PM considers Shyne’s possible deportation to Belize
Turning to a story that has made international headlines; the possible deportation of Prime Minister Dean Barrow’s son, the well known rapper, Shyne. When News Five spoke to his lawyer, Oscar Michelen, on Tuesday, he told us that no decision would be made before today on whether or not Shyne will be sent back to Belize following his release from the New York State Department of Correction on Tuesday. Well, we followed up with Michelen today and he says Shyne’s immigration status has still not been determined. But his uncle, Minister of Housing Michael Finnegan, says leaving the states will not be then of Shyne’s career because he has contracts in the music business. We also got PM Barrow’s take on the issue of his deportation.
Prime Minister Dean Barrow
“Obviously all things are happening in states and it is clear that a move is afoot to deport him and it is also clear that he is seeking to resist that. But I am not sure where the legal process is at this juncture. I have written a letter to the governor of the state of New York, who was attorney at time asked to do this. Well before that I had written a first letter at the time Jamal or Shyne was interested in repatriation and serving the rest of the sentence here. That never went through, which is just as well because now it is clear that he wants to stay in the stares where he might continue his career. So I wrote in terms of petition for a kind of pardon that would allow him to stay. I have not heard a response. I have spoken to people close to governor and I have been assured that the letter was received and that it was in fact under active consideration. I can’t say that I am able to call in any favors such as to guarantee he will be able to remain in the states.”
Michael Finnegan, Uncle of Shyne
“If ih come back yah, he will be able to operate out of Europe; he will have to be able to operate out of Europe because he is committed with these contracts. I would imagine that he’d want to be where the rest of his family is, where his mother and so is. But if that doesn’t work out, then I see him operating out of Europe.”
Shyne left Belize as Jamal Barrow but later changed his name to Moses Michael Leivy after he converted to Judaism. Those changes took place while he was convicted for a 1999 shooting at the New York night club. Shyne was in the company of Sean “P. Diddy” Combs and Jennifer Lopez on that fateful night and he claimed he shot in self-defense during a confrontation. He is being held by immigration authorities while a decision is made on whether or not to deport him.
