Why was the Shoebury East Beach Festival cancelled so hastily?

The East Beach Caribbean Festival has been cancelled,

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Because organisers were forced to return home to help their families deal with the impact of the storm.

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Organisers have confirmed they have made the “devastating” decision to cancel the popular festival planned for August 17 and 18 following Storm Beryl.

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This category five Atlantic hurricane has killed dozens of people in its path

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It has also caused unprecedented devastation in the Caribbean region, including Jamaica, Barbados, Grenada and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

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Launched in 2022, this family-friendly festival has become an annual event and features many top DJs and artists.

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Shoebury Residents Association chairman Peter Lovett says he hopes the festival can go ahead this year.

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"The organisers have family members living in the Caribbean and they had to return there to help them after the hurricane."

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The main organiser has been there for two or three weeks and has recently returned to the country

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He has told us that he won't have time to organise events after what has happened."

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The atmosphere at last year's event was very vibrant. It's a wonderful family-friendly, multi-cultural event. This is definitely disappointing

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