Ralph Gonsalves says Jamaican dancehall star Vybz Kartel received free medical treatment in St Vincent and the Grenadines after the entertainer’s lawyer contacted him seeking specialist care.
Gonsalves recalled receiving a call from attorney Isat Buchanan after Kartel’s release, informing him that the artiste had a health problem and asking whether he could travel to St Vincent because specialists were available there.
Gonsalves said he immediately agreed, explaining that he viewed helping Kartel as an act of mercy rather than a political decision.
Contemporary reporting from August 2024 confirms that Kartel travelled to St Vincent and the Grenadines seeking treatment for Graves’ disease after Gonsalves was contacted about the availability of specialist care. Gonsalves publicly described facilitating the visit as an act of mercy. NBC SVG +1
During their interaction, Gonsalves said Kartel also revealed that he had a child with a woman whose mother came from St Vincent. After asking the family name, Gonsalves said he discovered a connection to the Cabral family, whom he knew.
Gonsalves acknowledged that some people criticised his decision to facilitate Kartel’s visit but maintained that helping him obtain medical attention was the correct thing to do.
