Dancehall artiste Skillibeng is now perceived as a threat to concerts in St. Lucia after a person brandished a gun on stage during his performance over the weekend.
Following the incident, senior government minister Dr Ernst Hilaire raised concerns about the event being permitted even though the police initially took a stance against it.
The Onyx concert featured several other dancehall stars, but given the nature of Skillibeng’s songs, Hilaire said the police were against granting a permit.
Hilaire is the minister of tourism, investment, creative industries, culture, and information.
He explained that, to his understanding, “the police took a position that they were not approving the show because the individual in question is someone who has been involved in singing and promoting music that glorifies crime and gun violence.”
Hence, he expressed that someone needed to come forward with answers as to how the event was permitted when he and the police had discussed otherwise.
He told reporters that “the police were very clear that they were not going to approve it on the grounds of national security and events security.”
Furthermore, they viewed the event last Saturday night as a threat to combating gang activity.
According to Hilaire, the gun was not a standard firearm, and he was unsure whether it was authorised. Hilaire noted that it is forbidden to openly-carry firearms on stage in St Lucia.
The police have subsequently decided that anyone who promotes or sings songs glorifying violence will not be allowed to perform in St Lucia. Additionally, Hilaire stated that if a promoter lies to the police, there will be a serious conversation about that promoter’s role in St. Lucia’s artistic community.
-SAPPHIRE
