Buju Banton Blasts Authority After Approval For His Foundation Was Denied Due To Conviction

Dancehall/Reggae star Buju Banton has lashed out at the Charities Authority in Jamaica after they denied the application for registration of the Buju Banton Foundation because of the singer’s previous conviction in the United States.

In an Instagram post today, Banton, whose real name is Mark Myrie, shared a clipping of the refusal letter sent to him by the Authority. The singer lashed out, writing in the caption, “I BET I am way moor honest than all of these fool put together????”

“How much help these suckseities give Jamaican youths from the ghetto??” he further vented in the comments.

Under the Department of Cooperatives and Friendly Societies (DCFS), which is within the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, the Charities Authority approves and regulates the establishment of charitable organizations and friendly societies on the island, as per the Charities Act of 2013.

In explaining grounds for refusal of Banton’s application, the Authority cited Section 5 (a) of the Act which specifies as its first objective, to “maintain, protect and enhance public trust and confidence in charitable organizations in Jamaica”.

They further noted that the “granting of a certificate of registration to the Foundation will run contrary to the [act] because of the public knowledge that Mr. Mark Anthony Myrie was convicted in 2011 of [the following] offences”, which they listed.  Banton was convicted for the illegal possession of a firearm and conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute in 2011.

He was released from a US prison in December 2018, after serving seven years of a ten-year sentence. A judge had dismissed the gun charge and reduced his time by two years since Banton was never actually found with a gun.

The Authority also cited Section 18 (a) and (b) of the Act, which requires that all governing board members be “a fit and proper person” who, whether in Jamaica or elsewhere, “has not been convicted of an offence involving dishonesty” and “who, in the opinion of the Authority, is a person of sound probity, and is able to exercise competence, diligence and sound judgement in fulfilling his responsibilities in the relation to a charitable organization.”

The Buju Banton Foundation was first unveiled in January 2019 when the artist shared its mission statement on Instagram.

“Born in abject poverty, I know what it is for a child to go without basic necessities. I also know what it is to be a youth with big dreams and lots of determination. Unfortunately, daunted and unable to achieve your destiny, due to lack of a helping hand. It is not an easy road, my children,” Banton wrote in a post.

“However, Jah has blessed me. I have made it my mission through the Buju Banton Foundation, to help, by giving light to youth living in the darkness of poverty…Through provision of food, clothing, healthcare and education. Thus ensuring they too have equal opportunities to succeed.”

The Foundation got to work right away, apparently without the Authority’s approval, and has since donated books, supplies, footwear and sports equipment to various children’s homes in Jamaica.  The Foundation has also facilitated workshops aimed at empowering youths to believe in their ability to succeed.

Rosemary Duncan, director of the Buju Banton Foundation, told Loop News last year that “the foundation is committed to ensuring at risk boys, across Jamaica, become meaningful contributors to society and thus has a lot of great works planned for successful fruition of that mission.”

In August 2020, they established a scholarship in honour of Banton’s mother Murdine Clarke. The scholarship, named the Murdine Clarke Scholarship, was set up at his alma mater Denham Town High School and the first recipient was a fifteen-year-old boy.

In November 2020, with the help of American rapper Kanye West after his visit to the island in September, the Foundation donated computers to the Sunbeam Boys’ Home and the Mount Olivet Boys’ Home.

Later on in November, after winning the 2020 Jamaica Festival Song Competition in July, Banton also donated the J$3 million cash prize towards the construction of a poultry/egg layer project at the Sunbeam Home.

Buju Banton‘s studio album, Before The Dawn, won the Best Reggae Album Grammy in 2011. His latest album, Upside Down 2020 , earned him a sixth Grammy nomination for the 2021 Awards which are expected to be announced in March.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CKmoTN4h_LN/