The big debate - Mixed reactions to guilty verdict handed down to Buju

So the Star feature called Legal Wranglings took a look at the whole Buju affair and how the public is reacting to the whole thing

Reggae star Buju Banton outside the courtroom in Tampa, Florida. - Daraine Luton photo

Many persons were overheard expressing disappointment and shock at the guilty verdict handed down in the case against Jamaican reggae superstar Buju Banton whose real name is Mark Myrie.

"Lawd mi can't believe it," one woman wailed when she heard the news. "Dem really set him up," another woman shouted. A policeman in analysing the case said he was not shocked by the verdict.

"If Buju got away, it would just be pure luck or the jury felt sorry for him," the policeman said.

"People are saying all sorts of thing that is set them set up Buju, but to tell you the truth, is Buju set up himself," the police said, to some of his colleagues.

"Now, put yourself in Buju's position. He did not know the informant before and they began talking about music and other stuff. The topic reached drugs, particularly, cocaine. Now, if you, as Buju, even run up your mouth and say all sorts of things, when it comes down to the final analysis, how Buju come to be tasting cocaine in a warehouse in the United States? We are sorry for Buju, but we must be objective at the same time," the policeman said.

"You are right, we must look at the case in an objective way and put blame where it belongs", one of his colleagues said.

predicament

The truth is and most people might no like to hear the truth is that Buju put himself in his predicament. People have been blaming the informant, but, when Buju went to the warehouse and saw the cocaine, if he were not serious about the deal, he should have said he was only joking, he was not involved in drugs, then he could not be arrested and charged," the policeman emphasised.

A policeman who was at first expressing sympathy for Buju said he agreed Buju was to be blamed for the situation he was now in. He explained that Buju could not say the informant was telling lies when he said Buju tasted the cocaine because Buju was video-recorded tasting the cocaine and making comments and that was shown to the jury.

undercover policeman

"Now tell me, if someone asks me if I know where they can get ganja or cocaine to buy and I go around trying to assist the person to purchase the stuff and it turns out that the person I am assisting is an undercover policeman, then if I am arrested and charged it would be my fault.

In the first place, I know that buying cocaine or ganja and being in possession of them is a criminal offence so how could I go about assisting someone to get the stuff? he queried.

"All Buju had to do was to walk away when he saw the cocaine and say mister, I do not deal in drugs," the policeman said.

Although Buju is convicted and will face prison term, he has the right to appeal and many people are hoping he will be freed when he appeals.

meanwhile here is a short precise letter from the Jamaica Observer speaking to the hypocrisy of it all.

Hypocrisy about Buju

Dear Editor,

I cannot understand why so many people continue to display such blatant hypocrisy in their continued support for Buju. Most of those who support him continue to think that he was set up by certain interest groups. Few consider the possibility that he is actually guilty.

Many say that he was tricked into committing a crime. This is total rubbish. Buju himself admitted that he was stupid for allowing himself to get involved in this drug deal. Too bad for him - that is no excuse for committing a crime. Now he is going to do the time. What's wrong with that?

Unlike Jamaica, the American justice system, with all of its imperfections, does work. We need to grow up. Justice must be for all, including reggae stars like Buju.

Michael A Dingwall
Kingston
michael_a_dingwall@hotmail.com

So it go

Peace and tolerance

H

Also see this post from Gay Jamaica Watch:

Barbara Gloudon: "It isn't the gays who've sent him to prison, despite all the Boom-Bye-Bye controversy. It wasn't because he's a black man from Ja"

Get the full 62 paged document or Buju Banton speaking to the then informant here: http://www.tampabay.com/specials/2010/PDFs/banton.pdf

Battle royal (Observer Letter)

So JFLAG has received some information finally on that awful incident in Montego Bay on February 20th where several cops descended on a entertainment spot while a session was in progress, check out the report as compiled on sister blog GLBTQ Jamaica on Wordpress where I took a more advocacy approach as many homeless and displaced persons were separated from the unofficial out of pocket program of crisis intervention shelter and food supplied to them from the management.

