BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – A poll conducted by the Jamaican Observer a few days ago showed that 73 percent of their viewing audience does not support the notion of entertainer Vybz Kartel releasing or recording music while incarcerated.
According to the news establishment, 11 386 votes (73%) of respondents in the OBSERVER ONLINE poll are of the view that Kartel should not be allowed to record and release songs while in prison.
“During the sentencing questions were raised by presiding judge Lennox Campbell regarding the issue of the popular dancehall DJ being allowed to continue producing music while in prison”, the Observer reported.
However, Jamaican Entertainer Sycatore Alcock, also known as Jah Cure, recorded three albums while incarcerated at the Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre.
The Tower Street prison, popularly known as GP, is fitted with a fully operational recording studio and a low frequency radio station, FREE FM, which broadcasts in the prison.
In the case of Jah Cure, the proceeds of his songs were used to bolster the rehabilitation programme and he earned no money.
"In a previous matter, when a person was convicted who had some artistic talent, certain things were done. It needs to be found out whether in fact it was open to the court for any of those proceeds gained could go to repairing any of the damage to the relatives of the deceased," Justice Lennox Campbell said.
In the case of Kartel, the prison authorities would have to eventually make the decision for the victim's family to be compensated from any recording released by the artiste while imprisoned.
Adidja ‘Vybz Kartel’ Palmer, Shawn 'Shawn Storm' Campbell, Kahira Jones and Andre St. John were on April 3 given life sentences by Justice Lennox Campbell at the Home Circuit Court in Jamaica for the murder of Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams.
Kartel is to serve 35 years before being eligible for parole; Campbell is to serve 25 years before becoming eligible; while the other co-accused Kahira Jones is to serve 25 years before becoming eligible and Andre St John is to serve 30 years before becoming eligible.
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