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PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, Thursday, April 25, 2007: Prime Minister of Trinidad, Patrick Manning, is among those weighing in on the controversy involving popular R&B/Hip-Hop singer Akon and a 15-year-old Trinidadian girl, more than two weeks after the incident occurred.

Manning this week demanded a formal investigation of the sexually simulated dance number between the Senegalese singer and the teenage daughter of Pastor Dave Alleyne.

A video released on YouTube sparked off the controversy as it showed the singer dry humping the teen, later identified as Danah Alleyne, on stage during a live appearance at Club Zen in Port-of-Spain. The sexually simulated dance number showed Akon vigorously grinding the teen on different areas of the stage to a soca rhythmic version of his song, Dont Matter.

PM Manning called on authorities to investigate the matter to the fullest, according to the Trinidad media reports, adding that it is not the first time that foreign artists had overstepped their boundaries.

"I have taken very careful notice of this matter and the owner of Zen owes it to the public to take responsibility. I will be interfacing with Zen because that kind of thing should never be allowed to happen in this country," said the PM.

Express reports indicate cops searched the Zen Nightclub where the incident occurred yesterday, apparently for footage of Akon allegedly engaging in sex acts at his recent performance there.

Junior National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds weighed in on Saturday, critisicing all involved, including the teen, and said he believes that Akon should be charged for lewd dancing.
The teen has admitted to being allowed into the Club despite being underage and said she was part of an impromptu dance competition announced by the singer. The competition, featuring seven girls, was announced and a trip to Africa was offered as the Prize, she said. But after she won the contest, she said Akon announced the Africa prize was really him.

She said he proceeded to start dancing with her and she danced back but then things got out of control. "I got carried away, I started to dance as well but I never thought it was going to be like that. I was shocked, my head was hitting the floor," she was quoted as saying.

The Chaguanas ministry is calling for Akon to be banned from public performances in the area.

Meanwhile, Johnny Soong, owner of the Zen nightclub, has said the club has a strict 18-year-old only policy and Alleyne must have gotten through the cracks. On chatrooms, many blasted the teen as no innocent and insisted she looks much older than her 15 years, espeically dressed provacatiively with a top that left little to the imagination.
Akons representatives have remained mum on the issue but the label has reportedly threatened YouTube with copyright infringement and the outrageous video has been pulled. Readers can, however USERS CAN WATCH HERE

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