Several Jamaican dancehall artists have had their U.S. visas canceled in recent weeks, leading to concerns among the reggae community that it is suffering because of a dispute between the two countries.

There has been unprecedented en masse cancelation of U.S. visas belonging to five popular Jamaican dancehall entertainers. The Fraud Prevention division of the United States Embassy in Kingston, Jamaica, initiated procedures to retract visas belonging to Beenie Man (Moses Anthony Davis), Bounty Killer (Rodney Basil Price), Mavado (David Constantine Brooks), Aidonia (Sheldon Ricardo Aitana Lawrence) and sound system selector Ricky Trooper (Garfield Augustus McKoy).

The embassy issued a directive to all airlines operating flights to the U.S. from Jamaica stating that the aforementioned artists were barred from boarding any U.S. bound aircraft.

By Pat Meschino, N.Y.
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