Dancehall queen Spice sends prayers and well wishes to former collaborator Vybz Kartel who is currently imprisoned in allegedly inhumane conditions.
According to a Fox News report on Wednesday, Kartel, real name Adidja Palmer, has been diagnosed with Grave’s disease, and he also lives with two heart conditions, said the report which featured his attorney Isat Buchanan.
Vybz Kartel’s lawyer and son claim the artist was held in inhumane confinement for 23 hours a day in a cell that lacks adequate ventilation. As a result, his health is deteriorating, his lawyer said.
On Wednesday, Spice called authorities about the artist’s detention status. She also changed her display photo to a photo of Kartel.
“Prayer for @vybzkartel STAY STRONG I LOVE YOU KING #FreeWorldBoss. How can you lock a man up for 23 hours every day in a poorly ventilated area knowing his health issues just because you find a cell phone in his neighborhood So does he alone have to pay the consequences for the whole block? JAH JAH,” Spice said.
According to reports, the artist’s solitary confinement was the result of smuggling in the form of cell phones found in the same block where Kartel’s cell is located. Prison officials claimed in separate press reports that two cellphones were found within days of each other in Kartel’s cell.
However, the artist’s family denied claims that the phone belonged to Kartel.
In a new interview with the Fox 5 New York television channel, Isat Buchanan stressed that Vybz Kartel’s medical condition puts his life in danger and wants prison authorities to treat him with the utmost urgency.
“Mr. Palmer’s condition is life threatening,” the defense attorney said. “His face is actually swollen (swollen) and like I said one of the things is he’s wearing always glasses because the condition he made his eyes protrude.”
Vybz Kartel’s private physician, endocrinologist Dr Karen Phillips, submitted a sworn medical affidavit to New York City Television outlining the nature of his illness. The medical report reveals that the dancehall entertainer has been battling Graves’ disease for the seven years she has been treating.
The dancehall legend also has two serious heart conditions that will require life-saving surgeries or else it could be fatal.
Vybz Kartel’s son, Likkle Vybz, also spoke with Lisa Evers about the issue, saying his family is trying to stay positive during the ordeal. “It weighs very heavily on my heart, and I think about it a lot but, honestly, we just have to stay strong and know that he is doing his best because he has a strong mindset,” the young Palmer said.
It seems Spice fans weren’t feeling his message.
“Rules are rules, all Jamaicans need to stop acting like you’re above the law, it’s not such a thing as pity in jail, stop it pungent,” one fan wrote. “They really want to kill Kartel to raze the Jamaican justice system af**kry eno,” another added.
Some fans offered prayers of support for the incarcerated artist.
“Father, I come before you to ask for strength from Mr. Adidja Palmer, what is illness, father, I ask you to protect him because he is just a human who had a bad time, I ask for forgiveness for him and may pranks pour over his life because he is known to have a great influence on young people all over the world some may say he is a bad person some may say he is a good teacher but father in the end you have the last word and as a fan of vybz kartel i ask his wishes be granted, ah new start in the streets and happy life with his family and his fans Amen”, wrote a fan.
Vybz Kartel is currently awaiting his appeal hearing before the UK Privy Council, the island’s highest court.