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Hurricane Melissa unleashes ‘famine’ on party scene
November 17, 2025
The party scene in Jamaica has hit a steep slowdown as Hurricane Melissa leaves the entertainment industry in what one promoter calls "a famine".
Events across the Corporate Area and western Jamaica have either been postponed, cancelled, or seeing weaker-than-normal turnouts and workers who depend on nightlife are now feeling the economic hit.
"Not to be selfish or to take away from what is happening in the areas badly affected by the hurricane but promoters a start feel it now. People a feel bad fi go party, but everybody need entertainment fi relieve stress. Right now it's like a famine," said the Kingston promoter, who requested anonymity.
"The truth is entertainment is how a lot of people provide for their families so if somebody want go enjoy themselves and can pay for it, other people shouldn't make them feel guilty and a that happen now."
The long time promoter noted that the slowdown isn't just affecting promoters and DJs, it's hitting everyone who earns from nightlife.
"Bartenders, waitresses, bottle girls, security, selectors, all a dem people deh a feel it right now. Them can't make no money. Those people should be considered because the industry depends on constant events fi dem survive, and right now it mash up."
He described the mood of the industry as "COVID-like", explaining that interest in parties is low.
MC and social media personality, Wesley 'It's Wes' Hylton, who is a regular face at stage shows and high-energy soca events, told The STAR that the industry is experiencing a crisis agreeably not seen since the early COVID days.
"Recently I've been telling people that Christmas is cancelled and dem nuh believe. I saw that as soon as the hurricane happened events got postponed, but I concluded that Christmas is cancelled when I realised that all our efforts and attention is focused on rebuilding Jamaica," Hylton explained.
"If it's a case where Jamaica don't get back on our foot by then, we can't have an entertainment space."
OUT OF TOUCH
According to the vibe master, it would be out of touch for the industry to carry on as normal while thousands are still displaced.
"How can we say we are a nation and we are one but we keep party and a enjoy wiself and a charge people big money fi go certain events but we have people who are suffering and nuh have a roof over their heads," he said.
"The country normally have homeless people but this isn't a case where it's homeless people on a regular basis. This is a situation where they had a home, a family and a structure. Now they couldn't afford to live."
Hylton said some promoters are taking a step back to avoid being labelled as insensitive, especially while the country is in recovery mode.
"A lot of sponsors are focusing on relief efforts because a time and place," he explained. "No brand wants to be seen as the inconsiderate brand so they are more interested in allocating their money to help."
"Whoever said that it feels like COVID, it does feel like COVID because I recently went to an event and although the event was a good turnout the promoter confided that a good amount of comps were given because people don't have the intention to party."
"Some of these same promoters have families in western Jamaica who are affected, so they don't have the time to be focusing on brands and events when they are worried about their families," he shared.
He added that even though he wants to work and contribute to recovery efforts, opportunities are drying up.
"I would love to be working to be able to make some money to contribute to the west, but that's not gonna happen because promoters are not booking people and not having their events because they want to save their brand, that's my personal opinion," he said.
