Isat Buchanan

Last updated
Isat Buchanan
MP
Member of Parliament for Portland Eastern
Incumbent
Assumed office
3 September 2025
Alma mater University of the West Indies, Mona
OccupationAttorney-at-law

Isat Aquaba Buchanan (born 12 December 1978) is a Jamaican politician and attorney-at-law who has just won a contested seat as the Member of Parliament for Portland Eastern, representing the People's National Party (PNP), since the 2025 general election. [2]

Contents

Early life

Buchanan is a son of Manley Augustus Buchanan, better known as Big Youth, a notable Jamaican deejay, and Joan Porteous, a businesswoman. [3] [4] He attended Meadowbrook High School. [1]

In 1997, Buchanan was convicted in Half Way Tree Resident Magistrates' Court for possession of cocaine, dealing in cocaine, and taking steps to export cocaine. He was sentenced to 21 days' imprisonment and required to pay a $1 million Jamaican dollar fine. [5] He later told The Gleaner that he had been arrested at Norman Manley International Airport in 1996 by the Jamaica Constabulary Force, having been found in possession of drugs which he thought was cash, which he had been given by someone else to deliver to the United States. [6] His Jamaican conviction was expunged from his record in 2014. [5]

In 2000, he was convicted in the United States for conspiracy to import cocaine and sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment. He was released after 8.5 years. [5] He told The Gleaner that he had been arrested in 1999 on a flight to Florida, when drugs were found in possession of a fellow passenger who accused Buchanan of being responsible. [6] His sentence was enhanced by the United States' mandatory minimum sentencing laws, which stipulate a minimum of 10 years' imprisonment for a second felony drug offence, whether the first was committed in the US or abroad. [7]

He explored a musical career under the name Isat, releasing several songs, including "Unbreakable", "Don't Give Up" (featuring Big Youth and Tafari), and "That's Cool" (featuring Big Youth). [3] [4] He described his genre as reggae fusion. [1] He also worked as a real estate agent and personal trainer. [4]

Buchanan studied law at the University of the West Indies, Mona (UWI). In 2017, he was issued a practicing certificate by the General Legal Council. [8] He worked for a period as an adjunct lecturer at UWI. [9] In 2017, he applied to become a Justice of the Peace (JP) in Kingston but was rejected in 2019 for not disclosing his previous convictions. [10] Buchanan sued to overturn the decision but in 2024 a judge ruled against him. [11] In June 2020, Buchanan was retained by Vybz Kartel to represent him on an appeal before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. [12]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Isat". Yaada Music Entertainment. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
  2. ↑ "General Elections: Buchanan flips Portland Eastern for PNP - Jamaica Observer". 2025-09-04. Retrieved 2025-09-04.
  3. 1 2 Williams, Shirvan (30 June 2020). "Vybz Kartel's New Lawyer Isat Buchanan Believes He's 'A National Treasure And Dancehall's Lifeline'". Dancehall Mag. Retrieved 4 September 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 "Isat". ItzCaribbean. Retrieved 4 September 2025.
  5. 1 2 3 "Isat Aquaba Buchanan: GLC Decision". General Legal Council. 22 November 2017. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
  6. 1 2 Barrett, Livern (12 December 2017). "Defying the odds - Conviction pushes man to pursue law degree - Now among newest lawyers at Jamaican Bar". The Gleaner. Retrieved 4 September 2025.
  7. ↑ Isat Buchanan v. John Yost, No. 06-4973 (3d Cir.2007)("Buchanan's sentence was enhanced pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(B), which provides in part, "If any person commits such a violation after a prior conviction for a felony drug offense has become final, such person shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment which may not be less than 10 years and not more than life imprisonment..."").
  8. ↑ Barrett, Livern (19 December 2017). "Embraced by Bar - Law fraternity opens arms to attorney with drug convictions". The Gleaner. Retrieved 4 September 2025.
  9. ↑ LaTouche, Kareem. "Jamaica Youth Motivators hosts 'Adapting to Your Environment'". YouthLink.
  10. ↑ Barrett, Livern (24 November 2019). "Attorney takes Chuck, custos to court over JP rejection". The Sunday Gleaner. Retrieved 4 September 2025.
  11. ↑ "Judge throws out Isat Buchanan's JP lawsuit against custos, justice minister". Jamaica Observer. 25 February 2024. Retrieved 4 September 2025.
  12. ↑ "JAMAICA: Isat Buchanan Retained To Represent Vybz Kartel At Privy Council". Antigua News Room. 26 June 2020. Retrieved 4 September 2025.
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