Big Blow For Homeless/Displaced MSMs In Western Jamaica …..

here is the letter from atty-at-law and activist Maurice Tomlinson on the issue:

Battle royal

Dear Editor,

Reports reaching J-FLAG are that just after midnight on February 20, four police pick-up trucks and a van normally used to transport prisoners swooped down on the only gay club along Montego Bay's tourist Hip-Strip. About 20 heavily armed officers jumped from the vehicles, kicked in doors, aggressively accosted patrons, indiscriminately beat and pistol-whipped them, and chased everyone from the venue.

During the operation, homophobic slurs were hurled and this seemed to have encouraged patrons of nearby clubs to join in the melee by throwing bottles, stones and other missiles as individuals fled for their lives. One patron described it as a mob scene, and another who asked an officer, "If this is how you as a law enforcement officer treat us, how do you expect other people to behave?" was rewarded with several kicks for his effrontery. He later took refuge for several hours in an abandoned building.

At least ten people are reported to have been treated at hospital for injuries received during the raid while others decided to nurse their wounds at home.

This latest attack follows a similar one in Kingston in early February when police without badges were reported to have raided a gay club in Half-Way-Tree, pointing guns at patrons and shining powerful flashlights in their faces. On neither occasion did officers disclose the purpose of the raids, but they clearly have one intent, namely to intimidate and remind lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) Jamaicans that their kind are not welcome here and they certainly don't have the right to assemble and socialize peacefully.

Maurice Tomlinson

Montego Bay, St James

maurice_tomlinson@yahoo.com

Letter ENDS

Meanwhile here is an excerpt from the Wordpress edition:

"Several persons had to seek medical attention following the attack and up to the preparation of this post the owner/manager who was not present at the time of the assault was held from Sunday morning at the police station where he went to inquire what had happened, he is to go to court today to apply for bail on charges yet to be made public, apparently there are outstanding charges of other infractions before that were used to justify holding him overnight.

The club which opened it’s doors only in the latter part of 2010 was to serve western Jamaica as persons there felt they had to journey too far westwards to central Jamaica and Kingston to get to parties was home to very good events so far and female impersonation shows. According to my sources many of the displaced persons who were beaten and gun butted in some instances were forced into the path of members of the public who were nearby at an event on a parallel road, men reportedly joined in the assault alongside the cops, several of them sustained blows and one popular party person’s face was severely bashed. Fortunately there were some amongst the public who did not support the assault in this latest homophobic incident which has come as a shock to everyone even to the area police as they were aware of the spot they made frequent patrols and had an agreement of sorts with the owner/manager to operate within the confines of the law specifically closing time of 2am or 4am where an extension was sought as the club is not near any residences to breach the Noise Abatement Act, it is surmised the cops came from elsewhere."

By now many persons are aware that it is internal rivalry in the lgbt entertainment fraternity that has caused this particular problem sadly the letter didn't reflect that, recent checks via phone with some persons who were injured suggest they are recovering and some repairs have been effected to the property as the management still occupy the premises, investigations are proceeding with evidence being put together to include photos taken of the damage and injuries.

Please have the guys in your thoughts and prayers.

Peace and tolerance

H

The androgynous blurring of the sexes

Anthony Gomes

Source

THE Observer reported on the latest debasement of Christian marriage that should exist between a man and a woman for the purpose of procreation. Motivation for the report was clearly notoriety and curiosity.The report described the civil union marriage of a 66-year-old ex-fireman with a Jamaican lesbian some 30 years his junior.
The blurring and confusion of the sexes occurred, because the ex-fireman, after previous sequential marriages to three wives, underwent an operation to change his sex from male to female, paid for by the British National Health Service. He has a 41-year-old daughter by an earlier marriage who has distanced herself from her father, unlike the former wife who generously hosted the recent wedding at her home in Kings Lyn in Britain. The couple met on an international dating website and after spending two weeks together decided to get married. Christians believe that such behaviour is morally reprehensible, which takes sexual blurring to a new level of notoriety.

