I applaud the Government for the ban on ‘Mavado’ and ‘Bounty Killer’. These singers seem to have no respect for the law. This was a good move and it shows that the Government is concerned about curbing lawlessness, since these songs are not good for especially children to listen to, and I have noticed that for years they have been played in minibuses and public places.

Many children also know their lyrics quite well. It is no wonder we have a society like we do today with these people becoming sometimes the role model of young people. Reading the newspapers today as well, I have learnt that broadcasters are also thinking about not playing these types of music on the local airwaves. This is all good. However, my concern is about other artistes who carry similar messages in their songs which are not good for young people to listen to, yet, no one says anything about them, or is it that they hear the songs everyday but give a deaf ear? I am speaking about lyrics by singers such as Dr. Evil, another Trinidadian singer whose name I can’t remember but who keeps singing chutney and other forms of music which send the message that it is okay to drink alcohol all day without a care and I can name others. Songs with lyrics like ‘Rum in de maarning, rum in de evening, more rum’, ‘rum till I die” and all those other lyrics are also songs encouraging bad behaviour. Won’t drinking alcohol all day cause one to be intoxicated and therefore sometimes lead to drinking and driving? Won’t this lead to laziness and people beating up their wives? All of these things need to be considered and the broadcasters have to be responsible here too. I have been hearing these songs playing on the airwaves way too many times and they disgust me.

There are so many other songs that broadcasters can choose from to play and which send better messages, yet the worst ones are the ones that they choose to play. Please, whoever wants to hear these songs which set bad examples, let them play them at home.

Again, I applaud the Government’s move and I believe that it should continue along this line and not worry with those who criticise the move and want to continue to encourage nonsense. Our society needs this cleansing now with the increasing crime. Also, Jamaica has so many other artistes that promoters can think of bringing to Guyana, Why do they always bring the worst ones?
DELMIRA JAMES