KINGSTON, Jamaica — With the trial and murder conviction of Adidja ‘Vybz Kartel’ Palmer, his music and image continue to be placed under society’s microscope.

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Palmer has been lauded by some as a shrewd entertainer and businessman for the way he’s utilised his bleached skin, once a taboo among Jamaican male, making it part of the enigmatic Vybz Kartel persona.

On the other hand, he’s been castigated by others, including parents and social commentators, because of his influence on youngsters, some of whom have taken to bleaching their skins in emulating the entertainer.

Now, Vybz Kartel’s elder sister has entered the fray in defence of her brother.

“You cannot say that Kartel is forcing the children to bleach,” she told OBSERVER ONLINE, adding that her son, Kartel’s nephew, doesn’t bleach his skin. She insists that its bad parenting that result in children bleaching their skins, not Kartel.

“Society is so hypocritical. We have some serious double standards,” she said. “Bleaching has been around before Kartel.”

Meanwhile Kartel, Shawn ‘Shawn Storm’ Campbell, Andre St John and Kahira Jones are to be sentenced on March 27 for the August 16, 2011  beating death of friend Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams over the disappearance of two illegal guns. Accused Shane Williams was acquitted at the end of the five-month trial.

Paul Henry

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