Pandemonium broke out at the Guyana National Stadium early yesterday morning and about 30 persons were injured after a fight broke out between two men at the Banks Beer Fest concert.
Stabroek News understands that the fight broke out at the back of the crowd in the general admissions section. The reason behind the fight remains unknown but after promoters learnt of the brawl at around 3am, the show was brought to an end. Efforts by Stabroek News to contact the promoters of the concert and Banks DIH proved futile.
The concert was at its climax with performer Vanessa Bling on stage when the fight broke out. Jamaican artiste Busy Signal was scheduled to perform next but did not get the opportunity.
Stabroek News learnt that after the fight broke out, patrons started to pelt bottles resulting in persons seeking cover. However, as the bottles rained, patrons began to seek exits and ran to safety. Many left the show with cuts and bruises. With everyone trying to exit the ground at the same time, several persons fell on the ground and were trampled. Many patrons fled the event leaving behind their shoes and other personal belongings.
Injured persons were treated at the Diamond Diagnostic Centre and this newspaper learnt that persons remained at the medical institution until after 8 am yesterday.
One fan said there was two fights. “The first time I was right around where it happened at the front of the stage and I run and duck,” she said while adding that her friends who were left in front had to literally run to get out of the compound “because it was bare chaos in front.” It was in front where persons got trampled, Stabroek News was told.
Another fan related that she was in the middle of the crowd when she found out what was happening. She said when she enquired, she learnt that there was a fight. She said she saw about six boys pelting bottles at each other. It was then, she said, that the promoter took the microphone and pulled the curtain on the show. Patrons in front had to face the consequences of the fight, she said, as everyone battled to escape from the compound.
Many persons took to social media and vented their disappointment in what they called “a good show until the fight.”
Many raised questions as to why glass bottles were allowed at the event rather than plastic cups. Stabroek News was told by one patron that when they went to the bar, they were told by the bartenders that the disposable cups were finished and they had to accept the beverages in glass bottles.
According to reports, there were over 20,000 patrons at the concert and it was dubbed the largest supported jubilee event apart from the flag-raising event.
