Melissa and ICE freeze Christmas - But Singer J expresses some optimism

Rub-A-Dub Tuesdays, the weekly reggae and dancehall event which takes place every Tuesday night at the Dubwise Cafe in St Andrew, has closed off until December 2.

And even though it returns during the busiest season of the entertainment calendar, conceptualiser Singer J believes that Christmas 2025 "won't be as festive as in the past". He pointed fingers at the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa and also "the situation in the US with ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) and the shutdown of the economy".

"Melissa hit on a Tuesday. And we see that afterwards the people kinda down and were not ready to come out, so we just hold off. Right now, I am preparing to go to the UK for three shows and when I return, we will start up again," Singer J, whose given name is Omar Lattibeaudiere, told THE STAR.

The Don't Give Up singer is among the entertainers who have shown their philanthropic side and visited the affected areas with care packages, and he plans to return before Christmas to do part two. With his personal funds and donations from Goldstar Records in Orlando, Fresh Fade Barber Shop in Brooklyn and Dynamite Sound out of Boston, Rub-A-Dub Tuesdays' team showed love to persons in Catherine Hall, St James, as well as Orange Hill, Broughton and Negril in Westmoreland.

"I know that it's going to tek a while before these people can enjoy Christmas as they used to ... and this year going to be tough. In addition to Melissa, look at what's happening in the US. Because of the immigration situation and ICE checking for papers, life and livelihood slow down. So, nuh barrel cyaan pack ... people 'fraid fi leave dem house ... and the Western Union ting slow down," Singer J said.

He also noted that the historic 43-day government shutdown in the US greatly affected the ability of Jamaicans to earn and send funds back home to their families, and even come home for the holidays.

"Some lickle event can gwaan, yes, because the music is necessary to keep us happy ... but not anything that dem a guh charge $10,000 and $20,000. Right now, if I was the promoter of the Mavado show, I would save that for next year. The foreigner dem can't come a yaad like how dem did come fi Kartel show. And ... is not because dem nuh waan see Mavado, is just the reality of the situation right now. But I can't tell a next man what to do," Singer J said.

Mavado is scheduled to headline Reggae Fest Jamaica - The Return of the Gully Gad on December 27, at Plantation Cove in Priory, St Ann. It will be his first major performance in Jamaica in nearly 10 years. Venue officials have assured fans that it will be ready for the party season after suffering some damage from the hurricane.

Singer J, after his performances in London, Birmingham and Manchester in the UK, returns to the island in time to restart to Rub-A-Dub Tuesdays "with a bang" on December 2. Featured artistes include Fred Locks, Admiral Tibet, and Guinney Pepper.

The Rub-A-Dub Tuesdays series, which was officially launched on March 28, 2023, focuses on the dub style of Jamaican music created in the 1960s. It aims to promote the songs and artistes who ruled that era.