Do you support the ban on Mavado and Bounty Killa from performing in Guyana? We asked a few persons in the street this question and these were their responses.
Stacy Elliot, student
‘I don’t see a problem with what Bounty Killa and Mavado sing. The vibes, the lyrics, whoever hired them knew about it. Guyanese youth support it. Guyanese youth find fun in the lyrics. There is nothing wrong in singing about guns and gays.
It’s an everyday something. The ban should have been because of something else, like gunshots or something.’
Keyron Jerrick, private sector employee
‘I don’t know why they banned Bounty Killa and Mavado. I listen to the music of both Bounty Killa and Mavado. I do not support the ban on them. I don’t know why they are banned, the lyrics in their songs is mostly about what people want to hear. I think that the ban should be lifted’.
R. Griffith, teacher
‘Banning Bounty Killa and Mavado won’t solve the problem that we are trying to solve in Guyana. In people’s homes they will still have the CDs with the songs and I guess that the children are still going to listen to it. Banning the songs on the air and in public transportation is going to help a little but not solve the problem. I don’t think that it makes much sense to ban them.’
Stacy-Ann Bayley, university student
‘Mavado’s songs promote a lot of violence and encourage young people to listen to violence; the songs are all about guns and violence and are x-rated. Given what is going on in Guyana why would we want such negative vibes? I support the ban. I don’t personally listen to Bounty Killa and Mavado’s songs but I hear them all over the place.’
Kennise Williams, private sector employee.
‘Yes, I do support the ban 100 percent. Mavado’s music has too much violence and it’s degrading to women. I have heard the songs and I have realized that it is not good for me and I stopped listening to it. I have heard it in buses though. Bounty Killa is all about violence, he only talks about guns. Other artistes with similar lyrics should be banned from Guyana also. They are just bringing their culture of violence to Guyana and the young people pick it up.’
Alden Fraser, pork knocker
‘I feel they should have given Mavado and Bounty Killer a chance because if Guyanese want to go out in other countries and perform people in those countries may want to stop us. We do not want these things to happen now. We are living well and we should continue like that. They can sing what they want as long as they do not touch us. We should ignore what they say; they cannot make us do anything that we know is not right. I believe that these people are singing to let us know what is going on.’
Ashty Singh, housewife
`I think the government is right to ban those singers from coming to Guyana to perform. It is not right for them to come here and incite violence because soon our country would become like Jamaica… Music is like food; what you hear that is how you would respond. Everybody running for the popular and latest CDs and if they sing about violence the more it would sink in and the young people would follow and do just that.’
Haroon Ramkissoon, usinessman/farmer,
`Yes, I support the government to ban the singers from coming to Guyana to perform and I think it is a wise move. Jamaica already has so much of violence and crime and they are coming here to share it through the lyrics. Today’s youths are picking up the songs and when the singers talk about killings with guns and knives the youths would want to try it. Youths nowadays are not like those of yesteryear; you cannot correct them. We have enough local singers here and they are good so people should be satisfied with that. We do not need songs like what the Jamaicans sing; they are also too vulgar.’
Anthony Bernard, student
`I am a Christian and I do not follow up that type of music. My type of music is Gospel and I listen to that a lot. I definitely support the government’s decision to ban those singers. As a youth I know that young people look up to those singers and whatever they tell them to do they would think it is the right thing and would follow them.’
Claudette Sheriff, hairdresser
`To me those artistes are bad influences for young people and I support government’s idea to ban them. I also feel that they should ban them off the air too.
Their faces are too rude and your appearance tells a lot about you. I think young people as well as older folks should stop supporting these types of shows and promoters should bring better entertainment to promote tourism. The lyrics are no good and it would only encourage and put more violence in the young people’s heads. The music is blasting in the buses and the schoolchildren would be singing and don’t have any respect for the big people. Some parents buy the music and take it home and that is bad. Instead, they should buy a book or something that would edify their children.’
