"I Would Rather Tour Iraq Than Go To Guyana" - Says Vybz Kartel

Internationally acclaimed Dancehall artiste, Vybz Kartel has responded to a ban imposed on him by the Guyana National Broadcasting Association; ensuring none of his songs would ever be played on the nation’s airwaves in the foreseeable future.

The ban was announced on Wednesday; just over a month after Kartel opted not to honour a scheduled performance at the government-supported Jam Zone Summer Break show in the Guyanese capital of Georgetown.

Kartel, whose given name is Adidjah Palmer has broken his silence on the matter hinting that the officials are hypocrites for imposing the ban. "It's interesting, especially since that same radio station did a concert with me based on the fact that, and I quote, “The Guyana people don't want to see nobody but you.” 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,” Kartel intimated to the Jamaica STAR, one of the island's local paper.

As for the implications the ban has on Kartel’s relationship with Guyana as a whole, he stated, "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 rather tour Iraq than go to Guyana.”

According to state-owned, National Communications Network spokesman, Martin Goolsarran, Kartel’s music was forbidden from being played on local airwaves given the obscenity and hardcore nature of his lyrics. Additionally, Goolsarran claimed that music from “Di Teacha” offered “nothing positive” to the entertainment industry.