Reaffirming the right to freedom of expression and public speech, CARICOM Heads have nevertheless strongly condemned lyrics that denigrate women and promote violence.
CARICOM Heads of Government met in caucus in Guyana on 27th February, 2024 to discuss the “prevailing dire state of crime, violence, and public safety amongst its Member States”.
According to a statement at the end of their summit, CARICOM Heads strongly condemned the development, presence, tolerance, or acceptance of violent, anti-social music and social media content that denigrate women and encourage or promote or support the use of violence, guns, and other anti-social behaviour, particularly targeted to Youth.
“CARICOM Heads of Government affirmed their support for engaging with young people in the creative economy, including the entertainment and music industry, and the sporting industry to develop, support and spread across the Region positive content to offset the negative impact of anti-social, violent, and criminal behaviour, which some elements in that sector promote and support”, the statement released on Thursday said.
Given the serious, significant and chronic negative developmental impact that crime and violence is having on Member States, the statement said that CARICOM Heads of Government committed to working with all sectors and institutions, including civil society, academia, labour, churches, creatives, law enforcement, the judiciary, political parties, employers and businesses, and external partners to implement all of the measures set out in the Declaration on Crime and Violence as a Public Health Safety Issue of 2023.
CARICOM Heads of Government also remain committed to maintaining the Region as a zone of domestic peace and safety, the statement added.
At the opening of the summit at the National Cultural Centre on Sunday, President Irfaan Ali had urged fellow CARICOM leaders to join in galvanizing support from local artistes to promote non-violent and positive lyrics, in an aim to preserve the rich musical culture the region is known for.
“You enjoyed the brilliance of culture; in this region, culture is our staple. Culture is that common thread that brings us together… In this region we owe it to the generation ahead of us to keep our culture alive and to invest in this culture, because the culture is what distinguishes us from any other region. Culture is distinctly different from any other region,” Ali said.
“We do not need lyrics that promote violence in this region. We have the ability to promote good lyrics and lyrics that will move people in the positive direction and move people to think and behave positively. As leaders of this region ,we have to take this situation very seriously and ensure the lyrics of the region is the lyrics of Bob Marley, the lyrics of positivity, and the lyrics of positive living and positive change. We must take this responsibility on today,” he told the gathering.
Stating that some might say that the issue of lyrics was not important, Ali noted that a regional artist is on Interpol’s red list and this country has taken a stand to not allow that person to perform here.
“For some, this may seem a soft issue, but this is a fundamental issue. Only recently (Trinida-dian) Prime Minister (Keith) Rowley and I are were having a conversation when many young people, young brilliant people questioned the decision of not having a certain artist perform in the country…that artist is on an Interpol Red List,” he said.
Ali did not name the artiste but recently Trinidad and Tobago performer, Kashif Alexander Sankar whose stage name is K-man 6ixx, was block-ed from performing here for a Mashramani event.
The CARICOM Communique issued yesterday following the February 25-28 summit noted that a highlight of the Opening Ceremony was the presentation of a drumming corps comprising performers from host country Guyana, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Grenada, Saint Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
“Their spirited, lively performance, “Sounds of the Caribbean”, and other cultural performances by Guyanese young people added colour and energy to the ceremony”, the communique stated.
