BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - POLICE have revealed why they turned down the request from organizers of the ‘OBSESSED - ALL BLACK AFFAIR’ event that was recently advertised, forcing the plug to be pulled all together.
The event, which was organized by Study It Entertainment, should have been headlined by Kman 6ixx - a well known young rapper out of Trinidad and Tobago. But, according to media reports, the entertainer’s lyrics are suggestive of supporting gun violence, gang affiliations and other activities that caught the attention of the local police force.
Now, the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force has stepped in and barred him from performing in the Federation, citing “security risk” concerns.
“The performance restriction on Kman 6ixx aligns with the RSCNPF’s ongoing efforts to ensure that artists whose performances and content may pose security risks are not permitted to perform within the country. The meticulous evaluation of the potentially negative impact on public order and safety bolsters our decision. Public safety and security remains our top priority, and this decision further underscores our dedication to maintaining [sic]a such an environment for all citizens and residents,” the police explained in a press release.
The decision taken by the police was made following a “comprehensive security assessment executed in collaboration with relevant local and regional authorities following consultations with the Chamber of Industry and Commerce and other local stakeholders”.
“The security assessment identified within the artist’s work explicit endorsements of violence; promotion of criminal activities; and a consistent glorification of gang life,” the police statement read.
Interest in the artiste is not only local but also regional, as he has been slated to perform in Grenada for one of the activities surrounding the island’s independence celebrations, from which he was also barred.
Media reports out of Port-of-Spain indicated that several attempts were made on the life of the artiste whose name is Kashif Alexander.
Meanwhile, police in Basseterre are taking steps in light of the growing concern over safety and security following an upsurge in gun violence in 2023. The country saw an uptick in homicides, as the numbers surpassed those of 2022 and 2021 combined.
This is the second instance over the last decade that an artist was barred from performing. Back in 2015, Jamaican entertainer Earlan ‘Alkaline’ Bartley was barred from performing in Nevis before he was allowed to do so after approval from the then Federal Government..
When reached for a comment, the Minister of Culture and the Creative Economy, Samal Duggins, directed to the Ministry of National Security on the matter, noting that it was a decision from that end.
