Deejays sentenced

Rudolph Brown
Deejays Lady Saw, Anthony B (centre) and Bounty Killer, in discussion shortly before they appeared in court to answer to charges of using indecent language during their August 19 performances at the 'Champions In Action' stage show at the Fort Clarence Beach, St. Catherine.

By Omar Anderson, Staff Reporter

TWO OF Jamaica's most popular entertainers were each sentenced to 240 hours of community service for using expletives on stage at the 'Champions In Action' show in St. Catherine last month.

Marion "Lady Saw" Hall pleaded guilty to breaches of the Town and Communities Act without offering any defence, while Rodney "Bounti Killer" Pryce told St. Catherine Senior Resident Magistrate, Lorna Errar-Gayle, that the police had never before stopped him using expletives on stage.

In fact, he said, the same policeman who summoned him to court had heard him use "indecent language" eight years ago at a stage show but did not charge him then.

Pryce told RM Errar-Gayle that he has done several overseas performances without using expletives because the promoters had insisted in his contracts that he should not.

Explaining his conduct locally, the accused deejay said the promoters at Champions In Action, held at Fort Clarence Beach, St. Catherine, never stipulated in his contract that indecent language was taboo.

"I've expressed myself that way several times and Mr. [Cornwall "Bigga"] Ford witnessed it several times," he said. The deejay said he used expletives at the Sting 1993 show held at the National Arena, but was not arrested for it.

The Magistrate said, however, that this did not excuse his August 19 performance.

Following his guilty plea, she sentenced him and Hall to 240 hours each of community service.

While noting that she was not trying to disturb their opportunities to earn a living, Mrs. Errar-Gayle ordered Pryce to visit the probation office in Spanish Town on Monday to finalise whether he would be required to do his sentence in his Constant Spring, St. Andrew community or in St. Catherine.

Lady Saw told the magistrate she would not be available to report to the probation office on Monday as she was leaving the island tomorrow to return September 17. The court gave her a week after her return, September 24, to report in.

Meanwhile singer Keith Anthony Blair, more popularly known as 'Anthony B', and who often makes consistent calls for 'More Fire' on public officials, was freed after the magistrate ruled that what he said on stage did not amount to indecency.

"It's a joy [to be freed]. I always hit out against nudity," he said after his acquittal, adding that he has always tried to steer clear of dirty lyrics. Blair was charged with calling down fire at Champions In Action on Prime Minister P.J. Patterson, National Security and Justice K.D. Knight, and Police Commissioner Francis Forbes.

"The judge understands that 'firebun' means disapproval of all the corruption," he said, as several fans crowding him chanted, "More fire!" "More fire!" The three reggae artistes were represented by attorney-at-law Tom Tavares-Finson.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Cornwall Ford, crime officer for St. Catherine South, told reporters after the court hearing that the police in that division would not relent in ensuring that local shows were executed with decency.

"Any show that will be kept in Portmore will be policed and policed properly," he said.

Questioned whether the police themselves would refrain from using indecent language, especially when they are arresting suspects, he replied: "If you see the police use indecent language, report them. Once the offence occurs, we'll take action."

Meanwhile, he said summons are to be re-issued for singer Andre "Ghost" Hylton and deejay Miguel "Sizzla" Collins, both of whom had also been summoned before the St. Catherine Court.

Back to News