Reigning Queen of the Dancehall Spice has reignited a fiery debate surrounding Pastor Jeffrey Shuttleworth, this time taking aim at the controversial pastor’s legal battle with the Jamaica Baptist Union (JBU) over the $50 million Tarrant Baptist Church property. In a scathing Instagram post, the Needle Eye deejay called out Shuttleworth’s alleged hypocrisy, recalling his role in influencing schools to withdraw from her Ohhhh No School Tour days ago. “The same pastor who claim I’m not worthy for schools is now claiming the church land must be registered to his name and not to JBU,” she wrote, urging her followers to read Matthew 7:5: “Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye.”
Shuttleworth, a firebrand religious leader, made headlines for his opposition to Spice’s initiative, which aimed to inspire Jamaican youth to reject crime, drug use, and early sexual activity. His stance, along with pushback from other religious stakeholders, led to the cancellation of multiple school visits. However, refusing to be silenced, Spice sought intervention from high-profile government officials, including Minister of Education Dr. Dana Dixon and Minister of Culture Olivia “Babsy” Grange. “I went all the way to the top,” she declared, praising the officials for their support and hinting at a possible revival of the tour.
The backlash against Spice’s school visits underscores the tension between Jamaica’s deeply rooted religious conservatism and dancehall culture, which remains a powerful but polarizing force in society. Despite being shut out at home, the Grammy-nominated artist found open arms in Ghana, where she visited schools, donated supplies, and was widely embraced. The contrast highlights a growing debate: Should entertainers with controversial images be allowed to mentor youths? This question sparked a national discussion about the role of artists in education.
Meanwhile, Shuttleworth’s own credibility is now under scrutiny as he fights for control of the Tarrant Baptist Church property. The JBU, which represents over 300 churches across Jamaica, has taken legal action to block his efforts to register the land in his name. Court documents reveal that Shuttleworth has been in possession of the property for nearly 17 years and was in the process of applying for a possessory title. However, the JBU maintains that the land has been legally vested in its name since 1969. With an injunction now preventing the pastor from pursuing ownership, the case is set to be a landmark legal battle.
Spice’s public reaction to the controversy not only reinforces her ongoing battle with religious institutions but also raises broader questions about leadership and morality. While Shuttleworth fights for property rights, she argues that his energy would be better spent fostering inclusivity and saving souls. “Pastor fighting to own the church property before you go fight to save souls… Just the other day mi tell unu say God use me to send a message to this Pastor,” she reminded fans. Whether or not the court rules in Shuttleworth’s favour, his reputation among the public—and the dancehall community—is now undeniably entangled in a battle of faith, power, and influence.
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