Jamaica Gleaner) KINGSTON, Jamaica:
News reports out of Nevis say Premier Vance Amory, wants a concert featuring Jamaican entertainer, Alkaline, cancelled over fears of his social and moral influence on citizens.
While the reports suggest that permission for today’s concert was being revoked, Alkaline’s representative, told our news centre she was in contact with a partner on the island to have the matter resolved.
In a statement posted on the Nevis Pages website, the Premier said it is necessary for the Government to take a stand on matters that have the potential to cause further deterioration of the social environment.
He said the Cabinet of the Nevis Island Administration does not support the concert.
He said there had been no indication certain local authorities had been made aware of the impending concert to feature the Jamaican entertainer.
His concerns were also communicated to the Commissioner of Police Dr C.G. Walwyn.
In a statement by the Commissioner on the same website, it was made clear that permission was granted to host the concert by the Nevis Division of the Royal St Christopher and Nevis Police Force.
The police noted that the artiste and promoters were expected to conform to the island’s laws relating to profanity.
However, the statement further said that out of respect for the Premier’s Office, the permission was being revoked.
Contacted this morning, our news centre was told that the Premier was in a meeting and would be unavailable for the rest of the day.
The action against Alkaline, whose given name is Earlan Bartley, follows a trend in recent times in which popular Jamaican entertainers are denied participation at events in several Caribbean islands.
Earlier this year, Tommy Lee was deported from Dominica after over public safety claims.