BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – FOUR months after controversial Jamaican Dancehall artiste Tommy Lee was arrested and deported from Dominica, his country's government has intervened in the matter.
According to Dominica News Online, the government has taken steps to sort out the deportation of Tommy Lee and three other men from Dominica after a controversial protest from the Christian community that cancelled a show in which he was to perform.
Tommy Lee and the three men, Oralie Russell, Junior Fraser and Mario Wallace, had alleged that in addition to being denied entry into Dominica on February 23, they were held in inhumane conditions.
The online media house also reported that the attorney representing the artiste, Bert Samuels, wrote to the Jamaican Foreign Affairs Ministry last week asking whether it was investigating Dominica’s refusal to allow entry of his client.
The Ministry responded to Samuels saying that the matter has been brought to the attention of the authorities in Dominica and a response is being awaited.
Dominica Association of Evangelical Churches had previously denounced Tommy Lee’s appearance at a concert, saying his music glorifies Satan during his performances and promotes lawlessness and violence. The government then said he was denied entry into Dominica because of concerns for public safety.
The artiste has given Dominica until June 8 to begin compensation negotiations in relation to the matter or he would file a claim at the Caribbean Court of Justice.
The matter is also said to have been reported to the United Nations.
