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Sections of the Jamaican music industry responded mostly favourable yesterday to news from major corporate sponsors that they would no longer support events involving artistes who continue to incite violence through their lyrics and performances.

The murder rate in Jamaica inched closer to the record 1,139 of 2001, following Friday night's murder of seven men in Spanish Town and Portmore in St. Catherine, Glendevon and Norwood in St. James and St Andrew.

Corporate sponsors are threatening to withdraw support from the local entertainment industry if dancehall artistes continue to make violent lyrics a part of their musical repertoire.

Grenada will not wait on Caricom to bear its financial burden, Prime Minister, Dr Keith Mitchell, has said.

Seven million dollars' worth of cocaine and heroin was seized between Wednesday and yesterday, resulting in the arrest of two people.

WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. - The House of Blues has canceled a concert featuring dancehall reggae star Capleton after a gay and lesbian community group protested over his songs' references to violence against gays.

Downtown Kingston was tense yesterday after a man was chopped and stabbed to death, and his body dragged about 80 yards before being left on a pavement in front of the Redemption Market on West Street.

A shipment of ganja destined for Barbados was Monday intercepted at the Norman Manley International Airport's Fumigation and Quarantine Centre by the Jamaica Customs Department's Contraband Enforcement Team (CET).

LOS ANGELES -- A gay and lesbian group wants the House of Blues to cancel Monday's scheduled concert at its West Hollywood location by a reggae star who has recorded songs calling for violence against gays.

When Bermudian couple the Cowens boarded a flight from Athens on Sunday they had expected to spend the journey reminiscing about a wonderful holiday in the Black Sea.