Dancehall veteran Buju Banton has fired back at Prime Minister Andrew Holness over his recent comments about entertainers who, according to the Prime Minister, use the Jamaican flag to draw crowds to their performances while speaking negatively about the country. Holness made the statement after Beenie Man raised concerns about how his administration was distributing millions of dollars in donations intended to help Jamaicans affected by Hurricane Melissa. Beenie Man questioned the process, arguing that many of the individuals in affected parishes who were supposed to receive assistance had not benefited from the funds.
As reported by the Jamaica Observer, Holness criticised the remarks made against his administration, accusing certain entertainers of benefiting from Jamaica’s brand in the international market while damaging the country’s image through public criticism. Buju Banton has since rejected the Prime Minister’s remarks, maintaining that Jamaican artistes have worked hard over the years to establish and promote Brand Jamaica worldwide. “No, you wrong. We do not wave the flag; we are the brand that help establish Jamaica,” Buju declared. He stressed that building an international following and introducing audiences to Jamaican culture takes dedication, credibility and years of consistent work. The Grammy-winning artiste also reminded Holness that entertainers were promoting Jamaica globally long before he entered politics, urging him to acknowledge their longstanding contribution to the country’s cultural influence.
