THE EDITOR, Sir:
I am amazed and dumbfounded when I hear see or read about a new release from dancehall artiste Vybz Kartel.
He is supposed to be detained, and has been so now for close to two years. So imagine my bewilderment when I hear a disc jock announce that he had a new song by the ‘Teacha’ to premiere!
I want to ask Police Commissioner Owen Ellington a few questions.
First, I would like to know if when one is in detention awaiting trial for, say, murder, is he allowed to be working on what he did prior to losing his freedom?
Was Kartel allowed to go to the studios in the days and make music before being ushered back to his government-provided housing in the evenings?
Mr Commissioner, have you investigated the matter to ensure that this is not the practice?
It could be that he records over the phone from his lock-up. If this is so, is Kartel being allowed to use a phone to make recordings from behind bars? Is this standard procedure for ‘guests’ of the Government awaiting trial to have their own phones? Or are they allowed access to phones to call studios/producers to do recordings?
Mr Commissioner, you need to do a thorough investigation into the matter, as I believe that Vybz Kartel is releasing more songs weekly while detained than when he was a free man.
Some may say these were recordings that were done before his detention, but if this were so, why are they only being released now?
I await your answers, Mr Commissioner.