Reggae superstar Buju Banton has renewed his call for Jamaican authorities to invest in improved infrastructure following a massive 20-mile traffic jam as fans traveled to the second staging of his Intimate Concert Jamaica in Priory, St. Ann.
Closing the show with a fiery set of reggae and dancehall hits, Banton apologized to fans for the delays, stating, “I want to apologize for the delay, we tried our best.” He added a plea for better planning and infrastructure, saying, “We hope that the powerful people are looking. We can expect some traffic but not at [this] rate.”
Despite promises from Banton’s logistics team for smoother traffic flow, chaos ensued as patrons took to X (formerly Twitter) to vent their frustrations. One attendee wrote, “Let me tell people this #intimate BERES AND BUJU THEY OWE THEIR FANS ONE… BECAUSE BETWEEN THE COMMUTE AND THE TRAFFIC… THE AUDIO, THE FOOD & THE PARKING LOT… EPIC FAIL… TELL MR. HAMMOND AND MR. BANTON. DADZ SAID SO!!! SINCE PEOPLE FRAID TO TALK TO THEM…”
Another patron added, “Intimate was good but it wasn’t worth the traffic. Never again. That’s a one and DONE. Even if you’re STAYING in Ochi, forget it.”
Concertgoers reported being stuck in traffic for over five hours, with some not making it to the venue although they had purchased tickets.
Cars were driving on the wrong side of the road as police and security were noticeably absent. Inside the venue, vehicles packed the 250-acre Plantation Cove, while others struggled to make their way to the event.
The Intimate Jamaica Concert marked the second staging in three years, with Beres Hammond serving as co-headliner. However, this is not the first time logistical challenges have marred the event. A similar traffic gridlock occurred in 2022 to see reggae’s top superstar, leading Banton to publicly criticize the government for failing to provide modern indoor venues despite Jamaica’s rich musical heritage.
“We are no longer a nation of 2 million people; we are teetering on 3.2 million or 3.4. What is the probability of 100,000 people wanting to hear a reggae concert? It’s very high. What if the rain falls? Why don’t we have a facility?” Banton questioned during an Irie FM interview, urging authorities to prioritize infrastructure that accommodates large-scale events.
Marcia Griffiths, Romain Virgo, I-Wayne, Wayne Wonder, Bugle, Empress Ayeola, Peter Metro, Wicker Man were among the other supporting acts on this year’s Intimate lineup.
World Music Views’ coverage if intimate concert is brought to you my our traveling partners Audi Jamaica.
