In the wake of the failed staging of the One Caribbean Music Festival headlined by Vybz Kartel, the Trinidad and Tobago Promoters Association (TTPA) has issued a formal statement distancing itself from the event and calling for broad legislative reform within the entertainment and tourism industries.
“This event was not up to our standards, and about this we are extremely concerned,” the TTPA stated in a release dated June 2, 2025. The Association clarified that the promoter of the festival is not a member of the TTPA, nor do they speak on behalf of the organization.
The TTPA is using the moment as a springboard to push for systemic change. Calling the incident “a pivotal moment to begin the process of entertainment and tourism sector reform,” the board is urging collaboration with the state and private sector partners to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
“We want to recommence negotiations with the Attorney General’s Office to achieve the drafting and passage of specific and modern legislation that… protects patrons, entertainers/creatives, and event producers,” the statement reads.
Kartel himself had issued a statement on Saturday detailing the missed deadlines and other unfavorable circumstances caused by the promoter which in turn caused him to pull out at the last minute.
The association emphasized the importance of safeguarding brand Trinidad and Tobago, which has “a solid reputation worldwide as event producers of tremendous quality.” They warned that when local events fail, “it impacts the whole industry.”
Highlighting the urgency of the matter, the TTPA revealed it has already met with the new Minister of Culture and Community Development and will soon engage other key ministries, including Trade, Investment and Tourism, Finance, and National Security, in preparation for the 2026 event season.
The board added, “We now have a golden opportunity to shine a spotlight on the challenges that we face globally, to win the battle for tourism dollars via our event product.”
While expressing disappointment over the recent festival fallout, the Association reaffirmed its commitment to supporting patrons and event producers alike.
“We are saddened that our loyal entertainment patrons felt that they were mistreated… We believe that we can be protected from situations like this, if solid business practices are employed by all.”
With a growing focus on foreign exchange and cultural exports, the TTPA reiterated its readiness to lead from the front:
“We stand ready to contribute robustly to this effort.”
The statement concludes with a commitment to “support the growth and development of our sector by engaging with experts to learn and grow,” as Trinidad and Tobago seeks to strengthen its position on the global entertainment stage.
