Condemnation of artistes’ actions grows

Government will be undertaking a serious evaluation of its relationship with artistes and persons selected to carry its messages, as the administration weighs in on the growing fallout from a viral video, in which some well-known local artistes are seen glorifying murder, guns and gang activity.

In an interview with Barbados TODAY, Minister in the Prime Minister’s office with responsibility for culture, John King declared that government would be doing whatever is necessary to ensure that anyone they work with in the future understands their responsibiliy to the administration and the society in general.

At least two of the artistes, Mole and Peter Ram are featured on the notorious Trojan Riddim and are also associated with Government’s anti-violence campaign in schools.

“Any right-thinking organisation, be it government, a company or whatever, when things like this occur, they have to re-assess and re-evaluate the relationship with the persons they are working with on any project or in any form, shape or fashion,” King told Barbados TODAY on Wednesday.

He explained that while everyone has the God-given right to express themselves as they see fit, all persons, especially those with tremendous influence have a responsibility to look after the wellbeing of the society.

“It goes without saying and therefore, like anything else, I expect that we will do just that and do whatever is necessary to ensure that whoever we work with and whoever we work with in the future understands their responsibility as it relates not only to their own relationship with us, but to the wider society that they also represent,” the minister added.

President of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) Verla DePeiza in responding to the condemnation from King and Minister of Home Affairs Wilfred Abrahams, accused Government of attempting to close the proverbial barn door after the horse has already bolted.

Taking a swipe at a recent government initiative, DePeiza added: “When you develop an app, where you are encouraging people to give information on antisocial behaviour, and the very people that you are using to promote the anti-violence and anti-bullying bring out a video that promises death and retribution to those who give the information and go as far as to say that your gun is longer than the arm of the law, what really are we doing as a society? What are we really saying? That is the crux of the matter.

“Those are considerations that should have come up front. Who am I approaching to be a brand ambassador for government policy? What do they represent? What could they represent? What safeguards am I putting in place in case they cross the line or mash the crease? Those are the visionary thoughts of a leader instead of knee-jerk reactions after the fact.

“We are talking about how public coffers are disseminated and also the image that is given of what Government stands for,” the DLP president added.

Chief Executive Officer of Supreme Counselling Shawn Clarke whose organisation is also closely linked with anti-violence campaigns described the actions of the artistes as “unfortunate”.

Clarke, a sociologist, argued that while many in society are capable of filtering out the negative messages, younger minds could find the glorified lifestyle intriguing.

“We have to be very careful about the message that we are sending to our young people, especially at a time when obtaining a weapon seems to be so easy and accessible to them.

“There is some evidence to suggest that the more popular the artiste and the more impressionable minds that they are dealing with, it can have an impact on the way our young people think and feel because they are saying to themselves that if he or she can promote this, it is okay for me to get involved in that activity as well because this is a popular artiste,” Clarke added. (kareemsmith@barbadostoday.bb)