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Tempers rise as Parliament debates private motion on the family
Clive Mullings.
Legislators in the House of Representatives on Wednesday rebuked what they described as the negative effects of popular culture on the moral development of the nation's youth.
Parliamentarians, who debated a Private Members Motion brought by Gregory Mair about the rapid decline of the Jamaican family, turned their wrath on dancehall artistes who they say portray poor and unruly behaviour which influence the attitudes among the youths.
The Parliamentarians were livid as they expressed outrage at what they say is the gradual decline of family life and moral standards.
Government member Ernest Smith knocked the Hopeton Dunn Chaired Broadcasting Commission for what he said is its failure to properly police the airwaves and prevent the exposure of vulgar music to school children.
"The Broadcasting Commission, over the years, has failed to perform the functions for which its members were appointed. Have we sold our country to musicians … have we allowed the gun culture that musicians have thrown at us over the years, to take over this country? I say yes not only as a legislator by also as a defence lawyer," Mr. Smith said.
School boys "bleaching"
Clive Mullings, another Government member, was also unsparing as he lashed out against what he said was the re emergence of "skin bleaching" among high school boys.
"One musician in one song has indicated that he uses blue soap or cake soap. What we’re seeing now is where our young people are seeing as entertainment as they way to live and we’re buffeted by these images from overseas and from within. What we’ve found is that our family units are being eroded by these messages," Mr. Mullings told the House.
Don’t blame the dancehall artistes – Montague
Opposition MP's Michael Peart and Derrick Kellier bemoaned the state of the society saying it had changed for the worst and asserting that there seems to be a free for all approach among the younger population, resulting in moral decay.
Mr. Kellier stopped short of saying that the society is broken.
However, outspoken legislator Robert Montague said he was not in agreement with the arguments raised by his colleagues especially about the negative effects of dancehall music on the Jamaican family.
"I hear a lot of people condemning the dancehall artistes, don’t condemn them, bring them into workshops and uplift the quality and who are we and who are you to determine what is the quality? Music is a tool that we ought to utilize to uplift our youths," mr. Montague said.
The motion has been sent to a Joint select committee for further consideration.
Thu. Jan.27,2011 4:07pm
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Clive Mullings. Legislators in the House of Representatives on Wednesday rebuked what they described as the negative effects of popular culture on the moral development of the nation's youth.
Parliamentarians, who debated a Private Members Motion brought by Gregory Mair about the rapid decline of the Jamaican family, turned their wrath on dancehall artistes who they say portray poor and unruly behaviour which influence the attitudes among the youths.
The Parliamentarians were livid as they expressed outrage at what they say is the gradual decline of family life and moral standards.
Government member Ernest Smith knocked the Hopeton Dunn Chaired Broadcasting Commission for what he said is its failure to properly police the airwaves and prevent the exposure of vulgar music to school children.
"The Broadcasting Commission, over the years, has failed to perform the functions for which its members were appointed. Have we sold our country to musicians … have we allowed the gun culture that musicians have thrown at us over the years, to take over this country? I say yes not only as a legislator by also as a defence lawyer," Mr. Smith said.
School boys "bleaching"
Clive Mullings, another Government member, was also unsparing as he lashed out against what he said was the re emergence of "skin bleaching" among high school boys.
"One musician in one song has indicated that he uses blue soap or cake soap. What we’re seeing now is where our young people are seeing as entertainment as they way to live and we’re buffeted by these images from overseas and from within. What we’ve found is that our family units are being eroded by these messages," Mr. Mullings told the House.
Don’t blame the dancehall artistes – Montague
Opposition MP's Michael Peart and Derrick Kellier bemoaned the state of the society saying it had changed for the worst and asserting that there seems to be a free for all approach among the younger population, resulting in moral decay.
Mr. Kellier stopped short of saying that the society is broken.
However, outspoken legislator Robert Montague said he was not in agreement with the arguments raised by his colleagues especially about the negative effects of dancehall music on the Jamaican family.
"I hear a lot of people condemning the dancehall artistes, don’t condemn them, bring them into workshops and uplift the quality and who are we and who are you to determine what is the quality? Music is a tool that we ought to utilize to uplift our youths," mr. Montague said.
The motion has been sent to a Joint select committee for further consideration.
Thu. Jan.27,2011 4:07pm
0 CommentEmail to friend Share story Bookmark story