Cops halt Twelve Tribes concert in Jamaica

The Twelve Tribes of Israel concert commemorating the 89th anniversary of Haile Selassie I as Ethiopian Emperor came to an unceremonious end Sunday morning, at the organisation’s Hope Road headquarters.

Police ended the show just after 1:00 am with headliner Mikey Spice able to do only one song. Paul “Ashes” Ashton, one of the event’s organisers, told the Jamaica Observer that officers informed him that neighbours called them and complained about noise from the venue.

Ashton said the Twelve Tribes committee had requisite permission from the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation to stage the event. They had also informed persons who live in the community about their plans to stage an event two weeks in advance, and made similar contact with the Half-Way-Tree and Matilda’s Corner police stations.

He added that the police granted them a cut-off time at 2:00 am which is allotted for weekend events under the Noise Abatement Act.

“We’ve always toed the line and we are in good standing with our neighbours, so it was a bit of a surprise,” Ashton said.

A fair-sized turnout saw performances from Micah Shemaiah and his Dreadites Band and Anthony Wilmot of the Mystic Revealers.

Empress Faith, Israel Voice, Dalton Browne and Warrior King, backed by the Twelve Tribes of Israel Band (which included Robbie Lyn and Dean) also preceded Mikey Spice.