Controversial Jamaican artiste Mavado has apologised for his previous performance here in which his lyrics were offensive, President Bharrat Jagdeo has said.

In a discussion with reporters on Thursday, following the opening of a new health centre at East La Penitence Jagdeo said Mavado had written a letter to the Office of the President apologizing for his past performance here which included homophobic and offensive lyrics.

Meanwhile, the government’s chief spokesman Dr Roger Luncheon, told reporters earlier that same day that the lifting of its ban against Mavado was done in the context of the artiste being given an opportunity to mend his ways in respect of social norms and as part of its commitment to encourage more public entertainment.

Questions were raised after advertisements began to be publicized about the artiste coming here for a show on September 19 at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence in the absence of any official word from government on the lifting of the ban it had instituted against him coming here, nearly two years ago.

Luncheon told reporters the decision was taken to ban Mavado because of his offensive lyrics  which tended to identify with unsavory and anti-social elements.

He said the ban has since been withdrawn and the artiste has been provided with this information. He added that the likely impact of the ban was considered in terms of Mavado being provided with the opportunity to mend his ways.