Dominica seeks amicable settlement in Tommy Lee Sparta matter

Tommy Lee leaving the Marigot Police Station to be deported last year
Tommy Lee leaving the Marigot Police Station to be deported last year

The Dominican government is seeking an amicable settlement regarding the deportation of dancehall artiste Tommy Lee Sparta from that country, last February.

The 26-year-old entertainer, whose given name is Leroy Russell, along with three members of his team, Tiasha Oralie Russell, Junior Fraser and Mario Christopher Wallace, were deported from that Caribbean territory a day after their arrival.

In a letter dated March 3, 2015, Dr Kathy-Ann Brown, Jamaica’s Deputy Solicitor Deneral and Director — International Affairs Division, indicated her Dominican counterpart expressed a desire for a friendly resolution to the matter.

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27 Comments

  1. The Facts
    March 17, 2015

    Prior to any outside artistes performing in D/ica, an investigation should be conducted into their personal life; those who have a criminal record. He was arrested for murder and was out on bail.
    I previously stated that the Canadian government denied Chris Brown (due to his reputation) entrance into Canada. It is thought he is a bad influence especially on the youths. He was due to perform here.
    Learn from this and for the future. Such people should not be allowed to enter D/ca. The PM and/or Immigration should have been involved and denied him entry while he was in Jamaica.
    It gets me angry. Why for God’s sake did those organizers not conduct an investigation on this man prior to contacting him to perform in D/ca and before a young crowd of all? They knew his types of lyrics.
    After he was contracted, he was arrested for murder in J/ca. Is this not laxity on the part of the J/can government to allow him to leave the country? We know the rest which ensued in D/ca.

  2. shaite
    March 17, 2015

    Where are all the big mouths who were rallying behind the decision to deport the man? Are you all going to help pay the huge settlement that is now due to Tommy Lee? Next time I hope you all will hold your tongues and your rash decisions before making us (Dominica) the laughing stock of the Caribbean!!

  3. March 17, 2015

    In the 1960s my wife and I spent 10 glorious weeks in Jamaica doing a gospel service almost every evening in many churches including some of the nation’s largest. I also visited a large prison several times, once to pray with a prisoner on death row, and again to preach to the prisoners.

    We were not refused entry into the country nor were we deported. Most of the churches were filled to capacity each evening.

    What puzzles me about Mr. Lee is why he would want to be in a country where he was not wanted. If I was refused entry into a nation I would be inconvenienced because our work is scheduled. But I would politely leave and prayerfully go back to the drawing board. It is obvious Dominica had reasons for refusing Mr. Lee. Personally, I do not think they owe him anything.

    Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill, D.D., International Evangelist.

    • The Facts
      March 17, 2015

      You are correct. In view that many D/cans did not want him and trouble could ensue if he performed in D/ca, his organizers should have informed him accordingly. They encouraged him to come. They should also take the blame. It is not yet stated if the organizers paid him for breach of contract. D/cans should be informed.
      At the same time, he, knowing the situation, he was too bold to enter D/ca. Yes! If I feel I am not welcomed somewhere, my pride would not allow me to waste my God-given precious time to go there. No one would find me there.
      Tommy Lee went so far and wrote a letter stating that they want to take food from him and his children. He very well knew he was not welcomed. He is to be blamed and should be denied money. I hope the D/can government does not succumb to his representatives and give him money.
      I state, God forbid that he should not get any of D/can dollars.

    • febrese
      March 18, 2015

      Rev.. be honest there are areas that pastors force themselves to go and there are areas that they don’t go because the population is too small to yield the offering they want to obtain.. Its all about the paper.. i was born an raised in a christian home i am a believer but lets look at the facts in an “actual reality setting”.. the people who were protesting are know adulterers and fuck-ups of the system…

      By virtue of his treatment he is entitled to settlement and that’s it. he an entertainer and like you he survives by the stipends that are paid to his promoter for him… same message different messanger…. you preach that if we dont repent god will send bringstone and fire.. he preachers that people who live by the bullet die by the bullet…

      look at a point in case.. cahvez was never wanted in the US… so they make us believe.. but when you look at big ompanies like cbi americas and so on you have to wonder.. these are chavez personal companies… where does…

      • March 20, 2015

        febrese:

        Thank you for reading my comments and responding.

        There is truth in what you have said about how SOME evangelists decide where to hold services.

        The following is a brief sketch of my own policy when it comes to holding services OUTSIDE CANADA AND THE U.S.A.

