The Broadcasting Commission yesterday included soca music in its ban on the airing of music with sexually explicit lyrics as debate on the regulatory agency's prohibition of lewd dancehall songs grew in intensity with accusations that the commission's action was one-sided and smacked of hypocrisy.

At the same time, Broadcasting Commission Chairman Dr Hopeton Dunn told journalists at a news conference that the agency had made recommendations to the Government to make amendments to the Television and Sound Broadcasting Regulation in a bid to clean up the music being played on the airwaves.

"The commission has made a number of recommendations to Government to amend the Television and Sound Broadcasting Regulation. These we consider to be urgent and we will be making the necessary representation for these amendments and reforms to be taken to Parliament at an early date for consideration," Dr Dunn said at the press conference at the Knutsford Court Hotel in Kingston.

"These include requirements around playlists and music sheets; vetting and approval of songs by station managers prior to transmission by DJs; non-transmission of songs that condone or encourage hostility or violence; the encouragement or glamourising of use of illegal drugs or misuse of alcohol,"
he added.

Additionally, Dr Dunn said the commission will be recommending the repeal of the existing Broadcasting and Radio Redufusion Act of 1946 and will propose a model act that will deal with regulating the airwaves.