A day after reggae icon Buju Banton went public with claims that hurricane relief supplies were stolen at Kingston’s Norman Manley International Airport, the Jamaican government has released its official findings — but the artist is pushing back, insisting the system “is broken” and that his concerns are being politicised.
Minister of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport Daryl Vaz on Wednesday confirmed that an immediate investigation was launched following Buju’s viral video alleging theft of high-value items — including generators, stoves, and Starlink equipment — from a humanitarian shipment he helped organise for western Jamaica. Vaz stated that investigators found no evidence of tampering, loss, or diversion and emphasised that the shipment “went straight from the plane to the truck” without being stored or handled offsite.
“The goods arrived on Tuesday and were cleared immediately by the customs broker. They never went to any room or offsite location — it went straight from the plane on the tarmac to the receiving truck,” Vaz explained. He added that customs officers confirmed the seals were intact and that the items were “wrapped and sealed in the same manner in which they were received.” The minister also disclosed that a cargo manifest provided by the sender showed no stoves or Starlink devices listed in the shipment, contrary to Buju’s claims.
“In the interest of transparency, I will share the entire list of items sent and packed on the truck,” Vaz said, while warning that older, flawed customs practices would not be tolerated. “Let me be clear — the systems of old will not be tolerated and every report of this sort will be investigated. We must fix issues that exist, but where the system works, the facts will be shared.”
However, Buju Banton swiftly refuted the minister’s version of events, asserting that the goods were not transferred directly from the plane to his trucks and that his team endured long delays before receiving the items. “With all due respect, I can see that you remain unaware of how things went,” Buju said in a statement shared on Thursday. “The goods were not taken from the plane to our trucks but instead taken to an area we had no sight of. Seals were broken and things were taken. I have no reason to create mischief nor make up stories.”
The Grammy-winning artist accused Vaz of politicising the matter and defended the legitimacy of the shipment, noting that the plane also carried goods donated for opposition MPs by Florida-based donors. “This is about Jamaica, NOT about PNP or JLP, as all are suffering,” Buju said. “The reality is that the system is broken. If you took the time to read the comments under my post, you would realize I’m not the first person to experience this.”
The clash between Buju Banton and Minister Vaz has divided public opinion online, with many calling for independent verification of the cargo logs and customs footage to settle the dispute. As both sides hold firm to their accounts, questions linger about Jamaica’s relief handling systems and whether transparency can be ensured as post-Melissa recovery efforts continue.
View this post on Instagram
