By Nigel Telesford

Jamaican dancehall star, David "Mavado" Brooks performed a rousing set for a dismal audience at the Centre of Excellence, Macoya, on Tuesday night, as he headlined RF Promotions "A Better Tomorrow" concert.

Mavado returned to our shores after a four-year hiatus and the surprising and sudden removal of a longstanding ban from performing, which was (and continues to be) enforced by many Caribbean governments.

The ban came at the height of his much-publicised feud with Jamaican deejay, Adijah "Vybz Kartel" Palmer, in 2009.

This intense rivalry, "which saw dancehall fans around the world taking opposing sides and resulted in several violent altercations between them", has since been quelled following an intervention by Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding and a press conference held by the two artistes.

At 1 a.m., less than a hundred patrons were scattered around the grounds in the general admission section and none of the advertised acts had taken the stage.

Nevertheless, MC on the night and spokesperson for RF Promotions, radio personality/comedian Keron "Sonny Bling" Sealy, assured that "all the artistes had already been paid, so the show would go on" as advertised.

However, Sealy lamented over the late approval given to the promoters by the authorities.

He said: "The promoters only got the approval to allow Mavado into the country nine days ago and this is the only available date that the artiste gave them to work with. Of course, they would have probably gotten a better turnout if they had waited for a later date, but the show had already been postponed from the original date in February, when it was supposed to be held, so they didn't want to postpone it again ..."

Roy Cape All Stars subsequently took the stage around 1.30 a.m. Following a reggae-tinged introductory set by Roy Cape vocalists, Dexter "Blaxx" Stewart and Rita Jones, 2011 Young King Rodney "Benjai" Le Blanc came onstage and lifted the spirits of the dwindling assembly with his hits "Amnesty" and "Ah Trini".

Three-time Soca Monarch Neil Iwer George followed and threw some post-Carnival picong at Road March King, Machel Montano (who was backstage), as he livened up the proceedings considerably with his 2011 Soca Monarch contender "Come to Meh".

Following a band change, Mavado finally appeared onstage with his band just before 3 a.m. and performed a medley of his many hits for roughly 45 minutes.

The "Gully-God", as he is called by his fans, received an enthusiastic response from those present and even enjoyed a couple encores for some of his more popular songs like "Hope and Pray".

A large police contingent was present both in around the venue, but with such a poor turnout there was very little work for the men in black to do on the night.

A turntable set was reported stolen by one DJ and police searched several vehicles after the show in an attempt to recover the equipment.

No incidents of violence or unruly behaviour were reported and the show ended around 3.40 a.m.

FROM TRINIDADEXPRESS.COM