I am baffled why promoter’s of a show in Trinidad would book dancehall artiste David Brooks aka Mavado especially since he was banned from the country in 2006 and still does not have clearance to enter the country!
The Jamaican deejay Mavado is scheduled to perform alongside fellow dancehall artistes Konshens and Aidonna on July 30, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium. However, Mavado has been banned from Trinidad since his last show in Trinidad, on March 29, at the Centre of Excellence, in Macoya. Mavado has also been banned from performing in The Bahamas, Guyana and St Vincent due to his violent lyrics.
According to the Trinidad Express, “Ministry of National Security Collin Partap said it was only on Friday that legal representatives of the concert promoters wrote the ministry seeking to have Mavado perform in the country.”
Partap also stated that “a report from the police Special Branch will be given to Minister John Sandy “sometime this week” on the matter.”
The article adds, “Partap said for weeks now the Ministry has been aware of advertising for the concert but did not receive any official correspondence.”
“I found it strange they (promoters) were advertising without having been granted the waiver to enter into T&T and perform,” Partap said. Partap also said the Ministry is aware of the lyrics associated with Mavado and the hype associated with such artistes prior to a concert.
Laventille East/Morvant MP Donna Cox criticised National Security Minister Brig John Sandy on June 1, in the Lower House, for lifting the ban imposed by her administration on Mavado. Cox had said the ban came into effect in 2006, due to Mavado’s violent lyrics which were laced with gun violence and violence against gays.
Sandy, who admitted not knowing the artiste or his songs, said the ban was not lifted and an “accommodation” had been made for him to perform on March 29.
In a brief interview with the Express yesterday Cox expressed concern over the impending concert.
“Clearly a lot of countries have banned Mavado due to their increase in crime and I do not think he should be encouraged to perform here. By this occurring, the Minister (Sandy) is showing he is not serious about the fight in crime,” Cox said.
Cox added all Sandy needed to do was send for Mavado’s file from immigration.
“The Minister is the person who can lift the ban or leave it,” Cox said. Adding that this further shows the irresponsibility of the Minister and his Government, Cox said no accommodation should have been made in the first place to have Mavado perform in this country.
Read more of Denyse Renne‘s story HERE.
Do you think that Trinidad should keep or remove its ban against Mavado?
<
July 25, 2011 at 1:52 pm
Next time these promoters need to try asking do they have their papers to fly? And also if they were banned once why lift the ban again for them to come back and do the same thing? We have enough crime going on in Trinidad the last thing we need is another artist coming to teach them about about Gaza and Gully