Mavado

Photo Credit: File

Mavado

Photo Credit: File

Jamaican dancehall singer, David 'Mavado' Brooks will not be performing in the Territory during this year's emancipation festivities.

BVI Platinum News confirmed this information with Marvin Blyden, Chairman of the Festivals and Fairs Committee this afternoon, August 1.

As reported earlier, several sources told BVI Platinum News that the 30 year-old self-proclaimed Gully God will not perform in Carrot Bay due to "unresolved issues".

Blyden told BVI Platinum News that the soca band out of Barbados, Krosfyah will be the replacement for Mavado.

When asked what the reason was for Mavado not performing as advertised, Blyden said there were some issues with the contract and it was no fault of the committee or Mavado. He said the Carrot Bay sub-committee will be issuing a press release with further details during the course of today.

Initially, officials were tight-lipped about the latest development and had not offered an explanation for the swirling questions that had started to mount regarding the Jamaican singer.

For the past two days, BVI Platinum News contacted officials involved in the organization of this year's festival.

Stuart Donovan, who was identified as being in charge of the Carrot Bay committee, was contacted on Monday, July 30 for a comment. Donovan was asked repeatedly about Mavado's appearance, but brushed aside the question as "nonsense".

Donovan was asked to deny or confirm issues surrounding the Mavado show based on reports coming out of Jamaica, but he insisted that BVI Platinum News should check with Jamaica.

During the telephone interview, Donovan abruptly ended the conversation.

In May, Mavado was found guilty in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court, almost a year after he was arrested for assaulting a St. James man and his son and damaging their car in an apparent case of road rage.

According to a report published by the Jamaican Gleaner, Brooks was fined JMD $80,000 or a six-month prison term on the assault charge and JMD $20,000 or six months imprisonment on the malicious destruction charge. The sentences are to run concurrently if the fines are not paid.

Brooks was charged in connection with the incident on July 22, 2011, in which he and members of his entourage allegedly attacked the complainants, Henry Cunningham and his son Oshane, and damaged their car along the Belmont main road in St James.

Several countries, including Trinidad and Cayman Islands, along with some US States had banned Mavado, mainly due to his lyrics and his role in the musical feud between his Gully Crew and Vybz Kartel's Gaza Crew. Regional Governments blamed the two singers for the escalating violence among youth who professed to represent varying sides of the feud. Both Mavado and Kartel, who is now in jail facing murder charges, have vowed to end the feud.