Entertainment is the COVID scapegoat – Ricky Trooper

Outspoken dancehall selector Ricky Trooper believes the narrative surrounding Usain Bolt's surprise birthday party is being blown out of proportion to once again turn the entertainment industry into a scapegoat where COVID-19 is concerned.

"We a di first industry fi lock down and the last fi open and we did give thanks for the little reprieve of course. But it did clear from morning say dem (the Government) nuh like we. As Bolt tested positive, everybody start jump on and a say dis and dat bout party and how this and dat a go spread. Dem a talk bout who go Beenie party too and a blow it out a proportion," he said. "A long time dem wah something like dis fi happen wid the entertainment industry. Dem wah blame the thing long time. Dis thing weh gwaan is a surprise party. It wasn't advertise weh people woulda flood it. Me doubt a 30, 40 people did deh deh and dem a blow things outta proportion. A use dem a use we as scapegoat."

On Monday, Prime Minister Andrew Holnness said there would be no special treatment for persons found in breach of COVID-19 guidelines as police had started investigations into the party for the sprint legend. Head of the police's Corporate Communications Unit, Senior Superintendent Stephanie Lindsay, said once investigations are done, if breaches are detected, the police would serve a summons and take the matter before the courts. "The breaches can be a combination of things from exceeding the limit stipulated by the Government on how many persons can attend the public gathering, to persons not wearing masks at the event to not having proper sanitisation stations set up," she said.

Subject of debate

A birthday party for dancehall legend Beenie Man has also been the subject of debate. But Trooper believes that there are double standards when it comes to politicians.

"When di PM say the police must run investigation because nobody nuh exempt from the law, dem fi lock him up to and all a dem weh out deh did a campaign wid di bag a crowd. Look pan Nomination Day wah gwaan wah day," he said. "How dem nah investigate dat and a big gathering gwaan all bout? How dem nah lock up no politician fi enable dat? If the Government nah abide by no rules, how di people dem fi abide by it." Trooper asked if anything was wrong with Bolt and Beenie Man having small events, suggesting that what Bolt especially has done for Jamaica cannot be rivalled by anyone. He also opined that the Government committed breaches of the Disaster Risk Management Act with events in St Ann.

"When Shahine Robinson did dead, curfew deh everyweh in a Jamaica and the Labourite dem figet all the protocols weh did put in for COVID and have big nine-night dung a St Ann. Hours beat and sound a play and gathering and nobody never say nothing bout dat or launch investigation," he said.

Several persons who attended Bolt's surprise party have since announced that they have self-isolated following news of his positive result. Ding Dong, who performed at the event, is at home quarantining, according to his manager Romeich Major. Major also disclosed that the singer has taken the COVID-19 test and is awaiting results. Representatives for entertainers Munga Honorable and Christopher Martin have also disclosed that they are also self-isolating and awaiting results. Konshens and Kemar Highcon, who were in attendance at Beenie Man's birthday event on the weekend, showed their negative COVID-19 results on social media. The pair were seen hanging out with Beenie Man, whose daughter Desha was at both his and Bolt's events.