Prime Minister Bruce Golding has given directives to Minister of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports, Olivia Grange, to organise a task force to discuss concerns raised over the explicitly sexual and violent content of some local songs, a release from the Office of the Prime Minister has stated. The forum will be held Friday.

The prime minister's order comes just days after the Broadcasting Commission banned radio and television stations from airing songs with content deemed explicitly sexual and violent, particularly those which qualify as 'daggerin' songs.

Golding was responding to a request made by dub poet, Mutabaruka who, in his address during a reception in recognition of Reggae Month held at Jamaica House on Sunday, called on the Government to take immediate action to address the concerns of Jamaica's dancehall music.

Eroding the values

Mutabaruka noted that the negative lyrics and explicit images being promoted through the music were eroding the values of the society and impacting negatively on the behaviour of some young people.

Addressing the stakeholders in the music industry at the Reggae Month reception, Golding called for Grange to set up a meeting no later than this week and has requested that Mutabaruka be invited to participate in those discussions.

The prime minister said Jamaica's music was too important for the Government and citizens to allow it to be compromised.

"We are going to have to find a way to deal with what is going on out there with the music," Golding said. "If we have to change the law, let us prepare the legislation and go to Parliament and change it."

Stop assault on music

He continued: "If it is going to call for some resources, we will have to find them. As tough as things are, let us find it, because we can't allow this assault on our music, on our psyche and identity as a people, to continue."

He, however, said there might be some challenges, as musicians deserved the right to express themselves freely.

"But if we work with the music industry and if we embrace the kind of leadership offered by Mutabaruka, then we should set some parameters and be prepared to ostracise those who step beyond the boundaries of what is decent and uplifting," Golding said.

"This country does not belong to us, we hold it in trust for the next generation and we must pass it on to them in better shape than we got it," he continued. "As we play this music, we have to ensure that it is used to transform the society in a positive way."