Shaggy, Babsy Grange Offer Advice To Jamaican Artists Who’ve Been Denied US Visas

Minister of Culture and Entertainment Olivia “Babsy” Grange says Jamaican artists who are unable to obtain US visas, should look elsewhere, particularly the African continent to spread their musical wings.

According to the Minister, Africa, is not only a huge largely untapped market for them, but the continent consists of numerous countries with which Jamaica already has bilateral agreements.

Minister Grange raised the subject during a discussion session featuring herself and Shaggy at the Island Music Conference on Friday—this after a conference attendee raised the issue of many of Jamaica’s top artists being unable to travel to the United States. In January, Popcaan declared on Twitter that he would be ‘campaigning’ to get himself into the US after being unable to perform in the country as a professional musician.

“Although the US is a great place, the US is not the world, excuse me for saying that… The continent of Africa is populated; people are there.  We are building strong bonds with the countries on the continent of Africa. You can work those markets in the meantime…,” Grange recommended.

Shaggy, who has been lobbying for Beenie Man and Bounty Killer‘s US visas to be reinstated, had seized the opportunity to expound on the subject after the attendee suggested that the Jamaican government intervenes in circumstances where artists are being denied visas to travel and perform in countries such as the US.

“To me one of the main things that has stunted our growth as a culture and as an artform: look at the biggest artiste dem in Jamaica right now, out of Reggae and Dancehall; most of them cannot travel to the United States, whether it be Buju, whether it be Bounty… Popcaan can’t go di US,” the Dancehall megastar said.

“It is a problem… it has been a part of the conversation and is something that I wish we can tackle a lot more with the government,” Shaggy added.

However, the Minister was quick to point out that as far as travel matters are concerned, Jamaica has no control over other countries’ immigration policies, but that she had made many appeals over the years on behalf of artists, including one for whom she served as manager.

“I managed an artiste where that artiste had to remain in the US because if that artiste came to Jamaica, that artiste couldn’t get back into the US.  So I had to manage that… and people would say ‘they not mekking dat artiste perform in Jamaica’, and ‘dem a diss Jamaica’… if that artiste had come to Jamaica that artiste could not have gone back in the States, so we had to deal with the mater in the US and sort it out,” she explained.

Grange went on to state that homophobic lyrics and other such utterances, were ‘visa millstones’ around the necks of some Jamaican artists, despite them jettisoning these types of lyrics long ago.

“The other matter is people sexuality.  Jamaica is a religious country and Rastafari believes in the Bible.   And certain things are said and from time immemorial; that’s how they see things. The world is changing and some of the things they have said in the past, they wouldn’t do it now.  But the past is a duppy on that back,” the former Specs/Shang executive explained.

“Because, they say things and it is documented and then when they go for a visa dem pull it up, look on the computer and they deny you the visa,” she added.

The St. Catherine Central Member of Parliament also spoke to the issue of artists appearing to align themselves with persons whose characters are questionable, noting that this can also be problematic where accessing a visa is concerned.

“So, it’s not a simple matter of government making representation.  In fact no artiste, no Jamaican creative should ever think that the Jamaican government can meck dem go to di US, or prevent dem from go to di US. Because the US is very focused on what they are about,” she explained. 

Continued Grange: “What I want to say is this: as times change, you have to know what you say in an interview; you have to know what to sing about, because homophobic comments would work against you.  And you have to know the company you keep, because that will also work against you.”

The Minister also pointed out that she has been working assiduously in a bid to help several artists get access to US visas, but that “it takes time” and that by being forceful and making demands, “you will get resistance”.

Shaggy, in co-signing the Minister’s statements, suggested to his compatriots that if the US visa was unimportant to them, they could sing whatever they wish, but still be mindful that North America was where money appears to be easier made.  

“Suh the main thing you are saying from your message is that at this point is that is careful wid the company dat oonu keep; watch weh oonu seh, if oonu want a US visa.  But if yuh don’t care bout US visa, sing anything oonu waa sing…. But don’t stop di money, caw a while heap a money deh a America,” the Boombastic singer said.