PM Holness Says Violent Dancehall Music Contributing To Jamaica’s Rising Crime Rate
Jamaica’s PM Andrew Holness lashed out at entertainers who glorify violent lifestyles in popular music citing a negative impact on the minds of society’s children.
Holness made the statements while speaking during a parliament session on March 30. “In our music and our culture, in as much as you are free to reflect what is happening in the society, you also have a duty to place it in context,” he said.
“Dat yuh tek up the AK-47 and tun it inna a man head … That is not right. And though you have the protection of the constitution to sing about it, you also have a duty to the children who are listening to you,” Holness said.
The issue of violence in society has been emphasized over the last week, following the tragic murder of 20-year-old Khanice Jackson who was found in Portmore, three days after she went missing. A 50-year-old mechanic, Robert Fowler, was yesterday officially charged with her murder.
Gender Minister Olivia Grange also used the session to highlight the issue of violence especially towards women in Jamaican society.
“It is on a sombre note and with pain in my heart that I stand to give voice to the now suppressed voices of our sisters who have been brutally killed in the epidemic of domestic violence in our country. Killed because some man felt he had the right to decide whom she should love or that she should continue in an abusive relationship, regardless. Killed because she did not have the physical strength to fight back, as, intimidated and threatened, she kept silent till the moment of her death,” Grange said.
She also called on entertainers and media practitioners to do their part to end the scourge of violence.
Following the comments from the PM, Jamaicans took to social media to express their outrage at his comments, something that he also predicted would happen when delivering his remarks.
Some saw the statements as disingenuous and wondered if the PM would still use Dancehall artists when elections time rolls around again like this person, who said: “Hope next election every dancehall artiste do an anti Holness dub.”
“Lmfao is this the same Andrew Holness and his party link up with every single dancehall artiste fi ave sound clash and rope in young voters to turn around and condemn them for their lyrics? That same Andrew?” one person said on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/mentallyfinish/status/1377324879444316163
Most others stated that they were confused by the PM’s statements since he accepted the title Bro Gad some time ago from a Dancehall artist. “The hypocrisy from a man who accepted the ‘Bro Gad’ moniker. Him think Daddy 1 & 6ix mek Gospel music ?????” another person said.
Over on Instagram, there were also many angry comments.