US cancels reggae singers' visas

The U.S. visas of five top Jamaican reggae singers have been revoked, reports out of Jamaica indicate.

Jamaica media reports say the U.S. visas of reggae`s Bounty Killer, Mavado, Beenie Man, Adonia and selector Ricky Trooper have been cancelled and airlines have reportedly been advised not to allow any of the entertainers on to flights bound for the United States.

So far representatives of the artists have said that they were unaware of the new development. But the Jamaica Star newspaper claimed a document it obtained stated: “The Embassy of the United States in Kingston, Jamaica, is in the process of revoking the visas of the following citizens of Jamaica.”

The names of the artists are listed.

The reported document also stated: “The people mentioned here currently hold a US visa that we have not yet been able to physically cancel. Do not allow these passengers to board any flights bound for the United States in reliance on this visa.”

No reason was cited for the cancellation leaving many to speculate whether the cancellation relates to gay rights protest against Jamaican dancehall acts in the USA, or the Jamaica government`s continued denial of the extradition request for West Kingston strongman, Christopher `Dudus` Coke.

The cancellation could mean the artists will be unable to appear this summer in many U.S. cities where reggae and dancehall shows usually abound.