Driver! - Campbell confident Buju can convince J’cans to vote PNP

As tongues continue to wag about Buju Banton's appearance at the People's National Party's (PNP) 85th annual conference at the National Arena on Sunday, the party's general secretary has expressed optimism that the Grammy-winning entertainer's presence will inspire individuals to rally behind the party in the forthcoming elections.

Buju Banton, whose daughter Jodian Myrie unsuccessfully contested local government and parliamentary elections for the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), stood on the conference stage with fist clenched on Sunday. His megahit, Driver, was a key campaign song used by the JLP in the 2007 general election.

For Dr Dayton Campbell, the general secretary of the PNP, the reggae superstar's presence is indicative of a willingness on the part of Jamaicans to send a signal to the Andrew Holness-led JLP administration that its days are numbered.

"By Buju's very presence, those persons that he has influence over will be motivated, as well as other entertainers, to be as open as he is, and step forward," Campbell told THE STAR.

The Destiny hitmaker is the second high-profile entertainer to make an appearance at a PNP conference in recent weeks. Last month Popcaan, with Shane O in tow, performed at the St James South constituency conference in St James. Nekeisha Burchell, the PNP standard-bearer for seat, said the Family singer's performance was a "pat on the back" from a good friend and not an endorsement. Unlike Buju who raised the clench fist, a symbol of the socialist party, Popcaan and Shane O did not endorse Burchell's campaign and neither did they make any gestures or comments that could be construed as partisan support for her or the PNP.

Campbell said that entertainers "add to the energy" whenever they make appearances at political events.

"It helps to get the supporters energised because we are complete beings and depend on all areas of life to feel complete. Entertainment is one of those aspects that allow them to let down their hair, so we cater to that part as well."

In 2021, international superstar Shaggy, sporting an orange-coloured 'Go with Golding' cap in a photo, sent a congratulatory message via social media to Golding after he was elected president of the PNP.