The Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) has reported that authorities in St. Vincent and the Grenadines have banned Jamaican dancehall star David 'Mavado' Brooks from performing on that island. The artiste, known for songs such as Full Clip, Touch The Road, and Amazing Grace was slated to a perform at the January 19 staging of the show, 'Best of Both Worlds', on the island. The report said that because of the ban on Mavado, the promoters were not granted permission to stage the event.  While no official word about the reason of the ban was contained in the report, it did go on to add that a press release from HOT 97, one of the island's biggest radio station's, stated that, "the promoters have been told permission was not granted due to the 'lyrical content' of the headline artiste Mavado."   The statement also mentioned that Police Commissioner, Keith Miller, confirmed that the popular artiste would not be allowed to perform in the country, adding that it was last week reported that "police officials were concerned about Mavado's lyrics, which were considered to be violent, considering that St. Vincent and the Grenadines just came out from a record year for murders and an increase in violent crimes, especially involving firearms."   "There were 36 murders in St. Vincent and the Grenadines in 2007, a huge jump from 13 in 2006," the release subsequently added.  Movado's manager Julian Jones-Griffiths, was quick to challenge the motive of the ban.  "Is Mavado growing their children for them in St. Vincent or are their parents? It would seem strange that they would want to ban Mavado from coming there when his records play on the radio 24 hours a day and in all the dances, shows and parties."   He also added: "I know there are a lot of people in St. Vincent right now who are not happy with the police or the authorities there, which would seem very negative and counter-productive. I wonder if they plan to ban 'R'-rated movies, rap, soca-music and smiling from their island also."   Mr. Jones-Griffiths said it was not the first time Mavado was being banned from a Caribbean island. According to him, a similar action was taken against Mavado some time ago when he was billed for a show in Grenada.   As for how such an action will impact on Mavado's career, Jones-Griffiths said, "This type of action does not do anything to cease Mavado's momentum and popularity, if anything it just adds to his legend."

Popular deejay Sizzla, whose given name is Miguel Collins, appeared in the Cor-porate Area Resident Magistrate's Court on Thursday, January 10th to answer to a possession of marijuana charge.   The court heard that on January 4, Collins was driving a BMW motor car, which he parked at 121 Windward Road, Kingston 2. The vehicle was searched and a transparent plastic parcel with vegetable matter resembling marijuana was found under a floor mat in front of the driver's seat. He was arrested and charged. When cautioned, the deejay reportedly said, "Yu naw gi di I a chance officer?"    When Collins appeared in court, his lawyer, Christopher Townsend, pleaded with RM Glen Brown to keep the conviction off the deejay's record. He told the court that a tarnished police record could affect the entertainer's chances of being able to perform in countries like The Cayman Islands and certain states in America, where work permits are only offered to individuals with clean police records.   His plea fell on deaf ears, however, as the RM ordered Sizzla to have his fingerprints taken. He was also fined $100 or seven days in jail.