Sankofa Management: The Loft Remains Open despite Star News trope ......

We, the management of Jamaica’s premier LGBT entertainment space wish to thank our loyal patrons for their continued support of our brave business venture. Despite the many challenges we have faced in bringing this dream to fruition we remain determined never to allow the light of this community to go dim.

The movement that inspired the creation of The Loft is bigger than any one of us. It is bigger than any selfish motivation, envy, or iniquity. This is a powerful movement that cannot be hampered by evil deeds, careless tongues, or thoughtless actions.

It is time that we as a community embrace the idea of togetherness and stop the petty in-fighting that is tearing us apart.

We are not enemies, we are compatriots.

We share the same struggles with the wider society and we all have the same desire for happiness, love, and enjoyment in a safe environment. Since we cannot live this reality in the society we inhabit we must therefore do all we can to protect the few safe spaces that exist.

The Loft was created for all of us in the community and it is therefore our collective responsibility to protect it.

We wish God’s richest blessings on the authors of the article that appeared in The Star of Monday April 4, 2011 under the headline “Cross-dressers clash at club”, and we hope that they will put their God-given talents as fictional writers to good use and not continue to let their imaginations run wild.

We are the ones that will decide if the Loft will close its doors, not anyone else.

We enjoy a positive relationship with the leadership of the St. Andrew Central Police Division as well as our neighbours in

the business district in which we operate and will not allow the mischief of a few idle minds to sully our reputation, negatively affect our business, or most importantly disrupt the enjoyment of our valued supporters.

The Loft is part of a movement that cannot be stopped.

Let us continue marching on until victory is won!

Sincerely,

BP & D

Management

The Loft

ENDS

Some Notes:

Pity our in fighting has to once again make mainstream news

Following recent rivalry in the ever growing and competitive party pink party entertainment scene allegations have once again surfaced that it was another party promoter X who fed the information to the Star News that led to the headline as hinted to in the press release above, Sankofa Events thought it necessary to clear the air after the publication made the rounds in the community, the impact seems on the surface low but one should never underestimate the possibilities. The party promoter X in question has also created some bitter blood between themselves and the contracted staff for that event on April 2 which was in session on or around the same time as the Star News trope was set to have taken place, the staff has not been paid as he fled the scene after the event bombed with very little support.

Personally I am becoming fed up at the foolishness now with these unneeded squabbles and underhanded tactics being employed allegedly by rival party promoters, even after meetings between promoters to work out the timetable and marketing for events to avoid date clashes, as someone in the business for some fourteen years now and seeing the positive growth of our entertainment products THERE IS NO NEED for this kind of rivalry, THE MARKET IS EVER EXPANDING AND IS BIG ENOUGH FOR EVERYONE to relatively safely offer their packages in a timely and professional manner as more and more patrons are becoming very discriminating in tastes with everything being taken into consideration, from the host of the party to gate receipts affordability, music selections, DJ selections and personalities, timing with other mainstream events that get lgbt support such as Jamaica Carnival all these factors are to be taken into consideration when planning any event. The accused promoter(s) along with partners have not been having whole hearted support from the community due to controversial issues mostly created by their own actions and this latest one that is widely perceived to have been done by them has not gone down well with many. Their last event in question which was in progress outside of Kingston on the same night as the alleged car smashing incidents alluded to in the release did not get the expected support notwithstanding they having secured the services of three of the five biggest DJs in the business, a persistent campaigns and advertising, now taking out any vendetta against other successful promoters will only serve to isolate oneself even further from possible patrons and in the long run the community at large leaving one with a tarnished reputation that is not easily repaired in our setting.

The Star News story was inaccurate in a sense as I was present at the club named in the piece the police were called by the club owner/manager in question at around 4am to avert any negative violent action from rival queens who had previous altercations elsewhere NOT AT THE CLUB ON THE NIGHT OF April 2nd as hinted to. The event overall at the Loft went pretty well for the most part until the abrupt cut off to avoid the possible disturbance.

The Loft and ALL OTHER PARTY PROMOTERS AND CLUB OWNERS have my full support but as the Loft remains resolute in serving their patrons/supporters this release is a professional way to deal with it, the police I have since gathered are also mindful of the issues involved however underhanded tactics to prove a point are TOTALLY UNNECESSARY LET US WORK TOGETHER FOLKS including Promoter X. Mek we talk dis out proper.

Loft wi seh

Peace and tolerance

H

here is an audio recording by Pink Report and D

Interview with Management of the Loft by shane-mccarthy or go directly here as the track maybe listed as private.