Not Buju but Mark Myrie

Mel Cooke, Gleaner Writer

Negative press is a heavy blow to specific entertainers and the business of entertainment in general and, in recent times, from reports about Buju Banton's cocaine trial in Miami through to Bounty Killer's arrest on yet another domestic-abuse charge, the bad news has been prominent.

However, Teddy Laidley who, among his multiple music roles, does work-permit processing for tour parties, makes a distinction between the person who faces the court and their entertainer persona which makes the headlines.

"Buju Banton did not get a US [United States] visa. It was Mark Myrie. Bounty Killer did not get in trouble. It was Rodney Pryce," Laidley said. He further says that the US government granted Gargamel Music a permit to bring the product Buju Banton to the US. "Mark Myrie got a visa. Buju Banton is the product," he emphasised.

And with the headlines invariably trumpeting the legal woes of the product, Laidley says "We are hurting the product in Jamaica right now. Every time something happens in the press we are hurting the product."

Further making the distinction between person and entertainer persona clear, Laidley pointed out that "Byron Lee did not play with the band for years. He was at the sound booth." There is also a marked separation between Arnold Schwarzenegger, the former bodybuilder and actor, and the governor who holds public office. "Lady Saw said it. 'When I am on stage I am Lady Saw, when I am off the stage I am Marion Hall'," he said.

So, Laidley said, "It is time the media takes stock. There needs to be a separation of the product from person. We need to stop killing the product. It takes too much to do damage control," he said, further pointing out that persons such as Matisyahu are already taking the lion's share of earnings from reggae.

In facilitating the work-permit process, Laidley says he encounters cases where entertainers have been affected by court cases that were settled many years ago, sometimes "even before they entered the music business. They may be granted a waiver, which is at the discretion of the interviewing officer".

"Once I am aware that somebody committed a felony, if I submit that application I have to do it early, process it overseas and come back here," he said.

And he advises artistes that "If you have a court case, no matter the result, get something in writing."

When there is a record of a court case, whenever documents are being processed it comes up - but often not the outcome of the matter.

"When you commit a crime the embassy knows. It is in the public domain," he emphasised.

And as persons can be arrested and not charged problems often arise, with the distinction often getting blurred, to the performer's detriment.