After being once again overlooked for the Order Of Jamaica, Beenie Man is speaking out, expressing his dissatisfaction with the non-decidion.
Speaking on The Fix podcast some days ago, the King of Dancehall said, “Dem nuh gi mi nuttn man. Awrite, mi get a Prime Minister Award from PJ Patterson. Only one. An a choo Patrick Roberts meck mi get it. But I never get a OD or a OJ or anything else from Jamaica. All Assassin get; all Sizzla get. All di artist dem weh buss afta me get. Mi nuh get none…”
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The the Order Of Jamaica or even the lower-level Order Of Distinction has been given to fellow musicians like Shabba Ranks, Shaggy, Sean Paul, and Yellowman. Beenie has attributed the oversight to politics.
“Dem have mi a perform inna di National Stadium while dem a celebrate Sizzla. Dem have mi a perform while dem a celebrate Assassin. Is full disrespect to me and my music and my career. Mi nuh seh nuttn bout it, because it nuh matta me, because I live in Jamaica and I love Jamaica. Mi woulda love dem give it to mi before anyting happen to mi still,” he said.
At this point, he declared, “If dem a gi mi suppm, gi mi OJ, Order of Jamaica. Mi nuh want no OD, Order of Distinction. I am already a Order of Distinction; I am di king fi Dancehall. Put some respect pon mi name.”
Earlier, this year, Beenie asked Entertainment and Culture Minister Olivia “Babsy” Grange to tell him when he would receive his national award.
According to the guidelines set forth in The National Honours and Awards Act, the Order of Jamaica is bestowed on Jamaicans who have had “meaningful and significant impact on national life”. The recognition was promulgated on the 18th of July 1969 to recognize merit in terms of achievement and service. Its decorations and Awards recognize bravery, meritorious, long and/or valuable service, and/or good conduct.
