Dancehall icon Bounty Killer (Rodney Pryce) appealed to communities, concerned citizens and the T&T Government to work together to alleviate the scourge of crime and violence in the country. He delivered anti-crime messages and advice during his hour-long headlining performance at the Magnum Xplosion SummerStageTT concert at The Paddock, Queen’s Park Savannah, on Saturday night.
Bounty Killer’s performance came hours after being detained for nine hours at Piarco International Airport upon his arrival on Friday night.
Another dancehall star, Alkaline (Erlan Bartley) had the women in the crowd screaming, singing and dancing throughout his performance.
Speaking to the thousands assembled for the concert, Bounty Killer called out familiar areas such as St Paul Street, Sea Lots, Belmont and Maraval and numbered gangs such as “6, 7 and 11”, while advising patrons at the concert that “even the smartest criminals ended up in prison eventually and most of them are actually dead, so why choose a path like that with no future?”
He also sang several uplifting songs and announced that he was hired “not just to come and entertain the people, but to deliver these messages of peace and unity to T&T at this time”.
Magnum Tonic Wine’s export brand manager from Jamaica, Georgia Fearon, who attended the annual concert event, echoed and endorsed Bounty Killer’s concern and advice to T&T, describing his performance as “exemplary.”
She said, “This was a shining example of regional unity and a display of maturity and civic responsibility by a legendary entertainer.
“Our brand is currently celebrating its 25th anniversary since being launched and we salute all performers alike for displaying the diversity of Magnum within the wider dancehall community.”
Bounty Killer thanked his T&T friends and family, including cricketer and entertainer Dwayne Bravo, soca stars Bunji Garlin and Fay Ann Lyons, celebrity bodyguard Kevin Da Costa and entrepreneur Kweisi Daniel for supporting him during his detention. He also thanked Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Transport Minister Daryl Vaz for their intervention.
He said he was happy to be in T&T again but saddened and concerned about the reports of escalating crime and violence in his “sister country.”
Last Wednesday, during Jamaica’s official Independence Grand Gala celebrations, Bounty Killer was one of several Jamaican nationals listed to receive awards for their contributions to culture.
He and former rival-turned-friend and collaborator, Beenie Man (Moses Davis) will receive Jamaica’s Order of Distinction at National Heroes Day celebrations in October.
Rising dancehall stars Kraff, Rajah Wild, Squid, KESI and others performed earlier in the night. The event ended at 3 am.