Tweet
Following some robberies... Artistes seek security abroad
Jamaican artistes travel all over the world and sometimes there are concerns for their security.
In January 2006, Beenie Man was robbed of his Rolex watch while at the opening of a record shop in London, England. The artiste took a stroll from the shop and was mobbed by fans for autographs and photographs. In the process, a man grabbed his watch and sped off with it. The watch was later recovered.
Mavado was also the victim of a robbery in September 2007 when his laptop bag was snatched from a hotel lobby while he was checking in prior to a show. It contained Mavado's travel documents, money, the laptop, as well as other important documents.
But it is the robbery of dancehall 'singjay' Serani that was the source of discussion at the start of the year. While in St Croix, Serani and his road manager were held up at gunpoint and robbed. The thieves took wallets, jewellery and money.
The suspects were later held. This was after a video was released on the Internet in which a presenter claiming to be from St Croix promised that no other Jamaican artiste would be treated in such a manner. However, he hinted at the possibility that Serani was robbed because he disrespected the people of the country and gave them a poor performance.
Serani's manager, Julian Jones-Griffith, says Serani should have had proper security while in St Croix.
He says the artistes he manages, including Bounty Killer and Mavado, usually have proper security.
"We ask for armed security from the time we enter (another country) to the time we leave. But we are at the mercy of the promoter 'cause at the end of the day they can still set us up. We travel with our own security same way," Jones-Griffith told The STAR.
In the event that the required security arrangements are not in place, Jones-Griffith says the artistes should stay put.
"If yuh reach and that is not in place yuh just don't leave the airport," he said.
Dancehall artiste Elephant Man also tries to ensure that his security is always intact when travelling.
"Mi carry some a mi fren dem from Jamaica and mek di promoter carry some a fi dem security," Elephant Man said.
Generally, Ele says he does not feel threatened. But in light of what happened with Serani in St. Croix, he believes artistes, including himself, need to take their security more seriously.
"Mi nuh know wah go down but a big idiot thing dat. Dem thing deh mek it even more that every artiste need fi mek sure seh dem security tight. So as mi land di security haffi come meet me," Elephant Man told The STAR.
Likewise, security for Queen Ifrica is provided by the host country, as well as her party from Jamaica.
As for Serani's case, she says it is unfortunate that he got robbed but she does not feel threatened when going to other countries.
<span style="font-style: italic">However, in some cases, Ifrica believes the Jamaican government should provide assistance.</span>
<span style="font-weight: bold">
"Our government should be the ones to defend us and not necessarily the artistes themselves in instances like those. They need to get in contact with the other country," </span>Queen Ifrica told The STAR.
Jamaican artistes travel all over the world and sometimes there are concerns for their security.
In January 2006, Beenie Man was robbed of his Rolex watch while at the opening of a record shop in London, England. The artiste took a stroll from the shop and was mobbed by fans for autographs and photographs. In the process, a man grabbed his watch and sped off with it. The watch was later recovered.
Mavado was also the victim of a robbery in September 2007 when his laptop bag was snatched from a hotel lobby while he was checking in prior to a show. It contained Mavado's travel documents, money, the laptop, as well as other important documents.
But it is the robbery of dancehall 'singjay' Serani that was the source of discussion at the start of the year. While in St Croix, Serani and his road manager were held up at gunpoint and robbed. The thieves took wallets, jewellery and money.
The suspects were later held. This was after a video was released on the Internet in which a presenter claiming to be from St Croix promised that no other Jamaican artiste would be treated in such a manner. However, he hinted at the possibility that Serani was robbed because he disrespected the people of the country and gave them a poor performance.
Serani's manager, Julian Jones-Griffith, says Serani should have had proper security while in St Croix.
He says the artistes he manages, including Bounty Killer and Mavado, usually have proper security.
"We ask for armed security from the time we enter (another country) to the time we leave. But we are at the mercy of the promoter 'cause at the end of the day they can still set us up. We travel with our own security same way," Jones-Griffith told The STAR.
In the event that the required security arrangements are not in place, Jones-Griffith says the artistes should stay put.
"If yuh reach and that is not in place yuh just don't leave the airport," he said.
Dancehall artiste Elephant Man also tries to ensure that his security is always intact when travelling.
"Mi carry some a mi fren dem from Jamaica and mek di promoter carry some a fi dem security," Elephant Man said.
Generally, Ele says he does not feel threatened. But in light of what happened with Serani in St. Croix, he believes artistes, including himself, need to take their security more seriously.
"Mi nuh know wah go down but a big idiot thing dat. Dem thing deh mek it even more that every artiste need fi mek sure seh dem security tight. So as mi land di security haffi come meet me," Elephant Man told The STAR.
Likewise, security for Queen Ifrica is provided by the host country, as well as her party from Jamaica.
As for Serani's case, she says it is unfortunate that he got robbed but she does not feel threatened when going to other countries.
<span style="font-style: italic">However, in some cases, Ifrica believes the Jamaican government should provide assistance.</span>
<span style="font-weight: bold">
"Our government should be the ones to defend us and not necessarily the artistes themselves in instances like those. They need to get in contact with the other country," </span>Queen Ifrica told The STAR.
Comment