LUCIANO CLAIMS
INNOCENCE
He
is celebrated and revered for his uplifting musical messages, delivered through
songs including Sweep Over My Soul and What We Need Is
Love.
He
was even awarded the Order of Distinction by the Government in 2007.
But earlier this year, reggae star Luciano
hit the headlines in a shocking story that brought his reputation into
question. Following a shoot-out between a gunman
and police officers at Luciano's home in March, the
reggae star was charged with harbouring a fugitive.
The gunman, Andrew Senior, also known as 'Conqueror',
shot and injured three police officers in the incident, which eventually
ended when he was shot and killed by the police.
Subsequently,
LUCIANO, whose real name is Jepther McClymont,
was arrested and charged with harbouring the gunman, an accusation the
singer refutes
You
see what happened ... my gate is always open to
Tom, Dick and Harry," says 45-year-old Luciano.
"But
I've learned that that is to my own peril. Out of
the kindness of my heart, I open my home to people, but not everyone that comes
in has good intentions. That's the situation I found myself in”.
He continues: "This was someone I started helping
from years ago. He was trying to change his life
- he had children. But I got caught up in this
situation.
This
man was wanted [by the police] but he wasn't advertised
as a wanted man. So the way that the security forces went about handling this situation was really barbaric
"They
[the Jamaican government] acknowledged me as a
man who was worthy of being given the Order of Distinction; a man who has
respect in the community
"So
when they learned that I had a wanted man at my place, they should have approached me better than they did, rather than
accosting my property the way they did
"Even
an inspector told me that after the case is over, I could sue the authorities
for reparation of my house and for the way that they damaged my property and
defamed my character. So I know my rights. But for now, I just swing low and
take it easy.
He continues: "They [the prosecutors] have nothing
on me. My record is clean. They're accusing me
of harbouring a fugitive but it wasn't like that.
The brother was looking for a safe haven and unfortunately, he came to my property.
Due
back in court next month, does Luciano regret opening
his home and extending his kindness to so many people?
"When you're seen as a leader, people will always come to
you with their problems," he says. "Some people go to pastors -
look at [alleged drug lord] Dudus
and Reverend Miller”.
"That's
the thing; people who need help aren't going to
go to the government because the government will lock them down. So
that's the position that a lot of artistes find
themselves in; people come to us for help. But this situation has really opened my eyes. It's nice to be kind but you have to
be careful too."
Though Luciano explains he wasn't
at his property at the time of the shoot out, did it frighten him to
think that he too could have been caught up in the crossfire had he been
home?
"Honestly
empress, I grew up rugged. I never grew up as no soft, uptown yute". So I'm
used to the obstacles that come along life's
way. But what did frighten me was that any of my
family could have been hurt in this situation. But thanks to
the Almighty, they came out scratch free."
"The
various leaders in
Well
known for his desire to educate and inspire people
through his music, Luciano doesn't stray from
this way of thinking on his latest offering
Proclaiming
himself a messenger, the star has little time
for the more frivolous aspects of reggae's dancehall scene, and so,
unsurprisingly, didn't get caught up in the '
"Ah,
it's a joke ting, man," Luciano
said of the warfare between the two groups. "I
believe all of that is for the yute - just
like Christmas. When you're a child, you enjoy
Christmas, but when you grow up, you realise that Santa Claus is false!"
So,
of course, Luciano has no intention of joining the dancehall bandwagon. Instead, he says
he'll continue to spread positive messages
through his music
"Not
everyone has gone into this dancehall craziness;
talking about Gully and