Niko’s ‘Cause’ shut down Police end fundraiser for ill selector
Niko Chromatic’s benefit concert, Dancehall for a Cause, saw an outpouring of support from the dancehall community at the Triple Century car park, New Kingston, on Saturday night.
Proceeds of the event will go towards Niko Chromatic’s surgery for kidney ailment.
However, as the party was in full swing some minutes after 3 a.m. on Sunday, the security forces pulled the plug on the proceedings, upsetting the patrons. “Officer, this is a charity event, yu nuh. You can’t lock it off like that!” one person pleaded with the cops, as the crowd hung around for minutes, awaiting a resumption which didn’t materialise.
Under the Noise Abatement Act, events held on weekends should end by 2 a.m.
A visibly shaken Niko Chromatic declined an interview with THE STAR. However, Niko’s friend and co-worker, Creep Chromatic of Chromatic sound system, was grateful for the support. Creep thanked all who assisted in the “cause” and hoped that the event met its target for Niko’s treatment.
“As the saying goes, it takes cash to care,” Dave, a patron at Dancehall for a Cause, told THE STAR, as he and friends stocked up on high-end liquor before the shutdown. “We are doing our part and others have come on board. I hope the organisers achieved their goal,” he said.
“It’s kind of sad what has happened to Niko over the past year and I hope he will get well and come back to us in good health,” another supporter, Kim, told THE STAR.
UNITY IN DANCEHALL
The musical presentations were by Team Shella, Illusion Sound, ZJ Liquid and DJ Mack. The selectors for the night said that they loved the “unity in dancehall”, as artistes, disc jocks, promoters and fans of the genre came out in numbers to show support to one of their stalwarts, who is urgently in need of help.
Artistes who attended the event included Vershon, Bugle, Tommy Lee and his Spartan crew and Tanto Blacks.
Niko Chromatic’s medical care will cost US$60,000. Before the concert, US$23,000 had been raised.
In August 2016, THE STAR reported that Niko had been diagnosed with renal failure in July 2015. He has end stage renal disease and needs a transplant, as both of his kidneys have failed. A GoFundMe account established in August last year quickly reached almost US$20,000 in donations.