This week we asked the man and woman in the street their thoughts about R&B star Chris Brown coming to Guyana for a December 26 concert and about domestic violence activists condemning the government’s financial support to bring him.
Mark Mc Calman, vendor- ‘My personal thing is them bringing Chris Brown ain’t concern me because them banna can’t get me money cause when them gone me still gah hustle. Remember money hard fuh get and you have to find money to go to the show but they should a promote more local artiste like Jory. Guyana get talented artiste but they don’t get the push. The foreign artistes coming and spend half an hour or an hour on the stage and gone with them money so I am not going to the show. Taxpayers’ money being used to bring him only mashing up the country and when that happens poor people feeling it because them aint providing work for people and when they do they paying you lil bit money.’
Shameka London, haberdashery vendor- ‘I am not a fan but if I get sponsor to go to the show I gone go. I think it’s a good thing because young people gon come out especially with the thing he had with Rihanna so people gon go to see if he gon talk about it. Abusing women is not right but how government trying to put it is like abusing women is right. Young people gon come out to the show but big people gon talk about the abuse. If he comes I have no problem with him.’
Lonnetta Pollard, teacher-‘I feel it’s a fun idea for young people and he coming on that day will be off
the hook because myself and others will be there. It is also a nice occasion for young people because we aint going foreign to see these people and they actually coming to us now so it should be fun. We don’t know if he abuse Rihanna, we only going by hearsay. A story has two sides but if that’s what he did it is wrong but we can’t condemn him.’
Dwayne Rose, selector- ‘I am not really a fan of Chris Brown and him coming to Guyana would be something good for tourism. I am going to the show because it is a once in a lifetime opportunity. The Rihanna issue is his business so whatever he do is his own and that won’t affect me from going to the show. As long as Chris Brown singing and everybody enjoying themselves I going.’
Antonio Wilson, accountant- ‘I think it’s a good idea because everybody would want to spend their money wisely and go. I don’t think he would disappoint Guyanese so everybody would be willing to spend their money to see him. Although he and Rihanna had the lil problem I would still go. I think it’s wrong for them to be using taxpayers’ money to bring him and then we have to pay to go to the show so I think the show should be free. They could have used that money to better the country. I would say to the abuse that we are all humans and we have our flaws and make mistakes on a regular basis but is how we choose to live after that.’
Ronald Grandison, driver– ‘The people should welcome him with open arms and it’s something
good to bring him here because we lack entertainment especially since he is a world renowned person. I think we should emphasize more on local artistes like, Timeka Marshall. They could intermix the show with local and foreign artistes on the stage. In terms of setting an example I think he was wrong for abusing her but as Jesus said we can be forgiven and I think he has forgiven him so mankind can forgive him.’
Jermaine Ghannie, student- ‘I think it’s gonna be a nice thing for tourists to come to Guyana and it gon be nice for the country. I am a fan of Chris Brown but I don’t know if I am going to the show but once I get the money I gon go. He and Rihanna gah work that out because it’s their personal life. That would not affect me in any way from going to the show.’
Carlton Douglas, vendor- ‘I am not really a Chris Brown fan but I does listen to his songs. My situation is I am not a fan but most people in Guyana love him especially the ladies. We don’t have popular artistes like America so we bringing him here is nice. I am not going to the show but my girlfriend like him. The situation with he and Rihanna is stupid cause he take a nice young lady and he dumped her just to get back with Rihanna. I don’t think it’s right to hit a woman. If you and she can’t agree, walk out the house.’
Andrew Jordan, student –‘I din know he coming but now I hear I might go. I think it’s a good thing
they bringing him but he gah stop beating women. I think it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity for young people. Guyanese people like spend money so the ticket price won’t affect them but for young people they should reduce the price for the show so we can afford to go.’
Audreanna Thompson, student- ‘I am a fan and I plan to go to the show. I think it’s a good idea because I heard people from other countries would be coming to go to the show because it’s cheaper over here. Chris Brown would also have a lot of support and he would actually turn up because I heard the government is bringing him.
I was totally against him for a period of time for the abuse against Rihanna but they are back together apparently and they look past that. The abuse thing affects me in a way but not a lot and I don’t think that would affect the outcome of the show because after he was charged
people were still on his side.’
