Trinidad police targeting Jamaican deejays

CMC

Monday, April 26, 2010

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad — The Trinidad and Tobago police say they will move to block from entering the country, any regional or international artiste whose music contributes and appears to influence gang-related activity and behaviour.

“We are already trying to deal with that (gang-related activities) and we cannot afford any longer for these artistes to come here with their music, which influences and ignites gang behaviour, which leads to serious crimes being committed,” Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police Gilbert Reyes told the Express newspaper today.

His statement followed an attempt to prevent the Jamaican singer Romain ‘Ryno Di Stinger’ Anderson from entering the country to perform at a concert here over the weekend.

Anderson managed to slip into the country even though the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service had been put on alert to prevent his entry.

Reyes said he had written a letter to National Security Minister Martin Joseph, requesting that Anderson be debarred from entering the country.

“Apparently by the time the letter reached the Minister, it was too late because he (Anderson) had already arrived in the country and was given clearance (by Immigration officials) to enter,’ Reyes told the newspaper.

“His (Anderson) music has gang lyrical content and we do not want that here. Anyone who has that type of lyrical content in their music, we are going to write to the government and ask that they be blocked from entering the country,” Reyes added.

Anderson changed his stage name from Blak Ryno to Ryno Di Stinger after he left Vybz Kartel’s Portmore Empire in February. But days after Anderson announced his acrimonious departure from the group, his home was shot at by gunmen and an apartment he rented torched. The singer is now associated with a new syndicate called Garrison.

Vybz Kartel has been barred from performing in a number of Caribbean countries, with St Lucia being the latest regional country to refuse the dancehall deejay a work permit.

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COMMENTS (11)

Hurri Cane
6/9/2010

For those criticizing Trinidad, how can you defend those moronic dancehall artistes that spew out such garbage? As a fellow Jamaican I am 100% in agreement with what Trinidad is doing and I hope all the other islands follow suit. Let them go and DJ behind their house when they have nowhere else to go!! Or they could wise up and start put out some half decent music. The violent graphic depiction of violence against women and supporting the whole "gun culture" does nothing for our children or JA.

Carolece Smart
6/9/2010

Yep. All the garbage they put out they should be locked up for.

4/27/2010

I dont see this as bad. Im tired of everywhere on youtube our little teen jamaicans spewing dirty gun lyrics they learn and are dead serious.
YES whether we want to admit it they do influence our kids minds and encourage them to act violent towards eachother. We already have free movement between the carrib communities, lets train and send fresh young artist to trinidad with clean positive lyrics. its easy as that, we have lots of rising stars train them and branch them out. these banned artists have wasted their chance, they contribute to their own downfall....I feel bad but worst for what jamaican kids been listening to for years. just imagine our ghetto kids with no hope listening these lyrics over and over without guidance. Another teen gunman in the making as easy as that.

4/27/2010

Whilst its shocking for me to see this sudden influx of banning on jamaican artists, I can see the point in which they are trying to make. I watched a youtube clip of aidona performing on a school compound for kids and was feeling ashamed to be jamaican.
He should'nt be performing gun lyrics on a school compound in jamaica for kids. Artists must have a set of lyrics for teenage school kids and another for big people, when performing. You cannot go on spewing all these garbage on our poor teenage kids.
If I were a parent watching that performance I would be very shocked, angry and dissapointed that he be let in a school campus to perform about guns. These artist needs to educate their minds, and be more sensitive to the future of our younger generation and stop being so selfish.

Raul Grant
4/27/2010

I am personally glad for these bans. I am sick of the ultra violent and degrading lyrics some djs spew. This hopefully will cause these guys to see the light. Dancehall music will not die.I am a fan of dancehall music but there are songs that I just cannot tolerate.

ricci williams
4/26/2010

observer the cartoon picture maaad.well artist lets use these bans as a new step to positive vibes.unnu need fi start a no violence campaign and tell unnu friends to bring in dem guns.

Norma Sparkes
4/26/2010

I agree clean up your act.

Jay Brown
4/26/2010

Well well the chickens have come to roost.
Soon these guys will be broke.
Can you imagine countries outside of Jamaica are forcing changing in our music.
They have rejected violence in the music to stop the bloodshed in their country, but yet we have a hard time accepting this.
When they are out of cash they will no doubt change their message.
Money talks every time.

Antonette W.
4/26/2010

The dye has been cast. Everyone is in on the action to ban Jamaican artistes. Other countries are experiencing problems with lawless behavior from their youth. If they believe violence in the lyrics of Jamaican performers may negatively influence the youth, they have the right to take action. In addition, news is being spread around the world that Jamaicans hate gays. Other islands fear the loss of tourism revenue if the Jamaican artistes take stage and spew anti-gay sentiments in their countries. They know how their bread is buttered. They ultimately benefit if those tourists shun Jamaica and flock to their countries instead. Can't people see? They want to show tourists that they are more accepting than Jamaicans are. Also, a lot of foreign acts have now mastered what Jamaicans have created musically. They can now imitate and perform as if they are Jamaicans and draw huge audiences. Face it. Jamaican artistes have destroyed the very style for which they gained prominence.

Shaka Zulu
4/26/2010

I think it is time the Caribbean move forward and let go of this stupid urge to blame dancehall music for the inefficiency of the legislative system. Trinidad and Tobago was rank high on the list of countries with low integrity and one of the most corrupt nation in the world.
I guess only killing a man is a crime to the legislative system of the Caribbean nations. It is a poor reflection of the Caribbean for the leaders to really blame dancehall for violence when they have cinemas showing all these graphic clips of how to kill someone. That is more educational on crime than a man just saying how to do it. Why no consideration has been given to ban 'R' rated movies or movies with violences. Wake up Caribbean leaders and stop fight your own people.

JA Cynic
4/26/2010

There goes another treaty obligation.
What about the Caribbean Community?
Hassel free travel & no need for work permit for Carbeean nationals?
JA Cynic

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Trinidad police targeting Jamaican deejays