        Any offerings taken in my services belong entirely to my host church. I never see this money. It is use to pay for expenses such as advertising. The cost of my travel is paid by LIVING HOPE MINISTRIES which is supported by my friends and partners in Canada. I do not take a ”salary” or ”wage” for the time I minister in a foreign nation although I could.

        Where we will go for our next ”Foreign Mission” outside Canada and the U.S.A. is never based upon how much money we will receive! It is based upon the need and the potential to win souls.

        Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International Evangelist.

  4. febrese
    March 17, 2015

    I am really out of words.. has anyone ever taken their time to listen to the lyrics of the songs. his persona does not define him.. he is the exact definition of oxymoron. There are Christians here who are 100 times more deadly that Tommy.

    The man has thoughtfully created a vacancy and filled it himself with a persona designed to provide him with a sustainable means of survival. oh how sad do we embrace all the artists with their sexually explicit videos and violence we admire and emulate.

    Please take your time and listen… i have actually heard him say don’t let the devil control your mind and take your soul..

    For once a devil preaching good words and we stoning him and embracing the Christians who fake us and take all from us enriching themselves in the name of the lord.. what a shame…

    • March 20, 2015

      Giving something a particular name does not make it what you call it.

      Your little dance with words does not change the content of the substance. In the end people will make their own assessment based upon the results that are produced and the influence it exerts especially among the youth.

      Pastors and evangelical church leaders are concerned about these things. You can expect them to inform their own congregations AND the government of any red flags they see. Whether you like it or not it is part of what they do. They can and they must.

      Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International Evangelist.

  5. never shameful
    March 17, 2015

    That was totally wrong what they did.
    Tommy Lee is an dancehall performer an the churches an government do not overstand the totality of what dancehall is.
    Everyone has to come out different in dancehall.
    Pay di man.

    • March 20, 2015

      Actually we have seen some pretty messed up lives come out of ”dancehall”, and the people who earn their living in this form of entertainment are not usually role models.

      The good news is there is something better for them. God is calling them from a life of wasted years!

      Joyfully, some of them :lol: eventually encounter the risen Christ and their lives are totally changed :!:
      Because of their talent for interacting with an audience they discover their ability can be put to a better use and some of them become ministers of the gospel. 8)

      I invite you to visit my ministry website:

      http://www.livinghopeministries.ca

      Click onto SERMONS. Listen to my message THE NEW BIRTH.

      Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International Evangelist.

  6. The Facts
    March 16, 2015

    Consider this. The organizers knew that he was not welcomed and there could have been trouble. Yet, they did not inform him not to travel to D/ca. They should have canceled the concert. They had their plans and must have told him to come anyway. Otherwise they would have to pay him for breach of contract. They were irresponsible to allow him to travel to D/ca. They are the ones who should pay him because they contracted him; not the D/can government.
    He was told to return to his plane and he refused. The gull of him? The man had no respect for D/cam authority.
    As for being wrongly treated at the detention, I do think he made it up so as to concoct money from the D/can government. GIVE HIM NONE! DO NOT MAKE HIM RICH! What he wants is money which is why he refused to return to his plane. The man is bold and disrespectful.
    I reiterate, the organization should pay him; not the government.

    • febrese
      March 17, 2015

      what planet you on?

      • The Facts
        March 17, 2015

        A higher planet than you. If you were you would fully comprehend what I stated.
        You are on the side of that man and so whatever others state which should deny him any form of compensation – money, you will not be pleased.
        Allowing him to come to D/ca to perform was selling their souls to the devil. If you cannot comprehend that, pray to God for enlightenment. If you deserve it, it will be granted to you.

  7. LANlu
    March 16, 2015

    idiot, csme, caricom unity and worst we violated his human rights… they should just pay de man for his non performance, if five thousand u.s he was asking for and send him home…

    now we may have to pay 100,000.00 dollars

  8. Jam Rock
    March 16, 2015

    There are so many issues here in Dominica that need to be addressed. Why haevn’t I heard the Church Groups hitting out. What about them underage girls having sexual intercourse, and those bastards involved with them that shold be arrested. We need to wake up and smell the coffee.

    If I am not a follower of Satan, Tommy Lee can never lure me with his lyrics. The fact is there are people on the island who would go and see this artist perform, and there are others who wouldn’t. Surely we have a choice.

