Prime Minister Golding and Minister Grange Meet With Representatives From a Number of Music and Other Agencies at Jamaica House Tomorrow Morning

Representatives of various sections within the music industry as well as from a number of agencies will join the Prime Minister, the Honourable Bruce Golding and the Minister of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports, the Honourable Olivia “Babsy” Grange for the meeting tomorrow morning (Friday, 13th February) at Jamaica House to discuss appropriate action to deal with negative and lewd lyrics in the Jamaican music industry.
The meeting gets underway at 10:30 a.m. in the Banquet Hall and will be attended by some 50 persons.
On Sunday night of this week, at a reception for the newly-formed Reggae Industry Association hosted by the Prime Minister at Jamaica House as part of the early Reggae Month activities, Mr. Golding asked Minister Grange to call a meeting with music industry leaders for him to hold discussions with them on the situation as regards content and the inappropriate music currently being broadcast.
Minister Grange said in a release issued earlier this week that the Government does not believe will in censorship but must see to a balance in content in “public spaces” as our children in particular are exposed to it. We must bear in mind the impact of music on the society. “It is not about controlling creativity. It is about striking a balance.”
She said the Government and the music industry will be partnering in the effort and that they hope to come out of tomorrow’s meeting with a clear direction as to how the situation will be addressed.
“We have some of the best writers in this country; a great music that has had a positive effect all over the globe without the inclusion of lewd lyrics. We must protect what we have that has been positive,” Miss Grange said.