THE fund-raising concert staged by Grammy-winning reggae actturned-philanthropist Shaggy has netted $32 million for the Bustmante Hospital for Children in St Andrew.

According to Shaggy, the event — held on the lawns of Jamaica House on January 7 — was the biggest and best of the three such concerts.

Reggae artiste Shaggy (third left) is all smiles as he shares a moment with some of the sponsors and representatives of the Bustamante Hospital for Children. From left are Joylene Griffiths-Irving of Scotiabank; Dr Sherard Little, cardiac surgeon at the children’s hospital; LIME’s Stephen Price; Jacqueline Stewart Lechler of Stewart Motors; and ‘Tanny’ Shirley of the South East Regional Health Authority. (Photo: Karl McLarty)

Shaggy notes, “this year’s funds bring the total raised by the concert series to $90 million… making it the biggest and best in the series.”

The announcement was made during a press conference at the hospital yesterday.

Shaggy added that the first concert in 2009 raised $27 million, while the second show in 2010 raised $31 — all of which has gone towards equipping the island’s sole paediatric hospital.

This year’s proceeds have been earmarked to assist with furnishing a new 15-bed intensive care unit and cardiac ward at the hospital. For this project, Shaggy and his Make a Difference Foundation are partnering with Chain of Hope Jamaica — a group of volunteer doctors and nurses who are dedicated to performing life-saving surgeries on children with heart conditions.

The 2012 instalment concert had to be rescheduled from its original December 30 date due to the December 29 general election. The line-up included hip hop act Lauryn Hill, Deniece Williams, Eve, Stephen Marley, Romain Virgo, Half Pint and Maxi Priest