Dancehall Music causing Violence in Antigua

(The Daily Observer):Please allow me to speak directly to the Minister of National Security Dr Errol Cort and to the Minister of Education Dr Jacqui Quinn-Leandro as I am convinced that this ‘noise’ that is called dancehall music, plays a significant role in the violent behaviour of youth in Antigua.

Months after police had to be placed at the Ottos Comprehensive School, there were two school stabbings in two days — March 15 and 16 — leaving two students injured with wounds inflicted by a knife and a pair of scissors. Days after, there was a huge fight at Ottos Comprehensive with chairs flying all over.
The talk shows focused on this very alarming situation which has been prevelant over the past few years and only one person, the host of the Snake Pit, ‘Serpent,’ spoke about the dancehall music which influences the youth in a negative way, promoting their violent behaviour. But this is one of the biggest contributing factors to their violent behaviour, in my opinion.

I refer to an article in The Daily OBSERVER on December 30, 2009, titled “Something in the music,” where it is said that the public continues to weigh in on a recent statement by Minister of National Security Dr Errol Cort, who said government would move to ban artistes whose lyrics promote violence from performing here. The reactions varied from opposition, especially by two promoters, and persons calling into the talk shows calling on the government to follow through on this threat and regulate the industry. “Help us to save ourselves” was the cry from this faction.

I have made it my business to observe the youth walking to and from school since 2010 and most students have ear-plugs attatched to their cell phones or iPods and 90 per cent if not more of the students are listening to dancehall. How can the students prepare their minds for learning, listening to this noise which promotes violence and is filled with such lewd and nasty lyrics?

That is why I am addressing Dr Quinn-Leandro. If the mininster bans cell phones or iPods from the school compound, I strongly believe that would make a tremendous difference. The students are also listening to the dancehall on the school compound, every chance they get and they even have sound-clashes using the dancehall which is on their phones/iPods.

Dancehall is not our cultural music. Why is it most predominant? Why is the governement allowing another country’s cultural music, which is such a terrible influence on society to totally take over?

In an article that I wrote in December 2010, I asked Dr Cort not to allow persons to influence him or his government not to follow through with his plan to ban dancehall artistes whose lyrics promote violence. I am now asking Dr Cort to ban dancehall music from being played publicly. I am also calling on Dr Quinn-Leandro to ban cell phones and iPods from the school compound.

There is no doubt in my mind that dancehall music is a huge contributing factor to the violent and agressive behaviour of our youth in Antigua.

Therefore, I am hoping that the relevant authorities addressed in this article will make a step in the right direction and help save the youth of Antigua by banning cell phones and iPods from the school compound, banning dancehall artistes whose lyrics promote violence, and banning sound systems from playing dancehall publicly, especially around St John’s and events where school children will be attending.