Queen Kamarla returns with antiviolence campaign

After a two-year hiatus, reggae artiste Queen Kamarla has decided to bring back her Stop The Crime and Violence concert to Jamaica.

The event, which was created by the artiste to promote peace and unity in volatile areas, was first staged in Trench Town in 2017.

“From the inception of the Stop The Crime and Violence programme, I’ve partnered with various government agencies, nonprofit organisations 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 other countries.

“After the pandemic, I partnered with some overseasbased promoters to take the programme to troubled communities in the US (2021) and South Africa (2022). 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 in a school tour format, with the first two stagings taking place at Portsmouth Primary School on March 25 – 26. She said the focus on the youth in schools is to get them to think on a 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 Queen Kamarla.

The line-up for these events will feature several reggae and dancehall artistes, including Natty King, Wesrok, Prophecy, ManyLights

and Stratus Gordon.