St James officials say Montego Bay is set to host Dream Weekend safely

WESTERN BUREAU: With the 2026 edition of Dream Weekend only days off, Montego Bay Mayor Richard Vernon says he is fully confident the city can stage a safe event that pays off financially across its five days of entertainment.

Speaking to The Gleaner yesterday, Vernon, who chairs the St James Municipal Corporation (StJMC), said the corporation is working alongside leading stakeholders in and around Montego Bay to keep the festival running smoothly. The event is scheduled for July 30 to August 3, with a line-up that includes Dexta Daps, Alkaline, Govana, Tommy Lee Sparta, Shaniel Muir, Elephant Man and General B.

"Montego Bay is ready, and despite the challenges left behind by Hurricane Melissa, the StJMC has worked closely with our partners to ensure the city is prepared. Traffic management plans are being refined, infrastructure adjustments are being made, and every stakeholder is aligned to deliver a seamless experience," Vernon said.

"Safety and public health are among our top priorities. The Jamaica Constabulary Force will oversee crowd control and security, supported by heightened surveillance and emergency contingencies," he explained. "Event insurance is in place, and sanitation protocols are already activated, with monitors deployed to maintain the highest standards. Patrons, visitors, and residents can enjoy Dream Weekend with confidence."

On the money the staging is expected to bring in, Vernon said several sectors stand to gain from the more than 30,000 local and overseas patrons anticipated. The festival was a fixture in Negril for years and has shifted to Montego Bay for the first time this year.

"Dream Weekend is about entertainment, but it is also an economic catalyst. With over 30,000 patrons expected, most of them visitors, we anticipate significant spending across accommodation, food, transport, and retail," Vernon said. "This event reinforces Montego Bay's standing as the Caribbean's premier entertainment destination and lays the foundation for long-term growth by attracting international promoters and investors."

Addressing the health side of the staging, Dr Delroy Fray, clinical coordinator for the Western Regional Health Authority, said medical teams would be on hand to look after patrons and respond to emergencies.

"At Dream Weekend, they should have an ambulance available, so if you have an acute problem at that time, persons can be transported where they need to be, and we have our team available at any time. It is a hot time now, so we would encourage people to stay hydrated; and although we are not in COVID-19 time, you can still get respiratory illnesses, so if you are in crowded places with people coughing, I would encourage people to wear masks," Fray said.

"Responsible behaviour is what is necessary in order to mitigate against any type of major injury, so persons should not climb up anywhere that they might fall from and get head injuries. But if that is to happen, our accident and emergency team is available to deal with things like that," he added.

The Gleaner was unable to reach the commanding officer of the St James Police Division, Senior Superintendent of Police Eron Samuels, for comment on the security arrangements, as he was tied up in a meeting yesterday. On two earlier occasions, however, Samuels had given the assurance that the Dream Weekend venue and Montego Bay as a whole would be safe for locals and visitors, describing the city as the safest in the English-speaking Caribbean.