Organisers of the Strictly 2K Throwback Music Festival are offering a ‘special J$1,000 discount’ on general admission tickets for all public sector employees following the devastating impact of Hurricane Melissa.

Priced at J$7,000, these tickets will now be available for J$6,000 at ticket outlets across Kingston and St. Catherine, for two days on Thursday (December 18) and Friday (December 19), providing an accessible opportunity for essential workers to unwind and celebrate the season responsibly.

The initiative is fully aligned with the government’s recent directive to cancel Christmas parties for all ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), but stands as a show of “unwavering support for Jamaica’s public sector workforce and the broader economic recovery”.

“We deeply respect and understand the Minister’s position on prioritising fiscal responsibility and community outreach in the wake of Hurricane Melissa’s destruction, which has left communities in the western parishes grappling with unprecedented challenges. At the same time, we echo the Prime Minister Andrew Holness’s call in Parliament for a renewed emphasis on economic revitalisation. As the prime minister stated on December 4, ‘Our efforts truly must be on the recovery of the economy… because without the economic recovery you cannot sustain a long period of humanitarian relief’,” said Ibrahim Konteh, communications director for 433 Entertainment. 

The entertainment and creative industries play a pivotal role in this process, contributing an estimated 5.1 per cent to Jamaica’s GDP or J$107 billion annually, according to the 2025 Jamaica Creative and Cultural Industries survey report released by the Cultural and Creative Industries Alliance of Jamaica (CCIAJ).

“We would also like to applaud Kingston Mayor Andrew Swaby and the KSAMC for their proactive leadership in recognising the entertainment industry’s vital role in recovery,” said Konteh. “By offering a 20% discount on event structure fees from December 2025 through January 2026, the KSAMC is easing the burden on promoters, vendors, and performers hit hard by the hurricane’s ripple effects. This forward-thinking measure underscores how targeted support can keep the creative economy vibrant and contributing to national healing.”

Demonstrating its commitment to corporate social responsibility, Strictly 2K has spearheaded relief initiatives since Hurricane Melissa made landfall in late October.

The festival led a coalition of fellow promoters, including Pull Up, Esseynce, East, Skyline Fridays, and Afro Soca Jam on a ground effort in Westmoreland, distributing essential food, water, and supplies to over 200 families in the hardest-hit communities.

A portion of the proceeds from the upcoming festival staging will fund education initiatives in western Jamaica, and donation drums for relief will be placed at all entry points to ensure continued support.