POPE BENEDICT XVI... saving humanity from homosexual and transsexual behaviour is just as important as saving the rainforest from destruction

The Roman Catholic religion states clearly thus: "The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life, is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring; this covenant between baptised people has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament." According to the Vatican: "The Catholic Church contests these revolutionary innovations which, in the name of freedom, seek to legitimise a union regarded by the universal consciousness as going against nature". Apart from being in sync with the changing times, contemporary liberalism has gone beyond the realm of propriety in its expectations.
Pope Benedict XVI has issued a caution to deviants that the gender theory blurred the distinction between men and women and could thus lead to "self-destruction" of the human race. "Saving humanity from homosexual and transsexual behaviour is just as important as saving the rainforest from destruction. Rainforests deserve, yes our protection, but the human being does not deserve less."

Over time there have been calls in Jamaica for the legalisation of polygamy so that husbands could, if able to afford it, acquire multiple wives, and polyandry where wives could have more than one husband. There are tribes in Africa that practise such multiple relationships. In such arrangements wives are graded senior and junior without age limits. Jamaica is already burdened with wayward husbands, companions and partners, who indulge in multiple relationships overt or covert, or both, so that the only wife who knows where her husband is all of the time is a widow!
So far there have not been any demands to introduce as acceptable, the "ultimate frolic" that goes by the name of polyamory that totally abandons any vestige of religion, and sometimes turns violent, resulting in gang rape. According to an article by attorney-at-law Shirley Richards, polyamory is defined as the "practice of relationships within groups of three or more people, where at least one person in the group has more than one intimate relationship at a time. Polyamory configurations also exist as groups, where all parties are intimate with each other, or as groups with four or more members". This pagan activity is the ultimate heathen abandonment without any trace of Christian virtue.

Freedom of the individual to alter his God-given human status by changing his sex from male to female by medical procedure overlooks that man is created in God's image, so such elected and selfishly motivated alterations are an affront to the work of a transcendent, intelligent and good Being called God. If the union, by some stretch of the imagination, is described as a same-sex marriage, it then becomes a relationship composed of incongruous elements, without the benefit of the ability to procreate. Therein lies the serious challenge to society that in some countries would approve child adoption for same-sex unions. Such a conjugal relationship destroys the family unit that is the foundation of society.

In all matters of same-sex relations the problem of children arises. It is near to inevitable that any child so adopted, would unavoidably be socialised into a similar lifestyle as their legal "parents/guardians" that eventually confers in adulthood the same homosexual legacy applied to the lifestyle of their "parents/guardians". This is, in essence, what Pope Benedict XVI's caution to deviants could mean regarding blurring of the sexes as the potential for self-destruction of the human race.
Within the super-developed nations of the Western Hemisphere as with all cyclical historical events, super-development is followed by the dissipation of moral and spiritual values similar to Greco/Roman times, with the ascendancy of materialism that spawns the related ills of greed, corruption and lawlessness. The symptoms of this development are evident in today's Western world that forms a main part of the worldwide threat to Christianity which increases daily.

The possible effect of events described above on young adults can be detrimental to their understanding of things related to life in the spirit and Christian values. Strong parental guidance and peer pressure are the two influences which come to bear at this critical juncture in the lives of minors. There are many deviant concepts of life in the public domain that need to be sifted out of the story of true-life values. It is not an easy task, but one that every parent needs to take very seriously in today's toxic moral environment.

Ruling “Not in My Cabinet” JLP politician suspected of buggery

According to the Jamaica Observer on February 23, 2011 as originally published.

A Jamaica Labour Party politician has been charged with buggery.

Police report that the politician and another man held down a man at his St Andrew residence and sodomised him. The injured man reportedly made a report to the Centre for the Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse (CISOCA) and was examined by a medical doctor.

The doctor reportedly found that the male victim had signs of sexual trauma and filed a report with the police.

The politician was questioned by CISOCA detectives and is still in custody along with the other accused man.

