Reggae superstar Buju Banton has pushed back against Prime Minister Andrew Holness over remarks about Jamaican entertainers waving the national flag while making statements that could damage the country’s reputation.
In a strongly worded social media response, Banton rejected the suggestion that artistes attract international audiences simply by displaying Jamaica’s national colours, arguing that their influence comes from decades of hard work and cultural contributions.
“No U wrong We do not wave the flag we are the brand that help establish Jamaica,” Banton stated.
The Grammy Award-winning entertainer continued:
“we cant wave a flag and people attend an event it takes hard work credibility plus a body of work to get people more into the Jamaican culture and we have been pushing brand Jamaica long before u enter politics go check the file. Big man anno so you do things.”
The response follows comments from Holness amid controversy surrounding dancehall veteran Beenie Man’s criticism of the Government’s handling of Hurricane Melissa relief assistance.
Beenie Man had raised concerns about the distribution of aid to Jamaicans affected by the hurricane during an interview with Britain’s ITV News, prompting a public response from the prime minister.
Speaking during the reopening of sections of Black River Hospital in St Elizabeth, Holness criticised entertainers who benefit from Jamaica’s international recognition while making claims he believes could undermine the country’s image.
The prime minister also defended the Government’s recovery efforts, highlighting reconstruction work and spending on damaged public infrastructure.
Banton, whose career spans more than three decades, is among the country’s internationally recognised reggae performers. His achievements include a Grammy Award for his album Before the Dawn and his widely attended Long Walk to Freedom concert in 2019.
The dispute also comes against a backdrop of questions about disaster relief spending. An Auditor General’s review reportedly found that approximately J$26.2 million of J$1.44 billion in cash donations received by the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management had been spent by February 23, 2026. Those figures concern the specific donations examined and should not be confused with total Government recovery expenditure.
