Children’s Advocate Lauds Decision to Rid Airwaves of ‘Daggering’ Music, Wants Ban Extended

Children’s Advocate, Mary Clarke, has lauded the decision of the Broadcasting Commission to rid the public airwaves of all content, which promote the act of ‘daggering’.
She has asked for the ban to be extended to include all songs, which endorse violence, indecency, profanity and explicit sexual activity. “These songs are in no way uplifting or empowering, but subtly encourage aggression and violence instead of love and healthy relationships,” Mrs. Clarke stated in an interview with JIS News.
The Children’s Advocate said she was pleased to hear of pending legislation to “give teeth to the decision” and expects that there would be appropriate sanctions for non-compliance.
“We hope that all citizens, especially children, will be vigilant and will not hesitate to report breeches. We also trust that those with responsibility for the airwaves, members of the entertainment fraternity, as well as those in the transportation sector, will recognise their social and ethical responsibility and comply,” she added.
The Broadcasting Commission yesterday (Feb. 9) announced a ban on all recordings, live songs and music videos, which promote the act of ‘daggering’ makes reference to, or is otherwise suggestive of ‘daggering’, from being aired on radio, television and cable stations.
Daggering, as defined by the Commission, is a colloquial term or phrase used in dancehall culture as a reference to hardcore sex, or the activities of persons engaged in the public simulation of various sexual acts and positions.
Mrs. Clarke has called on all well-meaning Jamaicans to support the ban and help to keep the airwaves clean.
“While the move by the Broadcasting Commission, as the regulator for cable, television and radio transmissions is to be commended, everyone has a responsibility and as such, we are renewing our appeal to well-thinking Jamaicans, especially parents, not to allow their children to listen to these songs,” she stressed.
Jamaica’s children have long been exposed to loud, lewd music in their communities and in the buses they take to school. In her Child Month message last year, Mrs. Clarke called for a more regulated transportation system, “free from the lewd music that has become the norm in many privately-operated buses”.
This call was based partly on a series of consultations with students all over the island, in which they expressed their concerns, including the need for a transportation system, in which children were not exposed to loud and lewd music.