Dear Editor,
With reference to the letter by Jason Abdulla (‘Artistes cannot be blamed for the irresponsible actions of a few of their followers’ SN, September 12), let me maintain my call for the banning of Mavado. The Government of Guyana in lifting that ban has sent a clear signal that once the security and stability of the country is not under immediate threat, then it is okay to have him perform.
The government had initially enforced the ban because Guyana was still reeling from the shock and horror of the Lusignan and Bartica massacres. Bounty Killer (Rodney Price) while performing at a show had infuriated the government by what they claim was a statement of incitement to more violence during that volatile period. Killer was banned too. Minister Rohee on banning Mavado, made a public statement on why the government had made that decision. Mr Abdulla should refer to that statement. He will find the hypocrisy therein.
I do not think I should engage Mr Abdulla on the social and psychological development of young people in society, except to say that music plays a leading role in influencing their social perspective. Music is a powerful vehicle of expression.
How dishonest it is to state that Mavado’s reference to a 45 special is not a direct reference to a gun. Mr Abdulla clearly has not studied Mavado’s music. So when Mavado states in the opening of one of his tracks, “Before meh sing meh sang I was a sniper,” what musical intonation was in reference, there?
Young people will rebel against the culture of their parents and seek to find their own sub-cultures. They are products of their society and should not be blamed if they were born into a broken one. Hence, for them we have to struggle to repair and create a society conducive to their growth and development. Mavado’s music is a leading factor that impedes the development of positive values in our young black men and women in the Caribbean and elsewhere in the world. By virtue of being an international artiste with such popularity, Mavado becomes a role model. He has to bear some responsibility for the careless and murderous utterances in his songs. He has to bear some responsibility for disrespectfully referring to young women as public sexual tools and rag dolls to be used, abused and thrown around.
There is a stark difference between Mr Abdulla’s comparison between those who choose to promote rum-drinking in songs as against those who call for the murder of people because of lifestyle choices. Rum-drinking is legal for those of a responsible age. Murder is illegal, just plain illegal.
Eric Phillips, religious organizations, youth groups and every decent-minded Guyanese who believe we have a responsibility to protect the young in our society must lift their voices in unison. Such organizations have already lifted their voices in Jamaica, the birthplace of Mavado.
Yours faithfully,
Norman Browne
