The government’s intention to sign an Immigration Order restricting the movement of dancehall star Adijah ‘Vybz Kartel’ Palmer when he visits Trinidad later this month is in the best interest of the nation’s children.
The Jamaican dancehall artiste says he sees no problem, as it’s the government’s right to do so. He confirmed he will perform at the One Caribbean Music Festival on May 31st and explained the problem lies where the promoter took it upon himself to fill his itinerary with things that had nothing to do with his performance.
Kartel said rightfully so, Defence Minister Wayne Sturge pulled the plug on that part of the itinerary, and there’s no problem there because he represents Trinidad, Jamaica, and the entire Caribbean.
Under the Immigration Act, the Minister may issue a written permit authorising any person to enter Trinidad and Tobago and may attach to the entry such terms and conditions as he or she sees fit
At Thursday’s Post Cabinet Media Briefing, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said she supported the need to restrict the movement of the dancehall artiste.
“Minister has made a policy decision within the law that this is offensive and therefore doesn’t strike the proper balance, and that’s the best I could say in the decision of the minister, and if you walk around the country today, yes, express yourself, not at the risk of our children. That is one of the risks. I said I am not going to let him go and talk to our children.”
Minister Sturge noted similar legislative provisions exist throughout the region and recalled instances where Trinibad artistes were banned from performing on certain Caribbean islands.
“One has to have regard to the interest of children, having regard to our treaty obligations to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which we’ve incorporated into our laws, and having regard to the material that is contained in some of the songs.”
In 2024, Vybz Kartel was exonerated of a murder conviction based on a legal technicality. Minister Sturge said the government acted based on the evidence before them.
“His conviction was not overturned on the basis of merit; it was overturned on the basis of juror misconduct so that the credibility and the reliability of the evidence led against him at trial was not in any way undermined, and the Jamaican Court of Appeal, who decided not to order a retrial, did so on public policy considerations.”
The Defence Minister also said the government did not fear a backlash from Jamaica due to the restrictions placed on the visit by Vybz Kartel.