Buju Banton Calls Out Jamaican Government For “Oppression And Tyranny”
Dancehall artist Popcaan was apparently up to his usual antics, over the weekend, when he removed his mask and mockingly shouted “mi nah wear nuh mask!” on his Instagram Story, in reference to Buju Banton’s viral anti-mask rant last year.
Buju, however, finds no humor in the situation in Jamaica and unleashed yet another Instagram video on Sunday, expressing disappointment in his fellow “rich” Jamaicans for ridiculing those, like himself, who have been speaking out. He also, again, declared his opposition to the Government’s COVID-related restrictions and policies.
In an almost 5 minute clip, Banton is seen reading the updated mandates and the consequences for breaching the Disaster Risk Management Act, citing them as “oppression and tyranny”.
Buju’s video comes after the recent viral video and arrest of a St. Catherine man, who was later charged with breaches of the Disaster Risk Management Act, disorderly conduct, indecent language, obstructing the police, and using abusive and calumnious language, according to the Jamaica Gleaner.
The police on Sunday met resistance from a man who identified himself as Stephen Mike Witter when they turned up on a beach in Hellshire, St Catherine to disperse a gathering. Witter insisted he was on private property. Full video: https://t.co/FYvvvqRMvS pic.twitter.com/scEJMALBFr
— Jamaica Gleaner (@JamaicaGleaner) March 8, 2021
“The Jamaican constitution does not allow the Government of Jamaica to use the Office of the Prime Minister or any other office to oppress and pressure any citizen, any citizen at all. You Jamaicans better wake up before them come kick oonu door one one and do like what dem a do all ova di place,” Buju said in the video.
Despite the backlash that he received for his initial rant of rebellion from his colleagues, Ministers, and even daughter and social media influencer Abihail Myrie, Banton is still standing firm behind his beliefs. “Mi notice a thread, mi notice everybody weh come out inna Jamaica and vent the way dem feel either the Jamaican populace come down pon dem like we suppose to be sheep,” he said.
He moved onto address Jamaican politicians.
“Memba ah we vote oonu in, oonu supposed to run the country fuh we, don’t gwaan like oonu wan switch it pan we…and have the people dem think dem work for politicians. No! Politicians work for the country”
“Do not use the office of the Prime Minster or the office of whichever politician it is..to pressure the citizens. You are creating tyranny. You are tyrannical.”
Buju accused those in power of not setting the example as it pertains to vaccinations. “Oonu a tell we bout shot and none a oonu na tek no shot, a who oonu a try fool bout ya. Here what guh gwaan, we want see oonu a tek what oonu want the people to get.”
The Jamaica Gleaner reported on Friday that Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Health and Wellness Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton are not scheduled to take the COVID-19 vaccine until April 2021, unless the pace of the current roll-out significantly improves.
Buju is not the only disgruntled deejay voicing his concerns, as the internationally known King of Dancehall Beenie Man took to his Instagram to share his own personal grievances.
“Buju do a ting todeh weh mi respect,” Beenie said while on a family vacation at the Pegasus Hotel. “Mi nuh like how dem a deal wid d law a Jamaica, because police ketch yuh 9 or 10 you haffi pay them.” he shared about his resentment for the latest lockdown directives.
Last month, Beenie Man pleaded not guilty to charges that he breached the COVID-related Disaster Risk Management and Noise Abatement Acts in Jamaica. His trial will begin on April 19.
Meanwhile, Jamaican actor/comedian @slick_whiteline has made light of Buju’s comments in a video making the rounds.