Tweet
Mavado banned in St Vincent
Dwayne Mcleod, Staff Reporter
Mavado
The Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) yesterday reported that authorities in St. Vincent and the Grenadines have banned Jamaican dancehall star David 'Mavado' Brooks from performing on that island.
The artiste, known for [COLOR=blue! important][COLOR=blue! important]songs[/COLOR][/COLOR] such as Full Clip, Touch The Road, and Amazing Grace was slated to a perform at the [COLOR=blue! important][COLOR=blue! important]January[/COLOR][/COLOR] 19 staging of the show, 'Best of Both Worlds', on the island.
The report said that because of the ban on Mavado, the promoters were not granted permission to stage the event.
While no official word about the reason of the ban was contained in the report, it did go on to add that a press release from HOT 97, one of the island's biggest [COLOR=blue! important][COLOR=blue! important]radio [COLOR=blue! important]station[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR], stated that, "the promoters have been told permission was not granted due to the 'lyrical content' of the headline artiste Mavado."
The statement also mentioned that Police Commissioner, Keith Miller, confirmed that the popular artiste would not be allowed to perform in the country, adding that it was last week reported that "police officials were concerned about Mavado's lyrics, which were considered to be violent, considering that St. Vincent and the Grenadines just came out from a record year for murders and an increase in violent crimes, especially involving firearms."
"There were 36 murders in St. Vincent and the Grenadines in 2007, a huge jump from 13 in 2006," the release subsequently added.
It did, however, note that the commissioner would be outlining the factors affecting the decision to ban Mavado at a later date.
Efforts to contact Mavado were unsuccessful, but, his manager Julian Jones-Griffiths, was quick to challenge the motive of the ban.
"Is Mavado growing their children for them in St. Vincent or are their parents? It would seem strange that they would want to ban Mavado from coming there when his [COLOR=blue! important][COLOR=blue! important]records[/COLOR][/COLOR] play on the radio 24 hours a day and in all the [COLOR=blue! important][COLOR=blue! important]dances[/COLOR][/COLOR], shows and parties."
He also added: "I know there are a lot of people in St. Vincent right now who are not happy with the police or the authorities there, which would seem very negative and counter-productive. I wonder if they plan to ban 'R'-rated movies, rap, [COLOR=blue! important][COLOR=blue! important]soca [COLOR=blue! important]music[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR] and smiling from their island also."
Jones-Griffiths said he learned about the ban earlier this week from the promoter of the event. "I was interviewed about it on the radio in St. Vincent in an effort to try and make the authorities there change their mind. The owner of the biggest station on the island - HOT 97 - was also baffled by the ban and wondered about its legality," he said.
According to the CMC report, the radio station's management in its statement, claimed to be disappointed by the ban. "We are disappointed for the artiste who was looking forward to performing in front of his many fans for the first time here in St. Vincent and the Grenadines ... We are obviously disappointed for the thousands of fans who were eagerly awaiting the arrival of one of reggae's biggest attractions and most of all, we are disappointed at the direction this decision may represent for the presumption of innocence within our society," the statement added.
Mr. Jones-Griffiths said it was not the first time Mavado was being banned from a Caribbean island. According to him, a similar action was taken against Mavado some time ago when he was billed for a show in Grenada.
"The only other situation similar to this was in Grenada where the Minister of National Security himself signed and sealed a letter stating that Mavado couldn't sing four of his songs, which was weird because one of the songs was Mama Even if Dem Kill Me. That show went off without incident." As for how such an action will impact on Mavado's career, Jones-Griffiths said, "This type of action does not do anything to cease Mavado's momentum and popularity, if anything it just adds to his legend
Dwayne Mcleod, Staff Reporter
Mavado
The Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) yesterday reported that authorities in St. Vincent and the Grenadines have banned Jamaican dancehall star David 'Mavado' Brooks from performing on that island.
The artiste, known for [COLOR=blue! important][COLOR=blue! important]songs[/COLOR][/COLOR] such as Full Clip, Touch The Road, and Amazing Grace was slated to a perform at the [COLOR=blue! important][COLOR=blue! important]January[/COLOR][/COLOR] 19 staging of the show, 'Best of Both Worlds', on the island.
The report said that because of the ban on Mavado, the promoters were not granted permission to stage the event.
While no official word about the reason of the ban was contained in the report, it did go on to add that a press release from HOT 97, one of the island's biggest [COLOR=blue! important][COLOR=blue! important]radio [COLOR=blue! important]station[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR], stated that, "the promoters have been told permission was not granted due to the 'lyrical content' of the headline artiste Mavado."
The statement also mentioned that Police Commissioner, Keith Miller, confirmed that the popular artiste would not be allowed to perform in the country, adding that it was last week reported that "police officials were concerned about Mavado's lyrics, which were considered to be violent, considering that St. Vincent and the Grenadines just came out from a record year for murders and an increase in violent crimes, especially involving firearms."
"There were 36 murders in St. Vincent and the Grenadines in 2007, a huge jump from 13 in 2006," the release subsequently added.
It did, however, note that the commissioner would be outlining the factors affecting the decision to ban Mavado at a later date.
Efforts to contact Mavado were unsuccessful, but, his manager Julian Jones-Griffiths, was quick to challenge the motive of the ban.
"Is Mavado growing their children for them in St. Vincent or are their parents? It would seem strange that they would want to ban Mavado from coming there when his [COLOR=blue! important][COLOR=blue! important]records[/COLOR][/COLOR] play on the radio 24 hours a day and in all the [COLOR=blue! important][COLOR=blue! important]dances[/COLOR][/COLOR], shows and parties."
He also added: "I know there are a lot of people in St. Vincent right now who are not happy with the police or the authorities there, which would seem very negative and counter-productive. I wonder if they plan to ban 'R'-rated movies, rap, [COLOR=blue! important][COLOR=blue! important]soca [COLOR=blue! important]music[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR] and smiling from their island also."
Jones-Griffiths said he learned about the ban earlier this week from the promoter of the event. "I was interviewed about it on the radio in St. Vincent in an effort to try and make the authorities there change their mind. The owner of the biggest station on the island - HOT 97 - was also baffled by the ban and wondered about its legality," he said.
According to the CMC report, the radio station's management in its statement, claimed to be disappointed by the ban. "We are disappointed for the artiste who was looking forward to performing in front of his many fans for the first time here in St. Vincent and the Grenadines ... We are obviously disappointed for the thousands of fans who were eagerly awaiting the arrival of one of reggae's biggest attractions and most of all, we are disappointed at the direction this decision may represent for the presumption of innocence within our society," the statement added.
Mr. Jones-Griffiths said it was not the first time Mavado was being banned from a Caribbean island. According to him, a similar action was taken against Mavado some time ago when he was billed for a show in Grenada.
"The only other situation similar to this was in Grenada where the Minister of National Security himself signed and sealed a letter stating that Mavado couldn't sing four of his songs, which was weird because one of the songs was Mama Even if Dem Kill Me. That show went off without incident." As for how such an action will impact on Mavado's career, Jones-Griffiths said, "This type of action does not do anything to cease Mavado's momentum and popularity, if anything it just adds to his legend
Comment