The response by this section of  the local populace is all the more perplexing to me given Mavado’s acceptance the World over, particularly in North America and Europe, where artistes are often made to account for negative contributions to society. And even while the ban on Mavado in Guyana was rigidly enforced on our local airwaves and other entertainment areas the self appointed pagans of virtue are completely silent in acceptance of the vulgarity and pedophilic ranting of another Jamaican artiste, Adidja Palmer, popularly known as Vybz Kartel on our local airwaves. We have not heard such calls from that quarter in spite of the bombardment of our ears by Kartel’s professions for his love for having sexual relations with 17 years olds. Songs such as “Ramping Shop”, “Virginity” and “Teenage Pregnancy” etc, do not attract their attention despite attracting the attention of the authorities in Jamaica and elsewhere. Even a female Jamaican artiste, Queen Ifrica, was forced to respond lyrically to Vybz Kartel’s latest act where he details his sexual encounter with  a 17-year old and even went as far as outlining the fact that 3 spots of blood spattered on the ground after the teen lost her “Virginity”. In Ifrica’s “Mek Mi Grow” she urged  “No bwoy caan draw mi round no corner/ fi show mi no iguana/ low mi mek mi grow…Pinch leave an inch and roll weh yuhself…Yuh caan tek my virginity/ cause that a God precious gift to me/ If it makes you feel good to sleep wid children in yuh rampin’ shop well don’t bother worry when di lighten clap/ leave the pickney dem alone go look yuh age nuh man/ yuh better think twice before yuh tek another one.” However, as this letter is being typed, “Virginity” is being played on-air locally!

Despite all that I’ve outlined above Vybz Kartel remains free to perform in Guyana whilst being banned from the U.S, U.K, Canada, Europe and most Islands in the Caribbean and his music continues to be played on our local airwaves even as we suffer the effects of a rapid increase in teenage pregnancy, gun related violence, as well as domestic abuse.

On the other hand, Mavado’s worldwide acceptance has brought about a gradual shift in his lyrics, from the gun-touting tunes to more of the mainstream entertaining lyrics, otherwise known as ‘Gal Tunes’ in Jamaica, along  with a host of international acclamations, chart topping success and global demand. His recent album spent weeks at the number one spot of the Billboard Reggae charts along with his single, “I’m so special” which also spent weeks on the Billboard Top 100 chart. He also performed on B.E.T’s “Rip the Runway” and the video for “I’m so special” debuted on B.E.T, MTV’s 106 & Park as well as VH1.

It is also noteworthy to mention the numerous international music awards he has also received since being banned from Guyana that includes the Urban Music Awards’ 2009 Reggae Artiste or The Year.

But despite all that I’ve detailed above, there are folks in this little South American country of 83,000 square miles who still are in contrast to their counterparts around the Globe whilst a Guyanese artiste did a song recently where he makes disparaging remarks about the physical disability of one of his colleagues titled “Mr Limpy” and receives wide coverage via airtime on the local radio. Shouldn’t he be banned also?
JASON ABDULLA