Op-Ed: Holness’ Comments On Dancehall Could Be Considered ‘Broken Windows Theory’

According to the recent outcry from our Prime Minister Andrew Holness, the way to rid Jamaica of the current state of crime and violence is to stop the production and broadcasting of all music with violent content.  We are all struggling with this stimulating and thought-provoking utterance.

I am not, we are not 100% sure if this ideology will generate that shift in paradigm but there is a particular germ of importance in the thought behind that idea. Strive Time Production, a record label based in Sandy Bay, Clarendon, has now seized the initiative to help the youths in the community of Sandy Bay by producing some positive music. Leading this charge is one of our top artists Bobo Wiseman.

The idea that language plays a vital role in humans’ existence does mean a lot in trying to dissect, analyze and critically evaluate this phenomenon to deeply understand if music, clean music can help to solve the problem and issues of crime and violence in the country.

We are of the belief that there are far greater social issues that needs to be tackled like lack of jobs, lack of training and leadership programmes, lack of financial support for young entrepreneurs. Lack of apprenticeships, lack of coaching and mentoring and the list goes on and on.

However, I suppose that humans articulate themselves based on their vocabulary. Also, they might be motivated to act, at least in part, based on their vocabulary. Without knowing of a definite fact that changing our music will generate a massive change in our culture, let us attempt to fix little things, like for example, creating music that will help the vocabulary of our people.

Let us create music that will motivate entrepreneurism, good values, and respect.

Let us start with music that shows respect for women.

The Prime Minister might not have stated his point clearly or effectively or in the right manner, who knows. In my humble view, as a Sociologist and a Psychologist, I visualise this message from our Prime Minister, to create violence-free music, as a cry to artists to let us work together to solve the nation’s problems.

Can creating clean music generate, instil, and inspire all our people to aspire into their greatness in a positive way? According to the Prime Minister and according to Broken Windows Theory it can, and this will help solve the crime in our society.

The theory says that visible signs of criminal behaviour in a society only serves to further encourage more criminal behaviour.  So can music free of violence help to solve the problem?

Additionally, if our Prime Minister can generate a tiny bit of order in our society, where he is able to speak to a group of influential people and they publicly follow his instructions. To the degree to which they follow his instructions, this will generate the language and discussion that the Prime Minister is in control. If the Prime Minister is deemed to be in control of one small thing psychologically, he will be deemed to be in control of the country. This idea of having an orderly governed country will generate and spread like a virus throughout the country. This could therefore cause a shift in the thinking of all humans in the society.

The Prime Minister is crying out for us to start by fixing one little thing so that the big things can be fixed later. Maybe and hopefully sooner than later.

Will this ideology work in Jamaica?

The views and opinions expressed in this Op-Ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of DancehallMag.  Hopeton K. Bailey is a Jamaican living in the UK. His record label, Strive Time Production, released Love Must Be On Holiday by Bobo Wiseman last year.