Promoter Odane Anderson is appealing to Vybz Kartel, Sizzla, Malie Don, and Moliy for “fairness” in the wake of the failed One Caribbean Music Festival.

In an exclusive interview with ET&T, Anderson—who says Kartel is “like a brother” after growing up together in Portmore—admitted that both he and the deejay let fans down. Kartel’s recent public criticism, he says, was “gut-wrenching,” but his priority now is “doing right by the people,” and he hopes Kartel will join him.

As for the other artistes who withdrew at the last minute, Anderson urges them to “settle this so the people don’t continue to suffer.” He claims that after Kartel pulled out, Sizzla demanded Kartel’s US $1.35 million fee to become the new headliner—an amount Anderson refused because Sizzla had already agreed to a lower figure and had been paid accordingly.

On refunds, Anderson says the team “sincerely hopes to issue full refunds, but we’re in a deep financial hole” and will need partial or full repayments from artistes and agencies who were paid but did not perform.

The festival is now under investigation by Trinidad’s Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo after Anderson revealed that Kartel’s contracted fee was US $1.35 million, of which US $950,000 had already been paid. Anderson maintains that all disbursements are legal and traceable.

CNC3 also reports that Anderson—head of Jacho Entertainment, the festival’s organizer—is now fearing for his life after “borrowing money to fund the concert and is now finding difficulty in paying it back.”