Bounty Killer Back In Cayman Islands, 16 Years After Being Denied Work Visa
Bounty Killer is reveling in getting the green light to travel to the Cayman Islands for what he says is the first time in 16 years. The Warlord will be performing at the four-day CayJam Fest 2022 which runs from September 22 and 24, and will make his appearance Friday night.
Killer shared a video of himself upon arrival at an airport in Cayman, where he animatedly addressed several persons who apparently came to receive him, telling them that he was there to “rumble” and “bung bang”, and close an almost two-decade generation gap.
“I don’t try to perform for Cayman or for Jamaica, or for Barbados; I perform for the fans,” Bounty tells the group. “Whether I am in Jamaica or I am in Barbados or in Cayman Islands, it’s gonna be the same thing. And then to be here after 16 years, I know what I have to reignite, remind dem what I does and what I brings. So this will have to be extraordinary, because I have to remind the younger ones who never know me and see me before.”
“So this is like working to suit a next generation, because I missed one generation… So it’s a generation gap. Yes, tomorrow really gonna be exciting for me. I don’t know about nobaddy else. I am back in my place,” he said.
“Time is always the master after 16yrs of being barred from entering the Cayman Islands the time machine decided its that time again Jah bussing all chains and bandages from di GADZILLA my greatness can never ever stop 👌🏿,” he also captioned that post.
In 2006, the Cayman Compass reported that a judge—in a judicial review which was requested by concert promoter Andrea Thompson—had ruled that Cayman Island’s Chief Immigration Officer Franz Manderson had acted well within his jurisdiction when he decided to refuse a temporary work permit to Bounty Killer.
According to the publication, the judge had said Manderson’s decision was “well within the realm of reasonableness” and that the officer’s letter to the promoter notifying her of the decision did not fall below the level required of decision makers in giving their reasons.
The Chief Immigration Officer had cited the nature of Bounty Killer’s song lyrics and stage act along with his “previous conviction for profanity”, and the judge had declared that he viewed that as an adequate set of reasons for denying the permit.
He had also pointed out that Manderson was not concerned with public morals, “but with public order”.
Thompson’s affidavit had said she had continued preparations for the concert which was to have been headlined by Bounty Killer, after Manderson “indicated he saw no reason why he would not grant the necessary permits unless something new came up”.
However, according to the judge, “what came up” was confirmation of Bounty Killer’s conviction for profanity in Trinidad in 2004, and the application for a Caymanian temporary work permit was subsequently refused.
The judge had also pointed out that the Chief Immigration Officer is required by the Immigration Law to consider specific criteria for temporary workers, and that there are no separate guidelines for entertainers.
Additionally, he noted that the Chief Immigration Officer is required to consider the character and reputation of persons seeking work permits, “the social and economic benefit he may bring to the islands and the protection of local interests and the requirements of the community as a whole”.
Bounty’s return was applauded by Beenie Man, Shaggy and Chi Ching Ching, as well as Cham who declared: “A Your Place!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥”.
At tonight’s major concert at Safe Haven, Bounty Killer will be backed by the Nigel Staff-led Ruff Cut band and will be joined by several other artists including Notch, Rally Banks and Kaution.
According to the promoters CayJam Entertainment, the CayJam Fest is aimed at promoting Caymanian and Jamaican artists through music and culinary offerings, and showcasing the “positive contributions of culture from the Cayman Islands and Jamaica”.
At tonight’s event, according to the promoters, special tribute will be paid to Jamaican and Caymanian icons in the music and entertainment industry, who have made positive contributions, by having their images displayed all night on a screen on the stage.