After a two-year hiatus reggae artiste Queen Kamarla has decided to bring back her Stop the Crime and Violence concert to the shores of Jamaica. The event which was created by the artiste to promote peace and unity in volatile areas across the island was first staged in Trench Town in 2017.
“From the inception of the Stop the Crime and Violence program I’ve partnered with various government agencies, non-profit organizations, and corporate sponsors to promote peace and unity in several communities across Jamaica. So far, we’ve visited over 36 inner-city communities including August Town, Trench Town, Rockfort, Greenwich Farm, Tivoli Gardens, Olympic Gardens and Seaview Gardens,” said Queen Kamarla.
The enterprising deejay whose given name is Kamarla Pitter took the event to the US in 2021 and South Africa in 2022.
“After the pandemic I partnered with some overseas based promoters to take the Stop the Crime and Violence program to troubled communities in the US and South Africa. While it was well received in these places I felt it was necessary to bring it to Jamaica because we need to curb the ever increasing crime and violence in our society,” she said.
The event returns to local shores this year in a school tour format, with the first two staging taking place at Portsmouth Primary School on March 25 – 26.
“This time we’ll be focusing on the youths in school, we have to get them to think on higher level. I’m tired of seeing all these videos floating around with children fighting in school. We have to save our children because they are the future,” said Kamarla.
The line up for these events will feature several reggae and dancehall artistes including Natty King, Tellah, Wesrock, Prophecy, LayDee Vee, Natty Sean, Benetto, Don Quality, Many Lights, Natty Sean and Stratus Gordon.
