THE St Lucian Government is currently conducting a probe after an unidentified man appeared with a gun on stage during a performance by dancehall deejay Skillibeng at the ONYX Concert held at Daren Sammy Cricket Ground in Beausejour, Gros Islet.

The show took place on October 15 and, based on video footage, the man, who was clad in white, was armed.

“We need to ask some serious questions. As far as I knew the police took a position that they were not approving the show because the individual in question is someone who has been involved in singing and promoting music that glorifies crime and guns. And I know, because I was in discussion with the police force,” said Tourism, Investment, Creative Industries, Culture and Information Minister Dr Ernst Hilaire, according to the Caribbean National Weekly.

The Caribbean National Weekly further said that Hilaire had security concerns about the event and uncertainty about the level of safety for patrons.

“We need to know who is that somebody and under what circumstances they approved it,” Hilaire said, asking further “What assurances were given to that individual to make that decision?”

He further said that the country will step up measures to shun any entertainer who glorifies or promotes gun violence, arguing that it is totally unacceptable for anyone to bring a firearm on a public stage.

“To say to me, as the promoters did, it was incident-free — so what is incident-free? You mean there was no shoot-out and therefore it was a success?” Hilaire remarked to reporters, adding that someone on stage with an open-carry firearm constitutes an incident.

“It was pointed at the crowd. What if people had rushed the stage? What would have happened? Would you have shot the crowd? Why was it necessary for an open-carry firearm on stage?” Hilaire queried, adding somebody needs to account for what took place.

“The promoters who were involved in this will have to account,” Hilaire continued.

Born in St Thomas, Skillibeng’s given name is Emwah Warmington. He attended Morant Bay High School and did one year of sixth form at Seaforth High School, both located in that parish.

Though he started his journey in 2016 he rose to prominence in 2020 with songs like Mr Universe, 50 Bag, Badman, Hot Life Ah Life, and Crocodile Teeth which was remixed by Nicki Minaj.