Buju Banton to try and stop him performing here, The Royal Gazette learned last night.

And his Jamaican agent believes local gay rights activists are behind the threats.

Banton's agent, Penthouse Jamaica, is taking the threats so seriously they refused to allow the singing star to travel to the Island without a bodyguard, a spokesman for "Bermuda Reggae Sunsplash'' told the newspaper.

It would be the first time Banton, who has performed world-wide, has traveled with a bodyguard.

A local gay rights group last month asked the Labour and Home Affairs Minister to ban the singer, saying his song "Boom Bye Bye'' advocated killing homosexuals.

But the Hon. J. Irving Pearman decided not to, saying the singer had a right to free speech and he was not aware Banton had committed any crime by singing the song.

The concert spokesman, who did not want to be named, said dozens of Jamaicans had advised Banton against coming to Bermuda.

"I was told this week by his Jamaican agent Sharon Burke that he has been urged by scores of Jamaicans -- his friends and people in the media and entertainment business, that he shouldn't make the trip to Bermuda because of the hostile atmosphere here.

"Buju's agent said threats had been made to her office, from Bermuda, against his person. She was told Bermuda would not be safe for him and that he should stay out of Bermuda.'' The spokesman said Ms Burke and Banton believed the threats had come from "the same people who have not wanted him to come here all along''. The spokesman said that according to Ms Burke, those "people'' were local gay rights activists.

He said the three entertainment groups putting on the two-day concert decided after a meeting last night to pay for Banton to bring a bodyguard.

And they have hired extra private security personnel to "protect'' Banton when he arrives in Bermuda.

"We have made some very serious security arrangements,'' he said, adding "the young people want him here. He is very popular. If there is one person at the (concert) we'll still have him.'' A Police spokesman said last night they knew nothing about the threats and were not planning extra security at the airport.

Banton has agreed to make the trip and is scheduled to arrive tonight at 7 p.m., the spokesman said.

A special Press conference is scheduled for Thursday afternoon to give Banton a chance to present his side of the story, the spokesman said.

He said security at the concert venue, however, would not be stepped up.

"We will take the necessary precautions,'' he said, adding, "everyone at (St. David's Cricket Club) is excited about the concert being in St. David's.

It will be a fun event.'' It is being put on by TOC Productions, Entertainment Ventures and Startime.

The spokesman said none of the local promoters has received any threats.

"Sunsplash'' features several other top reggae artists, including Cutty Ranks, Papa San, True Colours.

Government announced last week that Banton, who had been "tentatively'' booked to perform, was free to come to the Island.

In June the Bermuda Human Rights Alliance, a local gay group, had asked the Labour and Home Affairs Minister to ban the artist from the Island, because of his song "Boom Bye Bye''.