Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) has withdrawn one of the top 10 finalists from the 2026 Jamaica Festival Song Competition having determined that the entry did not satisfy the competition’s requirement that submissions be new and unpublished works.

Junior McCalla, who performs under the stage name Renegad with the song I’m from Jamaica, will no longer participate in the competition.

Executive Director Lenford Salmon said the decision was taken in keeping with the competition’s rules and the JCDC’s responsibility to ensure fairness to all participants.