No Immigration Clearance For Mavado

Jamaican dancehall artiste Mavado, who is scheduled to perform at a concert in Port of Spain on Saturday, is yet to receive clearance from immigration officials.

According to Minister in the Ministry of National Security Collin Partap, a report from the police Special Branch will be given to Minister John Sandy “sometime this week” on the matter. Mavado (David Constantine Brooks) is one of the artistes banned since 2006 from performing in this country because of his violent lyrics.

Partap said it was only on Friday that legal representatives of the concert promoters wrote the ministry seeking to have Mavado perform in the country.

Mavado is scheduled to perform alongside two other Jamaican dancehallacts Konshens and Aidonna on July 30, at the

Hasely Crawford Stadium.

Partap said for weeks now the Ministry has been aware of advertising for the concert but did not receive any official correspondence.

“I found it strange they (promoters) were advertising without having been granted the waiver to enter into T&T and perform,” Partap said.

Partap also said the Ministry is aware of the lyrics associated with Mavado and the hype associated with such artistes prior to a concert.

Mavado last performed in Trinidad on March 29, at a concert at the Centre of Excellence, in Macoya. Laventille East/Morvant MP Donna Cox criticised National Security Minister Brig John Sandy on June 1, in the Lower House, for lifting the ban imposed by her administration on Mavado.

Cox had said the ban came into effect in 2006, due to Mavado’s violent lyrics which were laced with gun violence and violence against gays. Mavado has also been banned from performing in The Bahamas, Guyana and St Vincent. Sandy, who admitted not knowing the artiste or his songs, said the ban was not lifted and an “accommodation” had been made for him to perform on March 29.

In a brief interview with the Express yesterday Cox expressed concern over the impending concert. “Clearly a lot of countries have banned Mavado due to their increase in crime and I do not think he should be encouraged to perform here. By this occurring, the Minister (Sandy) is showing he is not serious about the fight in crime”, Cox said. Cox added all Sandy needed to do was send for Mavado’s file from immigration.

“The Minister is the person who can lift the ban or leave it,” Cox said. Adding that this further shows the irresponsibility of the Minister and his Government, Cox said no accommodation should have been made in the first place to have Mavado perform in this country.

 spotted @ Indistreetz