Published On:Wednesday, August 18, 2010

By NOELLE NICOLLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

nnicolls@tribunemedia.net

THREE members of the Adijah 'Vybz Kartel' Palmer entourage are expected to appear in court today to face charges of assault and damage after an alleged airport brawl on Monday afternoon.

Palmer, a popular dancehall musician, was in town to perform at the weekend birthday event of Sebas Bastian, a local events promoter.

Jamaican-born Palmer and his entourage were scheduled to leave Nassau for Kingston at 2.10pm on Monday when police were called to break up a fight in the men's bathroom of the international departure lounge.

Police reports state that several of the offenders "damaged property" and "assaulted a passenger" who was also scheduled to travel on the Air Jamaica flight. The flight was delayed for several hours because of the altercation.

"It was a group of them that ganged the guy, but he could only identify three of them. They were punching him all over. We allowed the ones he could not identify to go," said Assistant Superintendent Dennis Dames, officer-in-charge of the airport police station.

The names of the three men in custody were not released up to press time. ASP Dames said the police were still considering more charges, and would release the names after completing the process.

"The brawl started where you had these Jamaican men, five of them, in the men's bathroom with three Jamaican girls. The complainant wanted to use the bathroom. Upon entering the bathroom he said 'excuse me' he needs to use the bathroom, 'why are the women in there?' The Jamaican guys attacked him," he said.

He had no comment as to why the men and women were in the male bathroom in the first place.

The complainant was a Bahamian employee of Spirit Airlines based in the United States. He opted not to travel on the Air Jamaica flight after the incident. Police reports indicate his injuries were "minor."

ASP Dames said the airline was responsible for allowing the men who were released from custody to board the flight, even though there were claims that other passengers were "concerned." No Air Jamaica spokesperson could be reached for comment.

"A lot of passengers were agitated that this Jamaican gang were (allowed on the plane). They were kind of afraid of them coming back on the airplane. That was not our call. That was the airline's call," said ASP Dames.