DANCEHALL STAR Popcaan is being detained at a UK airport by the Home Office.
The Jamaican artist took to social media on Tuesday to share he had been held by UK authorities, who allegedly told him they were acting off information they received from his native country.
Popcaan whose real name is Andre Sutherland, is also calling on the Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness to investigate why he is being detained in the UK.
Speaking in a brief video uploaded to his Instagram stories yesterday, the entertainer is seen holding up a letter from UK Border Force.
“I’m in the UK right now and they gave me this paper and detain me because of information that was sent by my country that I should be stopped every time I’m here. I wonder why. Mr Prime Minister, I would like to draw your attention to this once again,” Popcaan said.
‘Harrassment’
The music star’s lawyer, Bert Samuels, described the actions of immigration officials as “harassment.”
Writing on Twitter he said: “Popcaan’s harassment at Heathrow airport is as a consequence of the Jamaican state putting a red flag on his name.
“Can you believe an artist who carries our flag high and with no criminal record being embarrassed in foreign country because his own country says he is a wrong doer?”
In January, Popcaan revealed he had been held by immigration officials for several hours after they allegedly received information from the Jamaican government that accused him of being a “gang leader”.
At the time, he Tweeted: “I would like to know why someone with authority in Jamaica send information to England immigration that I’m a gang leader and I got charge with firearm, this is not cool at all from my own country, why I have to be sitting in immigration for over 3 hours?”
In January, he called on Entertainment Minister, Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange to also investigate the matter.
Earlier this month, US rapper Lil Wayne was refused entry into the UK by the Home Office.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “Border Force’s number one priority is to maintain a secure border which sometimes involves individuals being stopped for further checks. We do not routinely comment on individual cases.”
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2 Comments
Jamaican nationals have grown to expect minimal assistance when they encounnter difficulties with foreign governments; police and immigration services.
Jamaican National have learnt that they stand alone and they cannot and should not rely on the Jamaican Authorities for any assistance whatsoever.
This situation is sad, it IS discrimination and wrong. Jamaican government should have supported Popcaan much more, and in the very least, paid for his lawyer.