Observer writer—-

IBA Mahr is committed that the proceeds from his Tru Juice Sound Di Alarm Music Festival will go towards the Linstead Public Hospital in St Catherine for a second year in a row.

The roots-reggae singer and show promoter made the announcement at the event’s launch held on the hospital’s grounds yesterday. Tru Juice Sound Di Alarm Music Festival, now in its third year, is scheduled for the Dinthill Sports Complex in the parish on December 31.

“Last year we were able to give $200,000 in cash and $250,000 in kind. I am just asking the people to help because I can’t do it by myself,” Iba Mahr told the audience attending the launch.

Donations from the event’s inaugural staging went to a basic school in the parish.

Yesterday’s occasion also saw the reggae singer handing over a symbolic check for $200,000 to the institution.

He said he was grateful for all artists who are on board, but highlighted some of the challenges in pulling off the event.

“It requires some kind of relationship, some kind of liaison to make it work. Then we need production, marketing…we also want to put ourselves in a position where every single year, regardless of the turnaround, we can give something to the hospital,” he said.

He also expressed his continued support to help the hospital, which he said is dear to his heart.

“Mi born a Linstead hospital, mi grow up inna the community and I’ve had to come here a lot of times. Probably not me being the sick person, but I come here with a lot of people and it is not always the best place fi be. To even see a doctor, it’s a long wait and sometimes it’s not because of the doctor; it’s because of the facility. One of the aims of the doing the festival is not just to entertain but to also educate and inform and to create some form of awareness so our people can come in and support,” said Iba Mahr.

The festival’s line up includes Sizzla, Popcaan, Capleton, I-Wayne, Cocoa Tea, and Freddie McGregor.

Paul McIntyre, acting CEO of the hospital, said the money donated has been put to good use. He said it was used to assist in repairing the facility’s main corridor to the Accident and Emergency building.

Senior Medical Officer Dr Clive Thomas noted that future plans include reactivating the operating theater and the labor ward.

Title sponsors Tru Juice said they were pleased to be part of the project and urged the public to attend.

“A lot of people use it and we wanna make sure that when they come to the hospital, they are getting the best service, the best ambiance than anywhere else in Jamaica and that’s our hope,” said Marsha Lumley, head of marketing and corporate communication at Tru Juice.

Guests were given a preview into the New Year’s Eve show through performances by acts Sophia Squire, Bescente, Dvoyce and promoter Iba Mahr.

Built in 1917, Linstead Public Hospital serves five parishes, St Catherine, St Andrew, St Ann, St Mary and Clarendon. The facility attends to more than 3,000 patients each month.