It has barely been two months since news was released that Buju Banton’s first confirmed show will be in Trinidad, and already there a slew of articles highlighting why the artiste should not be allowed entry into the country, yet alone perform at a public event.
An article written by Joshua Surtees for the Trinidad and Tobago Newsday on March 31 had the headline ‘No Place for Buju’s Hate Music in TT’. The article outlined reasons why Banton should not be allowed to perform at his booked show in April 2019, pointing out that not only does the Jamaican artiste ‘make murder music’, but he has been convicted of a crime for which he spent almost a decade in prison.
Surtees in the article explained that, according to Trinidad and Tobago Immigration Law, Banton’s conviction makes him illegible for entry into the country and charges the T&T Government to take care of their citizens by standing by their laws. “There is no place for hate in Trinidad and no place for hatred in music. So I was somewhat disturbed by the announcement that Buju Banton will perform here next year, after his release from prison. Banton makes murder music. His lyrics literally encourage the murder of gay people,” Surtees wrote.
“The Trinidadian government has a duty of care to its citizens and should uphold its immigration law, which prohibits entry to anybody convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment of a year or more. Banton got ten years for drug trafficking,” he continued.
CORRECT INFORMATION
When THE WEEKEND STAR contacted an entertainment lawyer and asked whether Surtees was correct in his statements about the bit of legislation quoted in his article, she advised our news team that the information was accurate. She explained that according to section 8 subsection 1D of T&T’s Immigration Act, Banton could be prohibited from entering the country and would therefore by extension not be allowed to perform.
The lawyer, however, explained that according to subsection 8 (2) of the same act, the Minister of Immigration could override the legislated prohibition on entry. What this means is that although Banton could be prohibited by law to not enter the country, the promoter for the show that Banton is booked could write to the Minister of Immigration requesting and making a case for an exemption letter/permit to be granted to Banton allowing him entry to perform.
THE WEEKEND STAR reached out to Banton’s team to query whether or not they had begun the process of obtaining an exemption letter, but the representative expressed that they did not wish to comment. Banton’s April 2019 show date was announced last month, and for now, it is the artiste’s first confirmed performance as a free man.
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