Durrant Pate/Contributor

Jamaican dancehall artist Vybz Kartel’s itinerary in Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) has been limited, and his movement has been ordered curtailed by new Defence Minister Wayne Sturge.

In one of his first duties since being named Defence Minister more than a week ago, Sturge, according to a legal source within the ministry, is prohibiting Vybz Kartel from two media interviews and other events.

Vybz Kartel, whose registered name is Adidja Palmer, is scheduled to arrive in the twin-island Caribbean republic on May 26 in preparation for his concert on May 31. It is being reported in T&T that Sturge has blanked Palmer from a morning radio interview, a midday TV appearance, and a local press drop-in on May 27, based on an immigration order. 

Confirmation of curtailment order

He also blocked a meet and greet, a visit to a school or youth centre, a cultural lunch with community leaders and an official meet and greet on May 28. In an immediate response to Guardian Media, Sturge, after questioning how the media house became aware of his orders, confirmed the adjustments.

He explained that based on Palmer’s past legal troubles, he was concerned about him interacting with the country’s vulnerable youths, “particularly as [the overturning of his conviction] was not based on merit but on a legal technicality.” He added that a detailed media release is being drafted. Vybz Kartel was originally scheduled to perform in T&T in February, however, the One Caribbean Music Festival was postponed to May. 

The Jamaican dancehall veteran was freed of murder in 2024, after Jamaica’s Court of Appeal ruled against retrying him and his co-accused for the murder of Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams.

He, along with Shawn ‘Shawn Storm’ Campbell, Kahira Jones and Andre St John were convicted of the September 2011 murder of Williams, but lawyers representing the quartet made an appeal to the local Court of Appeal in 2020 with their convictions being upheld.

However, their appeal was then taken to the Privy Council, which on March 14, 2024 overturned their murder convictions on the grounds of juror misconduct. The Privy Council also remitted the case back to the Jamaica Court of Appeal to decide whether there should be a retrial. However, the appellate court set them free, citing that it would be unfair to have them retried.