Anticipation high for Ghetto Splash – Patrick Roberts

Show promoter Patrick Roberts believes that the annual Ghetto Splash stage show, which returns to the Waterhouse Mini-Stadium on December 18, is historically one of the most-anticipated shows among inner-city residents in the Corporate Area.

The free event, which aims to encourage unity in Waterhouse and surrounding communities, has been held at this venue for the last three years and features top-tier dancehall artistes.

And according to Roberts, Ghetto Splash offers the best economic value for inner-city residents.

“Most inner-city youth can’t afford to pay to go to a stage show, but they make these artistes their icons, so they live for this show, and as such, the anticipation is high. Thousands of them crave to see these artistes live and in living colour,” said Roberts.

The event was first launched in 1989 in Craig Town, where it became a huge success, peaking in 1996 with a monster crowd of over 50,000. After a 17-year hiatus, it returned in 2013 at the Waterhouse Mini-Stadium.

Today, the show is a major calendar event in war-torn Waterhouse because of its socioeconomic impact on the lives of the community’s residents.

COMMUNITY AID

“Ghetto Splash has helped the community significantly by providing small income for vendors who sell at the event. It also helps to foster peace and unity in the community, and it also gives the residents the opportunity of seeing so many top acts performing for free,” said Roberts, who is a councillor of the Molynes Garden division.

This year’s Ghetto Splash headliners include Beenie Man, Popcaan, Aidonia, Dexta Daps, Agent Sasco, Bounty Killer, Wayne Marshall, Spice, Jafrass, Propa Fade, Govana, Dre Island, Bugle, Nesbeth, Capleton, Tarrus Riley, Peter Metro, Omari, Jah Cure and Ishawna.