The Tropixs (Montego Bay, St James) – Lawyers and promoters have complained that the police have being targeting Tommy Lee Sparta and Squash.
Montego Bay-based promoters and lawyers have complained to Minister of National Security, Dr. Horace Chang, that the police high command has been unlawfully targeting several Dancehall acts including the two superstars.
The claims were made during a recent meeting staged by the Minister in Montego Bay regarding the impending amendment of the Noise Abatement Act.
Several promoters complained that they had to remove both entertainers from their events after being told by cops that they would not be granted permits with them on the bill.
“I had to remove Tommy Lee; Jerk Fest had to remove Squash and Shane E. Squash didn’t perform on Sumfest,” one promoter complained during the meeting.
“We did not know this until two weeks before the show. That’s a lot of income for us and false advertising and all of that,” he added.
The claims were backed up by an attorney who claims their clients had particular difficulty performing in the western region, as cops have basically blacklisted them in the entire Area one division.
“These men are legitimate performers and we have indicated to the Superintendent that if he has any questions as it relates to the content of their music, that it can be modified. It has now gone now as far as the Superintendent saying to them that they are not to be seen in these four parishes,” she said.
“As you can imagine Minister, these are young men with family members here legitimate business here,” she added. “If we want to see them we have to travel to Kingston because they are legitimately concerned that they will be victimized, oppressed, taken into custody and I would like to know the basis of this treatment.”
The Minister would go on to say that he was unaware of any such law that would grant the police that kind of power.
“You cannot stop an event because somebody is on the program that you don’t want on it. If they have a case, that is far different than just labeling somebody. The law does not allow any adjustment in the Executive of Government or the police officer to brand somebody as a criminal, without having a case and to stop them from doing their business. If they have a case, then the police should contact the lawyer and ask them to bring the person in for an interview…,” Dr. Chang said.
He went on to say “If a person has a charge, that’s a different ball game. To tell a person because he is a convict, he can’t perform, we don’t have that in law.”
In recent months cops have pulled the plug on numerous events where both entertainers have been billed for, including Squash’s “6 Is Real” concert, which was slated for Kingston last June.
