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DEFENCE Minister Wayne Sturge justified the restriction placed on an upcoming visit by Jamaican dancehall artiste Adidja "Vybz Kartel" Palmer by citing the well-being of Trinidad and Tobago's children, answering questions from Newsday at a post-Cabinet briefing at the Red House, Port of Spain, on Thursday May 15.

The ministry said Kartel may perform at a pre-arranged concert but not undertake visits to communities nor conduct media interviews. Known as World Boss, Kartel was released from ten years in prison after the UK-based Privy Council, in March 2024, quashed his life sentence for murder citing juror misconduct.

Sturge fielded questions when he later joined the briefing, after earlier Attorney General John Jeremie had sidestepped the issue.