoor events these past two years have reported significant losses due primarily to unprecedented low attendance numbers. Amongst other salient reasons, not unlike what Jamaica’s Usain Bolt did for the sport of track & field, the music industry needs to be potently re-energized; an adrenalin shot of sorts. Irie Jamboree is one of the many casualties of the arguably recent lull in the music, and by extension the industry at large that breathes life into it,” the

Listed among their “other variables” are the recent acquisition of Air Jamaica by Caribbean Airlines which has resulted in the loss of one of the event’s greatest allies and the recent upheaval in Western Kingston and the events surrounding the extradition of Christopher “Dudus” Coke to the United States.

“This is an international incident that has had a plethora of adverse ripple effects throughout the Diaspora, and implications across economies, from which very few have emerged unscathed. Suffice it to say that this has deemed this 2010 as being a less than opportune year for the concert promoting business. That said, we remain confident that Irie Jamboree 2011 will continue the trend in being the best, and most celebrated reggae concert in North America,” the release stated.

It continued, “As we make plans for the 2011 staging of Irie Jamboree, we are hopeful that the Government of Jamaica will see the need to allocate a portion of the US$10 million for Jamaican festivals in the Diaspora. This money we are told is earmarked for the tourism sector to be used to improve Jamaica’s image in the post “Dudus” disaster. Fact is that international festivals like Irie Jamboree has opportunities for valuable public relations exposure for Jamaica. The festival boasts a solid track record of quality production and enjoys popular support in the community. Like the Jamaica Jazz & Blues festival that received US$40,000 a few years ago from the JTB, Irie Jamboree is well positioned and can continue to help to promote Jamaica’s music and culture. The success and longevity of this festival will go a long way in helping to repair Jamaica’s tarnished image in New York, regarded as the media capital of the world,” the release concluded.