Read more: HERE

Of course by now we know it is none other than Mr. Garnet Reid caretaker for South West St. Andrew for the ruling Jamaica Labour Party, a post on my sister blog Gay Jamaica Watch had hinted it was forthcoming from impeccable sources close to the happenings. Pity the Observer was afraid to publish his name. Oh well such is politics in Jamaica, we all know by now they are JLP friendly these days. In a post from the series The Line in The Sand for the JLP installment 6 the story was briefly looked at, here is an excerpt:

Meanwhile the JLP may just face another one of those bumps which may turn out to be a bigger obstacle with the possible legal troubles of South West St. Andrew caretaker Garnett Reid (photo above) who was referred to on February 20th as a person of interest by the police for a sexual crime. He turned himself in on February 21 accompanied by his lawyer Valerie Neita Robinson according to the Gleaner. Usually when we hear designations of such eloquent wording leveled at officials or someone designated of good repute we can guess it has something of a same sex tinge to it and so we thought so it is. Allegations are so far as we know suggest he was involved in a sexual assault with another male of a young man from rural Jamaica some time last week, reports suggest Thursday February 17th.

If this one gets out there in a big way it could mean the end of the Jamaica Labour Party or at best serious damage to the JLP I fear as Prime Minister Bruce Golding's early pronouncements on the Hardtalk Program on the BBC of "Not in My Cabinet" is fresh in the minds of many gay or straight alike. From what we were able to gather the young man was introduced to the caretaker who was captured by his look and wanted a sexual liaison to take place, however the young man did not reciprocate the affection and he was allegedly held by both Reid and another friend and acts performed on him on the faithful day, this is after spending several days at his home.

It is further alleged that the young man wanted a sizable sum of money not to pursue the matter but when the demanded sum was not produced the matter was reported to the police who have since questioned Mr. Reid.

The Jamaica Labour Party is said to be deeply disturbed by the allegations (maybe not as outlined above) but to have one of their own with such a cloud of same sex assault hanging over his head given the fact that it is the opposition that the public perception is strongest of having homosexuals in its midst then could that be a nail in the coffin for the JLP to aspire for a second term, I am sure they are doing their best to keep this one down as much as possible.

The problem with cases or allegations such as these is that when they get out to the public domain the feelings of persons not supporting same sex relations and activities we are viewed as predators or paedophiles even though this case does not involve a child or teen. Already on other forums, blogs and network pages are firing off with negative comments reflecting the aformentioned perceptions coupled with the anger and disappointment of the Buju Banton cocaine trail in Florida delivered on February 22nd 2010.

With a disgruntled lgbtq community when it comes to the JLP they most certainly won't get a lot of pink votes. Several social network sites dedicated to removing the JLP and heavily criticizing the Prime Minister's tenure over the years are up and running full steam.

UPDATE: March 4, 2011

The Observer since has removed that headline of the gentleman being charged for buggery to a new entry on the matter where Mr. Reid is said to be not yet charged for is still under police arrest for the past two weeks. The story now reads:

Garnet Reid still not charged

Attorney to file habeus corpus application for JLP councillor

DESPITE spending two weeks in jail, Jamaica Labour Party councillor for South West St Andrew Garnet Reid, has not yet been charged by the police.

Reid turned in himself to the Constant Spring Police after being named as a person of interest in connection with a sexual offence.

But according to his attorney Valerie Neita-Robertson, detectives at the Centre for Sexual Offences and Child Abuse (CISOCA) have not charged her client and have him languishing behind bars.

“We don’t know what is going on. There has been a grand silence,” Neita-Robertson told the Observer.

She said she will be making a habeus corpus application in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court today to seek a magistrate’s order that Reid be either charged or released.

A magistrate had ordered that Reid be brought to court yesterday but the matter hit a snag after disgruntled magistrates staged a sick out. This has forced Neita-Robertson to renew her bid to have her client released.

Reid underwent an identification parade on Tuesday but it is not clear whether or not he was pointed out.

Article ENDS

Mr. Reid has been subsequently released and is said to be adjusting to normal life again, he was seen out and about on the social scene recently and participated in a discussion on discrimination issues at a popular spot.

