Vybz Kartel - File

Popular entertainer Vybz Kartel yesterday distanced himself and members of the Portmore Empire, from vendors who police clamped down on recently for selling Gaza buttons at school gates.

The deejay, in a release, blasted the barefaced vendors involve in the act.

"Vybz Kartel does not sanction or condone the selling of Gaza buttons with violent images and statements, especially to children and teenagers," the deejay, born Adidja Palmer stated.

Reports surfaced in the media yesterday when Senior Superintendent Delroy Hewitt, from the St Andrew South police division, announced that persons are illegally profiting from the ongoing feud, between Vybz Kartel (Gaza) and Mavado (Gully).

earning quick cash

"Our intelligence suggests that there are a lot of those cards out there being sold to children," reported the senior superintendent in an article printed in THE STAR yesterday. The cards had lyrics such as "mi murder people inna broad daylight".

The minister of education, Andrew Holness, was also quoted in the article as saying that he was "calling on the entertainers to try their best to set an example for the children and for them to disassociate themselves from violence. I also ask that they condemn the use of their image in this way."

In his release Vybz Kartel, however, made it clear that he's opposed to his image being used in the manner.

"We do not own the Gaza name but recognise that unscrupulous and unethical persons may be seeking to profit from the popularity of the Gaza name by engaging in these terrible practices," he said. "We urge the relative authorities to move quickly to protect innocent children from those who would seek to corrupt them."

A number of persons have benefited since the emergence of the 'Gaza/Gully' saga. Seeing the appeal of the feud, vendors have made clothing designs, flags, cell phones and buttons which they have sighted as a means of earning quick cash.

Kartel doesn't want the name 'Gaza', which he often uses in his songs and performances, to be associated with illicit acts.

"Vybz Kartel is in the business of music, and through Vybz Rum Limited, the business of alcoholic beverages. We are not involved in the business of merchandising, nor do we benefit from the sale of clothing and other paraphernalia, which may bear the Gaza name," he said.