Jamaican Matie & Groupie

Banton, whose real name is Mark Anthony Myrie, waived his bail hearing Wednesday in Miami federal court. His case is being prosecuted in Tampa, where he will be transferred.

U.S. Magistrate Judge William Turnoff issued a temporary order of detention.

A U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration affidavit says Banton and two others tried to buy a large amount of cocaine from an undercover officer in Sarasota last week.

Banton has been in federal custody since Thursday. He is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine.

Banton’s attorney says the singer denies the charges.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

MIAMI (AP) — Jamaican reggae star Buju Banton is set to appear in Miami federal court.

A bail hearing is scheduled Wednesday morning for the 36-year-old singer, whose real name is Mark Anthony Myrie.

Banton and two others allegedly attempted to buy a large amount of cocaine from an undercover law enforcement officer in Sarasota last week. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration was tipped off by a confidential informant.

Banton has been in federal custody since Thursday in Miami pending transfer to Tampa, where the case is being prosecuted.

He faces a maximum of 20 years in prison if convicted of a charge of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine.

Banton’s attorney says the singer “vigorously denies” the charges.

HIM NUH TEK NO PLEA DEAL HIM GOING TO TRIAL..!

Reggae star Banton will be transferred to Tampa

By JENNIFER KAY (AP) – 14 minutes ago

MIAMI — Grammy nominated Jamaican reggae star Buju Banton will fight a drug charge against him in Tampa instead of Miami.

Banton waived his bail hearing Wednesday in Miami federal court. His case is being prosecuted in Tampa, where he will be transferred.

U.S. Magistrate Judge William Turnoff issued a temporary order of detention for the 36-year-old singer, whose real name is Mark Anthony Myrie.

Banton did not speak at the hearing, except to reply, “Yes, sir,” to the judge’s questions. Like the other 10 jail inmates waiting in the courtroom, he wore a beige jail jumpsuit over a white T-shirt, with his long dreadlocks tied up off his neck and his hands shackled in front of him.

“He believes that because the indictment was filed out of Tampa, that’s where the case should be defended,” Banton’s attorney, Herbert E. Walker III, said after the hearing.

Banton has been in federal custody since last Thursday. He is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine.

Walker said the charge carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.

According to a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration affidavit, Banton and two others traveled to Sarasota last week to purchase a large amount of cocaine from an undercover law enforcement officer. The DEA was tipped off by a confidential informant who agreed to wear a recording device during the drug negotiation session.

Banton’s attorney said the singer is “completely innocent” of the charges against him.

“He’s a very spiritual person,” Walker said. “He has a lot of faith in God. He’s confident he’s going to be exonerated.”

The husky-voiced Banton has been a major star in his native Jamaica since the early 1990s with brash dancehall music and, more recently, a traditional reggae sound. His career has been stunted in the United States because of some song lyrics that advocated violence against gay men.

Earlier this month, Banton’s ninth album, “Rasta Got Soul,” was nominated for a Grammy for best reggae album. The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation launched an online petition protesting the nomination.

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MR J-FLAG WHAT IS UR POINT?

Published December 16, 2009 | By

Let’s get the story straight

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Dear Editor,
We are alarmed at the recent stories in both the Sunday Observer and Sunday Gleaner
of December 13, regarding the arrest in Florida of dancehall artiste Mark Myrie, better

known as Buju Banton, on a charge of intent to traffic in cocaine.
Our concern relates to the manner in which the background of the stories pointed to the ongoing challenges between Banton and gay rights groups across the United States which have sought to
ban his entry and performance in their country. We find it unfortunate that an article
about a brilliant artiste being charged with such a crime could so disingenuously be
turned into one about him being victimised by the so-called gay community.
It is important for us to remember that Buju was arrested when the police linked five kilos
of cocaine to him. It is this charge that should be at the focus of the story which was
reported. We believe that framing the story against the backdrop of gay organisations’
protests against him provides the clear basis for insinuating that Banton’s most
unfortunate experience could in some way be linked to the international gay
community. Such a link is not only false, it is irresponsible.
We wish to declare publicly that we support Banton’s right to be defended and believe
that he is innocent of the charge until proven guilty. We also wish to make what might

be deemed a very controversial point: that while some drug use, particularly that of
cocaine, has ravaged many black communities across the Americas, adults have the
right to decide whether or not they use drugs and should not be criminalised for doing
so. At the same time, we are not unmindful that traffickers, pedlars and users have
turned brother against brother, and allowed thugs to terrorise our families, kill our
police and witnesses to heinous crimes, and dons to corrupt our political and social
systems. Perhaps we may need to bring to the centre of this discussion the question of
whether and in which circumstances personal choices should be criminalised.
So let’s get the story straight. Buju Banton has promoted, through his lyrics, hatred of homosexuals and has called for people who are homosexuals to be murdered. He has never renounced or regretted
any these abuses of his privileged position. He did all of this on his own. He is now
facing the consequences of actions totally unrelated to gays and lesbians in a
community that has long come to recognise that human beings are born in dignity and
with rights and obligations to themselves and one another. We hope that common
sense and a commitment to truth will triumph over stereotypes and a rush to
condemnation.
Jason McFarlane
J-FLAG
PO Box 1152, Kingston 8

I think you need to take your concerns to the international forums that included Buju’s lyrical genius as a part of their story. Now that you and your fellow world wide organizations have pointed a finger at Buju and the world has answered back by pointing the finger back at you guys…It is now a concern right? Things will get violent now that people are accusing members of the gay community who first were the ones to bash this man’s reputation instead of just plainly reporting the story… Jackass say di world nuh level right?

———————————————————————————————————–
Stand by Buju

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Dear Editor,
With the world accepting that Buju Banton is homophobic, can he get a fair trial in America?
The US is a country that deals with due process. In the Magna Carta, due process is referred to as “law of the land” and “legal judgement of peers”

The rights of every Jamaican citizen must be protected by the Jamaican government and it needs to give attention to the matter of Buju Banton in a Florida jail

Buju needs 30 days’ speedy trial and a public defender. Where is the Jamaican consulate? The consulate must respond to the needs of Jamaican citizens in Florida

Rev Joan Porteous

[email protected]

Joan , your letter is short but it speaks volumes as to what needs to be done!

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Buju Banton’s unfair and shoddy ENTRAPMENT -Fans Requesting a fair trial and his release

Published December 16, 2009 | By

Buju Banton’s unfair and shoddy ENTRAPMENT -Fans Requesting a fair trial and his release

Posted in Uncategorized | 24 Comments