Irate fans bottle Dancehall Queen stage when crowd favourite did not make top three

A man and a woman have been arrested in connection with a bottle-throwing incident that marred the annual staging of the popular Red Label Wine Dancehall Queen in Montego Bay, yesterday morning.

Another woman was seen with a swelling between her eyes reportedly from being hit in the face by one of the bottles.

The detainees, said to be from Glendevon in Montego Bay, were held shortly after the melee, which was triggered when the winner was announced as Sherine Scarlett of Portmore, St Catherine.

Irate fans became disruptive as crowd favourite and Montego Bay native, Keja 'Tall Up' Christie, was edged out of the top three. Christie ended the competition in fourth place.

"A few persons caused what happened and one of the things that I am looking to do is to stop patrons having access to bottles at the event," said promoter Brian 'Big Head' Martin.

"I am not broken by what happened and I think that the police's quick response is commendable," he added.

Patrons took cover - including underneath the stage - as members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force and security guards tried to maintain order of the large crowd that converged for the 16-year-old dance competition, which was contested by 33 females.

The female detainee was held after patrons pointed her out to the police, who escorted her to a service vehicle. Less than five minutes later, two policemen were seen walking with a man to the same vehicle. Both were later transported to the Montego Freeport Police Station.

At press time, their statuses were unknown.

Proceeds from the Dancehall Queen competition go towards the Brian 'Big Head' Martin Foundation, which has been providing scholarships to tertiary level students, especially from Montego Bay inner-city communities since 2005.

Martin hopes to double the number of recipients this year to 100, as part of his commemoration of Jamaica's 50th year of Independence.

(from Jamaica Star)