Jubilant supporters celebrate Kartel’s freedom

At least six times over the last 13 years, fans of incarcerated dancehall artiste Adidja ‘Vybz Kartel’ Palmer have gathered within the precincts of the courts with the hope that the man they hail as ‘Worl’ Boss’ would be freed.

On Wednesday, their hopes were realised when the Court of Appeal ruled that he and his three co-appellants should not be retried for murder.

“God is a wonderful God!”Allman Town resident Omoneika Davis declared when news of the ruling reached the crowd that had gathered in Justice Square.

Though admittedly not a big fan of the entertainer, Davis told The Gleaner that he had prayed for Palmer the night before with the hope that if he was released, he would seek repentance.

Palmer, Shawn ‘Shawn Storm’ Campbell, Andre St John, and Kahira Jones were charged in September 2011 and convicted in March 2014 of Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams’ murder. They were sentenced to life in prison in April 2014.

After an unsuccessful challenge of the conviction in the Jamaican Court of Appeal, they went to the Privy Council, Jamaica’s highest court. The Privy Council threw out their convictions in March 2024 on the grounds of juror misconduct but remitted the matter to the Court of Appeal to determine whether there should be a retrial.

As news of the court’s ruling against a retrial spread, the initial scanty crowd that had gathered in Justice Square amid a heavy security presence ballooned almost instantaneously, chanting “Freedom!”, and “Free Worl’ Boss!”

The jubilant mood surged after one supporter started playing popular songs from the artiste, much to the delight of his fans, who broke out dancing and singing.

Their excitement increased when attorney-at-law Isat Buchanan, who represented Palmer, was spotted leaving the courtroom.

The ecstatic crowd flocked to the lawyer, dubbing him “The Man”, bellowing their appreciation for his work in freeing the Worl’ Boss.

“Dem give him one more chance pon di earth ya outside mek him go do weh him have fi do. A di teacher. Big up! God a God!,” a supporter who gave his name only as Bird from Palmer’s hometown of Waterford in Portmore, St Catherine, declared ecstatically.

According to him, he always ensured that he was present in the vicinity of the courts for all the major decisions in the case. The excited supporter is happy his dedication has paid off as a “deserving” Palmer is now free.

Donovan Lindo, a juice vendor, joined in the celebrations.

“Mi feel good seh him a come out, still. A long, long time now him deh in deh now, mi want him come out and visit him family, and dem sumn deh. Wi happy fi see him ya now,” he told The Gleaner.

“Every man deserves a second chance,” another supporter declared loudly.

One supporter extended her gratitude to the three judges of the Court of Appeal for ruling in the entertainer’s favour.

“A so love di judges for that!” she said.

Lindo is anticipating that the famous entertainer will return to his prior dominance of the dancehall culture.

“Him fi go back inna him artiste ting and gwaan do him ting as usual and get big up back again and gwaan do him ting,” he said.

Another vendor had already acquired shirts for sale with the words “Free Vybz Kartel” in anticipation of a no-retrial ruling.

“A mi artiste. Him motivate mi. Mi in di street a hustle cause mi cya get a 9-5, and him seh mek money inna any weather, so mi out ya a sell clothes, sell sneakers. God bless a man who have him own,” he said.

Meanwhile, a supporter who gave her name as Tash Ever Bless, said she travelled all the way from England for the ruling.

“It’s a very big moment for dancehall, and I represent Vybz Kartel and dancehall,” she said. “Big up yuhself, Vybz Kartel. Life over death. Gaza mi seh till death.”

sashana.small@gleanerjm.com