The authorities in St. Kitts and Nevis have revoked the work permit granted to Jamaican artiste, Alkaline, to perform in the country today.

Alkaline, whose given name is Earlan Bartley, was scheduled to headline a concert in Nevis.

In a statement, Police Commissioner Celvin Walwyn said the Nevis Police Command decided to revoke the permission granted for the concert, out of respect for the Office of the Premier.

Commissioner Walwyn said, prior to the revocation, he sent Premier Vance Amory an article on an incident involving Jamaican artiste Tommy Lee Sparta. That artiste is in a row with Dominica over his alleged denial of entry in February.

The Commissioner said he warned the Premier of civil issues resulting from a revocation of permission to the Alkaline headlined concert.

Premier Amory had raised strong objection to Alkaline’s performance on the ground that it could elicit lewdness. He said the lyrics may further aggravate the already fragile social environment and impressionable young people.

Treatment of Alkaline by St. Kitts-Nevis “troubling” – Clyde McKenzie

Music consultant Clyde McKenzie, reacting to the cancellation of a concert in Nevis by Jamaican dancehall artiste Alkaline, has expressed concern about how the matter was handled by the authorities in St. Kitts-Nevis.

According to McKenzie, while the authorities in the Eastern Caribbean country might have exercised their right to cancel the artiste’s performance, the manner in which they went about it is questionable.

Alkaline was scheduled to headline a concert in Nevis on Saturday, but permission was withdrawn after Premier Vance Amory raised concern about the performance, arguing that it could “elicit lewdness.”

This development came five months after Tommy Lee, another Jamaican entertainer,  was deported from Dominica.

McKenzie, speaking with RJR News, said the approach being taken in these countries needs clarification: “One could argue, what are the procedures for notification? Why do you have somebody travel to your territory after being given the greenlight and then have the show cancelled at the last minute?”

Border control

St. Kitts-Nevis is a two-island state, with border control being exercised at the main ports of entry in the larger island of St. Kitts, which is also the seat of the national government, headed by Prime Minister Denzil Douglas.

Alkaline’s presence in the country and his intention to perform at a concert apparently only became an issue when it was brought to the attention of the Premier of Nevis.

source: rjrnews