STUDENTS from a number of high schools across the island have added their voices to the weeks-old debate on lewd music, with some in full support of the ban imposed by the Broadcasting Commission over the weekend and others calling on the regulatory body to reassess its position.

Last Friday, the commission announced the banning or transmission of any song or music video which promotes the act of daggerin' - it defined as a colloquial term used in dancehall culture as a reference to hard-core sex - or the use of bleeping or beeping techniques to mask explicit lyrics.

One Monday, the commission included soca music in its ban.
But Wednesday, several students who attended the Ministry of Education's National Sexuality and Reproductive Health Exposition held at the National Arena in Kingston had mixed views on the ban.

"We are in full support of the move to ban lewd music, daggerin' included. It is too explicit," Tiffany Dunn, a student from the Mona High School told the Observer.

Several other students like Nasheika Nash - who attends the Paul Bogle High School in St Thomas - agreed with Tiffany, saying it was her belief that lewd music influence's children's behaviour.

However, others believed the commission's stance was hypocritical and a double standard.

"The officials have to put more thought into the move," said Jamaica College student Tijani Christian. "For many students we see the move as hypocritical and one of double standards."

Ishama Johnson of Clan Carthy High (Kingston) felt the officials should widen the ban to include specific songs sung by overseas artistes.

Dwayne Palmer of Albert Town High in Trelawny, said he too had issues with "overseas music" and singled out Katy Perry's I Kissed a Girl - a song he said many parents should be worried about.

"This has been playing on the airwaves.... what is that promoting?" Palmer asked.