Vybz Kartel Says He’s Returning To Guyana In 2025, Reversing Vow To Never Visit The Country Again

Vybz Kartel, the Jamaican Dancehall star recently released from prison, has announced plans to perform in Guyana in 2025, marking a reversal of his previous stance towards the South American and Caribbean country.

“Guyana, next year, a blood—at trouble.  Gwan save up unno money, yeh hear.  I’m forwarding,” Kartel said in a video posted to Instagram on Saturday.

This announcement comes 13 years after Kartel vehemently declared he would never visit Guyana again.

In an article dated September 22, 2011—following a reported ban of his music on Guyana’s state-owned National Communications Network—Kartel told the Jamaica Star: “I refused to go there before the ban was imposed so that ban wasn’t necessary. I banned myself. Big up the Guyanese Gaza fans but I would sooner tour Iraq than go to Guyana.”

Kartel had linked the ban to his withdrawal from a scheduled appearance at a government-supported ‘Jam Zone Summer Break’ concert in August that year.

“Unfortunately, I didn’t attend the show and that is the reason why the ban on my music was imposed. With that being said, I care zero about them and their ban because I won’t be visiting Guyana ever,” he told the STAR.

However, an NCN program manager clarified then that there was no total ban on Kartel’s music. They explained that the network had a longstanding policy of not airing music that was of bad taste, promoted violence or was offensive to any group or religion. “It is not our intention to place a total ban on an artiste, but we reserve the right to deny air play to any piece of music or creation that violates the policy,” they said in a statement.

Kartel’s career trajectory took a dramatic turn shortly after these statements.

On September 30, 2011, he was arrested and subsequently charged with murder. He was convicted in 2014 and spent over 13 years in prison before his release in July 2024, following the UK Privy Council’s decision to overturn his conviction.

Since his release, Kartel has been actively rebuilding his public presence. He recently visited St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) for medical treatment and met with local dignitaries, including Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves.

Kartel’s appreciation for his medical care was evident, and he reportedly expressed interest in purchasing property in SVG. 

While in SVG, Kartel also focused on preparing for his upcoming major concert in Jamaica, scheduled for New Year’s Eve, December 31. The performance, which will be his first in 13 years, is expected to be a three-hour show featuring both old hits and new material.