Dancehall superstar Vybz Kartel is staring at death as his health continues to deteriorate while the Jamaican government is sluggish to allow him access to better healthcare.
Kartel’s private doctor in a sworn medical affidavit notified authorities that his Graves’ Disease and heart condition were getting worse and that if he did not get surgery soon, it could be fatal.
The medical affidavit which was obtained by FOX 5 NY indicated that the Dancehall king, whose real name is Adidja Palmer, was fighting for his survival in prison.
The medical report obtained exclusively by FOX 5 NY was done two months ago by Kartel’s well-respected private physician, Dr. Karen Phillips.
It details a seven-year history battling Graves’ Disease, a thyroid condition.
According to the report, despite medication, it has not gone into remission. He also suffers from two heart conditions and complications.
Dr. Phillips recommended surgery as soon as possible.
“It weighs on my heart, I think about it a lot.”
In exclusive interviews, his lawyer said inhumane prison conditions are putting his life at risk.
“He’s in a cell, and if you can picture a brick oven, because that’s how those cells are built,” Human rights lawyer Isat Buchanan said.
“Mr. Palmer’s illness is actually life-threatening,” the lawyer added.
The lawyer further said that for the last week, Vybz Kartel has been in solitary lockdown 23 hours a day over an alleged cell phone infraction.
“He’s in a cell, and if you can picture a brick oven, because that’s how those cells are built, the ventilation is next to none,” Buchanan said.
But now the severe lockdown conditions, in a brick cell with no air circulation, no water, and a bucket for a toilet, are making his health worse. That’s according to Buchanan, who saw him on Memorial Day.
“His neck was swollen, if you think of a shirt that is about 18.5 inches in the neck area, you couldn’t close the collar on his neck and that’s how bad it is in this moment,” Buchanan said.
“His face is actually swollen. And one other thing. He always wears glasses; in this condition, that causes his eyes to protrude.
“Fighting for his life, yes, because it can be dangerous. We do not want to get a phone call to say that because he was under this 23-hour lockdown, and unable to breathe, that he succumbed to his illness,” Buchanan said.
Vybz Kartel is serving life imprisonment for the murder of Clive’ Lizard’ Williams in Havendale in St. Andrew in 2011. He was jointly charged with four co-accused, including his protégé Shawn Storm, who is also in prison.
On April 3rd 2014, Kartel was sentenced to life imprisonment. Justice Lennox Campbell said he would be eligible for parole after serving 35 years in prison.
Vybz Kartel is appealing the conviction to the UK’s highest court. Even though Jamaica is an independent country, it is a constitutional monarchy with The King as Sovereign. In all of his official duties relating to Jamaica, King Charles speaks and acts as King of Jamaica, quite distinct from her role in the UK.