    Its a global economy we are operating in and we can’t just allow certain groups to dictate which services we are offered. One of these days it will be something much bigger than Tommy Lee or music

  9. educator
    March 16, 2015

    The wrong doing wasn’t not letting him into the country, it was the wrongful arrest and the unsanitary conditions they were placed in… it is a matter of his human rights being taken away from him… if he and his crew were to be deported they should have been placed back on a plane immediately or placed in more hospitable conditions.. the fact that they were arrested without being charged of no crime is where the stupidity of the government is shown… the religious associations who protested.. should help contribute to pay the bill… then again all them churches getting tax breaks so is us tax paying citizens to bare the brunt of their stupidity!!!!

    • Titiwi
      March 16, 2015

      Tax breaks my brother? You don’t know that recognized churches are exempt from paying tax on their income? If you want launder money, that is a good way to go. Also, how many pastors receive a duty-free vehicle, claiming they need this to do God’s work? Those prayers do not come cheap my friend. I think I’ll start my own church and be pastor for life with a couple of angels thrown in to soothe my conscience. That is better than a pension, trust me.

  10. Ivory...
    March 16, 2015

    We should stop drinking our wine in cardboard glasses… cause at the end we as a Country will all get soiled and cost us dearly…WRONG VERSES RIGHT/RIGHT VERSES WRONG…but at a cost…

  11. Lang Mama
    March 16, 2015

    Well Cabal Douglas the promoter should be amicably laughing. All those who laughed first together with the corrupt politicians in Dominica did not realize that Sparta and his so called devil show would be laughing the best

  12. A
    March 16, 2015

    go to hell sparta ……are we really goin to pay this guy i say we cause is our tax money .yes all those ppl that wanted him out start fund raising to help pay this is just utter nonsense not a dime i say! we well need our money no setttling take it to court

    • The Facts
      March 17, 2015

      He was arrested for murder and has to pay for that Court case hearing therefore he is in need of a lot of money. One way to get it is from D/ca. I hope he does not receive any.

  13. Go To Hell!!!
    March 16, 2015

    “We have received a formal indication from the Hon Attorney General of Dominica of his Government’s desire to pursue an amicable settlement of the dispute utilising the good offices of the Hon Attorney General of Jamaica with your concurrence.”
    One thing DNO, I do not know who is the Attorney General of Dominica. Is it Tony Astaphan? This is just my guess because I know he was always busy to advise the government on this matter. Whoever it is, this is just another case of the government using tax payers money to play politics. They were talking so much and seemed to have know the law so much, and now behaving like chickens that running in the dark looking for peaceful settlement?

  14. Cyrique
    March 16, 2015

    I’m appalled!! Our Government made the right decision to have this man deported. We should be able to decide whom we admit into our beautiful Island!! We can’t have any lavabo most of them rejected by other Countries into ours. The Government has fired a warning shot however they need to deal with whatever loophole that forced them into this humiliating position. The UK has continuously refused entry to many Jamaican and other Artists and I’m yet to hear of an appeal!!!

    • kAWANT
      March 16, 2015

      I guess it is because the U.K is not a member state of CARICOM. Did you not think about that before you wrote your post ?

      • The Facts
        March 17, 2015

        So, Tommy Lee took advantage of this. It is for this reason why this case should be properly weighed out and no money be given to that man.
        He does not care two hoots about D/ca but the money. Jamaica and its people call our country small despite all the murders which take place there. Where do they place with D/ca and its nationals?
        I think it was Sparrow who sang this calypso: “Jamaica why you run and put off Referendum.”
        I know some Jamaicans. In fact I have a very good friend who is Chinese Jamaican born. Aside from the few I know, I want nothing to do with some others. They look down on us and our country. Worst yet, for the reputation of some who have also given West Indians a bad name in Canada of all.
        I hope Tommy Lee will never enter D/ca again. His presence will not grace D/ca. In other words, he will not be beneficial to Dominica and not in a godly manner. He should be kept out.

  15. Malgraysa
    March 16, 2015

    An amicable settlement is a polite way of saying “settling out of court for and agreed sum of money”, no more no less. I still maintain that this case should be allowed to proceed to court for a proper hearing, to determine the legal wrights & wrongs of same. If not, we set a precedent for any organisation barring , particularly Caricom artistes & speakers, be the politicians, preachers or otherwise by bribing them to stay away against payment.
    I our govt. were right in their action barring this Jamaican performer why not get a clear ruling so we all know where we stand. As it is we are cowtowing to the evangelical churches at the expense of the tax payer. Very distasteful.

  16. smart
    March 16, 2015

    What a waste of taxpayers money…This man could have sang his nonsense and “be gone”. .But the PM had to play politics. So now taxpayers have to pay the bill. The pastors that opposed should give some of their tithes to cover the charge.

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