Harvel ‘Gadafi’ Hart, manager of Merciless says he regrets that he wasn’t able to attend the late entertainer’s funeral because of issues with his US passport. Still, he’s peeved that Beenie Man and Bounty Killer among other dancehall heavyweights were no shows at the event.
“The family actually put photos of Bounty and Beenie on the programme. Why did they do something like that? The family members thought there was love between Beenie and Bounty and Merciless because he spoke highly of them to his family. They were co-workers but the family thought there was love and respect,” Hart, who is now based in the United States, told OBSERVER ONLINE.
“I want to criticise Capleton and Sizzla as well, everyone who sit down and turned a blind eye to Merciless’ funeral. Even if rasta burn funeral, they could have made an appearance at the set up, to show their appreciation there; all who don’t want to come to a funeral, who bun funeral, could have turned up to represent,” he said.
Hart lauded Spragga Benz for attending and giving a tribute at the St Gabriel’s Anglican Church in May Pen, Clarendon.
“I give Spragga 6.8 zillion respect, all those people who marked the passing of an icon, big up Ricky Trooper. All those artiste who were in Jamaica, I am not talking about who are overseas, all who were in Jamaica and never come out for their co-worker, shame on you! God going to deal with them drastically,” an upset Hart said.
Hart said that the absence of top flight deejays, Bounty Killer, Beenie Man, Sizzla and Capleton proved that there was ‘no love’ in the entertainment fraternity.
“There is no love in the industry. Merciless died from a broken heart to how the industry treated him and everyone come and witness what I was saying, see it there, Bounty, Beenie, no shows, not even to show up at the singing. God note everything, but there was a great turnout, this was like a state funeral. The industry needs to show more love to their co-workers,” Hart said.
Sound system operator Ricky Trooper also expressed disappointment over Bounty and Beenie’s absence. He was also nonplussed at the failure of several sound systems to send representatives to the thanksgiving service.
“I was looking for Bounty Killer and Beenie Man but they were absent,” he said.
“I was disappointed with the turnout from the sound system fraternity, only Kush International, Natural Vibes from St Bess, Barry from Black Scorpio and me, but otherwise it was a great turnout from other people, the people dem really come out for Leonard, big crowd.”
