Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer

Richie Stephens - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

When Ocean Spray Unity Splash 2008 was officially launched at Carlos Café, Belmont Road, New Kingston, on Thursday evening, there was as much appreciation for the organiser as there was anticipation for the concert.

The 16th staging of the New Year's Day concert at the Llandilo Cultural Centre, Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland, will feature, among others, Bounty Killer, Jr. Reid, Mavado, Ninja Man, Queen Ifrica, Busy Signal, Muga Honourable, Jah Cure, Elephant Man, Jimmy Riley, Sugar Minott, Freddie McGreggor, Etana, Bugle, RDX, Sexy Kerry, Alaine and A2O.

"I have been doing this show for a long time," Richie Stephens said. "This show was born out of charity, to do things in the community."

"What we try to do for the people of Westmoreland is present the best entertainment package for the people. I think that the fact they have been supporting us through the years sends a signal we are doing the right thing."

Stage manager, Owen Banton, said that Ocean Spray Unity Splash 2008 will start at 9:00 p.m.

"It is going to be a tight show," he said. "Fun, excitement, this show will be one of the highest quality."

When she began her address, Minister of Culture, Information and Sports Olivia 'Babsy' Grange, invited Stephens to stand beside her as she recalled the days when he was managed by herself and 'Specialist'.

"We are proud of him," she said.

'Giving back to community'

And she also remembered the very early years of Damian 'Jr. Gong' Marley and Tarrus Riley, saying of the latter "now I am proud to say he is royal".

"It is fantastic what Richie is doing. He is giving back to his community," Grange said.

However, there is some behaviour within the music fraternity that Grange is not impressed with.

"Especially the dancehall artistes, there are some attitudes and behaviour that is taking place that is destroying the industry and good name of Jamaica," she said. "I am not going to call their names but I am going to call them in, because I have a stake in the music, just as they have. I have a stake in Jamaica, just as they have."

Grange advised the music-loving public that "when an artiste gets on stage and talks war and disrespects women, don't applaud them."

"If nothing else, I am going to ensure that we clean up the music. The artistes know who I am talking. I am saying clean up your act," grange said, going on to mention that if more artistes took a leaf out of Richie Stephens' book, there would be better families and better communities.