Concerns are again being raised as, five years later, funds raised to help the Bustamante Children’s Hospital from the Shaggy & Friends concert inexplicably have not done so, despite the money reportedly remaining lodged with Scotiabank Jamaica.

International reggae superstar Shaggy won plaudits for his altruistic efforts to raise money to help the children of the Bustamante Hospital. He even co-opted help from his friend, the English popstar, Sting.

But, years later, the Shaggy Make A Difference Foundation is yet to disburse at least $100 million from 2018’s last staging of the biennial concert to the Bustamante Hospital.

In addition to money raised from tickets, some of which sold for as much as $26,000, several sponsors came on board to support the charity concert and a symbolic $100-million cheque was handed over to the hospital in February 2018.

But, as for the actual cash, some say perhaps it is an accounting hold-up, others that it is somewhere in an administrative vortex.

The Ministry of Health and Wellness is calling for an investigation into the matter and says attempts to contact Shaggy and his wife, Rebecca, have gone unanswered.

“I’m a little disappointed it has taken five years and the children and infrastructure of Bustamante Hospital have not benefited from a worthy cause,” said Dr Christopher Tufton, minister of health and wellness.

“I have a lot of admiration for Shaggy, his team and the thousands of others that have contributed to that cause. The reality of it is the benefits have not yet flowed to the children.”

Eyes are turned on Shaggy, particularly as successful Jamaican businesswoman Beverly Nichols, based in New York, donated US$1 million to the Chapelton Hospital in Clarendon with little fanfare.

EMBARRASSING SITUATION

The funds assisted in renovation work and were despatched expeditiously.

Joseph Tibby, a Jamaican nurse who spent the majority of his career at Jackson Memorial in Miami, told Our Today: “Beverly Nichols is from Clarendon and she has succeeded in America and then helped her people back home. She has made a difference. Shaggy made it big, became an international superstar and Jamaicans took him at his word. This is embarrassing and the question has to be asked, ‘Where is the money now?'”

Nichols challenged all Jamaicans to help the country and, in particular, children.

“I would challenge other people in the diaspora to follow my lead and do something in their community. The Government can’t help people here, and we cannot have our citizens living like third-class citizens,” she said.

Meanwhile, Shaggy is yet to give an update as to when the funds will be handed over to help the hospital or where the money is now.

When the matter was first raised in 2019, the foundation indicated that it was never the practice to hand over funds to the hospital and instead it purchases equipment for the facility to meet Bustamante’s needs list.

The funds from the 2018 concert had been slated for the purchase of beds for the hospital’s ICU, but, according to the foundation, the existing ICU space would have needed to be expanded first.

If this is an accounting glitch, it has been suggested that perhaps he should pay over what was promised out of his own pocket and then claim the sum back once all this is rectified.

As it stands, it doesn’t reflect well on Shaggy, particularly as he is a leading Jamaican personality. He needs to get in front of the drama and address it head on.

Tufton has asked the chairman of the Bustamante Hospital, Guardsman boss Kenny Benjamin to investigate the matter and come forth with an explanation.

Benjamin has a reputation for judiciousness and alacrity. It should be applied in this instance.

“If Shaggy committed to help Bustamante Hospital, then he should be a man of his word. Five years and all now you don’t hand over the funds – something not right. He kept big shows with packed crowds. Where did the money go? Shaggy must answer. He can’t go quiet on this,” said Morris Reeves, a careworker at the Calvary Hospital in the Bronx, New York.

The Shaggy & Friends concerts began in 2009 and claim to have raised J$400 million for the Bustamante Hospital, with major sponsors coming on board.

“People are now sceptical. There has been a lack of transparency with the Shaggy Foundation and the Government should be asking questions.

“People paid good money for the shows, believing it would help with the hospital. It now looks like false promises and should be called out. If they don’t want to hand over the cash, then buy the equipment with it and make a presentation. Kenny Benjamin has said they have not even done that.

“Charities registered in the US and UK have strict guidelines. This wouldn’t be allowed to happen there,” said Brian McCann, a former actuary at Life of Jamaica who attended one of the Shaggy shows. 

NO TRUST FOR JAMAICAN MEDIA

Back in 2019, Shaggy declared that he did not trust Jamaican media then sought to clear up the matter and allay fears that some malfeasance took place saying.

“We never touch the money, we never moved the money, we never carried it nowhere. The money has been there the whole time. It’s earmarked for an ICU. We will be turning it over to the Bustamante Hospital for Children to do this new project with Kenny Benjamin and the hospital,” he had said.  

Questions were asked in 2019; they are still being asked at the end of 2022.

How soon is now?