Peace and tolerance

H

A sad day - Reggae industry reacts to Buju’s guilty verdict ..... gay activists not responsible

Well the Observer Clovis cartoon kinda hits the nail on the head to the hypocrisy of it all and the perceptions of Jamaicans on this case and others bearing in mind the gay activists are getting the blame for Mr. Myrie's legal problems:

The Jamaica Observer published that A pall seemed to have been cast over members of the reggae industry following the guilty verdict handed down by the jurors in the trial of Buju Banton.
Everyone at the Observer intimated their disappointment with the outcome of the second trial of the Grammy-winning reggae artiste. Buju's former manager and producer, Donovan Germain of Penthouse Records was so distraught by the news that he opted not to comment, noting, "I can't talk to you right now, I am too messed up to think."

In the meantime, social network sites, Facebook and Twitter in particular, have been abuzz even before the verdict was handed down. On Facebook, one Buju Banton fan from Barbados noted that the verdict was indeed "sour", adding that "everyone feel for him". She said a number of radio stations in Barbados were showing solidarity with the Jamaican artiste and playing his music.
Fellow artiste and Buju's close friend, Wayne Wonder also took to Facebook. Wonder urged, "Lets all keep the prayers going for Mark, we all have to stay strong and stand by him!"

Only last week the entertainment fraternity had their hopes lifted, as on February 13 -- one day before the start of this, his second trial --Buju won the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album for the project, Before the Dawn. Many saw this as good fortune for the artiste who had been plagued by tour cancellations to support his previous release, Rasta Got Soul. Buju Banton reacted to the win at the Grammys by noting how honoured he was, adding that it meant that his music has transcended a lot of borders and people are now paying attention to what he has to say.

The Observer sought comments from a number of players in the music industry to the verdict as handed down in the Florida courtroom.

George Nooks, Recording artiste - “It’s sad, I’m sad. It’s a sad day in reggae, period. Honestly, I’m struggling to come to grips with the verdict. I was holding out hope that Buju would have been set free... Can’t say I was expecting this at all; just want to encourage Buju to stay strong. He said it best in his song, It’s Not an Easy Road.

Nadine Sutherland, Recording artiste - “I wish that the verdict was different, I am gutted at this time. I am pleased though to have seen throughout his ordeal the love and the support he received from the Jamaican people.”

Richie B, Radio disc jock — Hot 102 FM - “The verdict is simply heart-wrenching. All I am remembering is the conversation I had with Buju in Florida at the Before the Dawn concert. He was so confident and it gave me a sense of hope for the outcome, so it is hard to deal with this very sad, upsetting verdict. I would encourage Buju and his team to appeal this decision in order to arrive at a better result.”

Dr Sonjah Stanley-Niaah, Lecturer in Cultural Studies — UWI - “This is indeed a sad day for the music, Buju, his family, friends and fans worldwide, and leaves me very introspective at this time. It should also be seen as a wake-up call for those who are not one the straight and narrow, as well as for artistes to constantly assess their craft. I am confident, however, that Buju will use this time to reflect and trust that his lawyers will put together an appeal that will allow us to look with hope to a rising sun.”

Clinton Lindsay, Foundation Radio Network - “I was in the last minutes of my show when I got the news, tears immediately came to my eyes. I just can’t believe it went that way. From all the reports I was getting, it seemed things were looking good in his direction... I am just too shocked right now. I really feel bad for Buju, his family and his many, many fans. I am praying that the judge will have mercy and be lenient when passing down sentence. I wish Buju the best and that he gains strength and does not lose faith, it’s truly a sad day for many of us.”

Bobby Clarke Irie Jam Radio, New York - “Nothing can describe the feeling of despair that came over New York when the heart-breaking news of the verdict came in. We are now in a state of absolute shock and dismay. Injustice, corruption, bias, and evil has won today... the oppressor and the darkness they push has claimed victory, but only for today. We will cry today, we will be overcome by deep sorrow today, but only for today. We will stand beside our fallen soldier, he is a hero in our eyes no matter the verdict. We will rise as a people and as a country. We shall never be defeated by evil, they will not win. Buju, we salute you.”

