Big, big boost - Dancehall artistes declare carnival major win for Jamaica

Although the second half of Carnival 2025 was briefly interrupted by a sudden downpour, the spirits of the revellers remained high. They continued dancing, prancing, and jumping, calling it a "shower of blessings to cool things down."

Entertainers Pamputtae, Pretti Pretti and Dancing Rebel were among the revellers at yesterday's street parade.

"The experience is lovely, it's really, really good," Ride It artiste Pamputtae said.

"Mi a fuljoy miself, it's up, it's up, it's up," Pamputtae exclaimed excitedly as she gyrated to the pumping carnival tunes blasting in the background.

The Ride It artiste added that she will always return to the Yard Mas band because it's "a God bless band weh show mi love."

A seasoned Yard Mas reveller, Pamputtae said the choice of a 'Rehgeh' themed outfit was a no-brainer as it aligns with her identity as an "authentic Jamaican and a dancehall artiste."

With Jamaica's carnival generating an estimated $95.4 billion in economic impact last year, Pamputtae confidently predicted an even bigger impact this time around.

"It's a big, big, big boost because there's a lot of international and Caribbean people here at our carnival, and when yuh look into di hotel industry dem, everything book out," she said.

"Mi have people who can't get place to stay during dis time because a di way how di people dem flood out Jamaica fi di carnival. It's gonna be a huge thing after dis fi Jamaica because wi only a get bigga and better, and mi deh yah fi it," Pamputtae added.

Echoing her sentiments, Peter Mullings, deputy director for marketing at the Jamaica Tourist Board, highlighted the growing importance of carnival in Jamaica's event tourism.

"Particularly when we look at the tourist arrival in Kingston for the past week, we are pacing about 13 per cent ahead of last year, from the early part of last week leading into this weekend. So those are good indications that the carnival was gonna be well supported by those coming in from overseas," Mullings told THE STAR. He also noted that "the roads were quite packed" for this year's event.

Carnival 2025 was packed with vibrant energy, as revellers, dressed in lively costumes, brought the event to life. With the participation of Yard Mas, Gen XS, Xodus, and Bacchanal, this year's carnival showcased an eclectic mix of cultural elements, solidifying Jamaica's position as a top destination for event tourism.

Pretti Pretti and Dancing Rebel also shared their love for the Yard Mas band, which they've joined every year.

"A yah suh di fun deh and di excitement and di good body gyal dem deh. It's a fun experience, it is exciting, a pure vibes, a pure niceness," Pretti Pretti shared, explaining that her choice of the Rehgeh costume was her "representation for reggae as an artiste."

She added, "Mi did jus a look out fi vibe and gel wid di people dem and see excitement and mi still get it. Di fans dem come out and dem love di dolly dem," she laughed as she pranced off, blending in with the revellers.

Rebel, who emphasised the cultural significance of her participation, said, "A one Yard Mas, a couldn't two. Who naah jump wid Yard got to go, mi naah ask Crise".

"As a true Jamaican mi did affi choose Yard Mas and [the] Rehgeh outfit because as a professional skanka a did affi Rehgeh... one reggae and one Bob Marley," an excited Rebel said.

Despite the rain, Rebel's energy remained unshaken.

"No man di rain nuh affect wi, wi party inna rain right through - rain or shine wi outside. Memba seh a we represent fi dancehall and when wi a represent wi guh haad and done. If di rain did come even harder, wi wudda still unda it a party. Carnival dis year nice bad, and dis bigger dan we, it's a big, big thing fi Jamaica," Dancing Rebel said.