Lady G Recording, artiste - “I’m so disappointed and I am still praying. I am still in shock, I can’t think of anything more to say right now.”

ENDS

Notes:

The perception that the gay community is responsible for all of Buju Banton's woes during this trial are not true and are unfounded, he got himself in his own mess. Also see sister Blog Gay Jamaica Watch's take on the verdict and more. There has always been a cloud even from the entertainement industry from the get go when Buju "converted" to Rastafari and to see the reactions of sorts from the industry most of who were quiet in the beginning looks so loaded with hypocrisy. A section of the public too though small maybe had also had doubts as to whether Buju was indeed involved in drugs quietly hence the cartoon depiction from Clovis above, somethings just don't add up.

See: Dancehall mum from Buju's woes began on GJW

Cock Mouth Kill Cock? maybe so as he (Buju) was reported to have said to the informant (unaware to Buju at the time) "You have given me the opportunity to make myself again," Buju said to Johnson in an audio recording.

He complained to the informant that he did not make any money on his last tour and that gay-rights organisation, The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, "is trying to run me under."

So maybe he wanted an alternate form of income seeing he wasn't getting anywhere far via the music sales and concerts.

Have a look at the transcript of the conversation between Buju and the informant and also the other party at the time.

View PDF file here: http://www.tampabay.com/specials/2010/PDFs/banton.pdf

I am sure there is more to come as the sentencing and appeals process is expected to take three months or so.

Peace and tolerance

H

3rd Blogoversary ........ thank you

February 20th was the third year of this blog's life. Thank you so much for your continued support and advice and criticisms over these three years of life for this publication. As you may know it started out as a JFLAG, Jamaica Forum for Lesbians Allsexuals and Gays blog when I was a part of the family but apparently the revolution was too fast for them probably so a name change was in order and then came GLBTQ Jamaica of course redone to reflect my views alongside theirs with my sister blogs GLBTQJA on Wordpress and the sometimes controversial Gay Jamaica Watch. A new Xrated all male blog was added recently to diversify the offerings on this kind of platform. I still intend to launch a full site soon provided the right funds can be put together as I do this activity alone for now with networking assistance from other persons on the ground.

Nothing much has changed in terms of goals except the new posts and features added that judging by your feedback have been enjoying. Donations presently are accepted via Paypal where buttons are placed at points on this and the Gay Jamaica Watch's blog as well. If you wish to send donations otherwise please contact: glbtqjamaica@live.com or telephone - 1-876-813-4942 or CLICK HERE

Activities & Plans: ongoing and future

To continue this venture towards website development with an E-zine focus

Work with other Non Governmental organizations old and new towards similar focus and objectives

To find common ground on issues affecting GLBTQ and straight friendly persons in Jamaica towards tolerance and harmony

Exposing homophobic activities and suggesting corrective solutions

To formalise GLBTQ Jamaica's activities in the long term

Continuing discussion on issues affecting GLBTQ people in Jamaica and elsewhere

Welcoming, examining and implemeting suggestions and ideas from you the viewing public

Present issues on HIV/AIDS related matters in a timely and accurate manner

Assist where possible victims of homophobic violence and abuse financially and otherwise

Track human rights issues in general with a view to support for ALL

Thanks again
lgbtevent@gmail.com
glbtqjamaica@live.com
Tel: 1-876-813-4942
http://gayjamaicawatch.blogspot.com/
http://glbtqja.blogspot.com/
http://glbtqja.wordpress.com/
http://glbtqja.blogspot.com/ (the newest addition to the family with more international focus)


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Individuals who are mentioned or whose photographs appear on this site are not necessarily Homosexual, HIV positive or have AIDS.

This blog contains pictures that may be disturbing. We have taken the liberty to present these images as evidence of the numerous accounts of homophobic violence meted out to alleged gays in Jamaica.

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Recent Homophobic Incidents

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Peace to you and be safe out there.

Love.