MUSIC that promotes violence and criminal lifestyles should not be promoted as part of Caribbean culture.

At the recent opening of the 46th Regular Meeting of the Conference of the Heads of Government of CARICOM, Guyanese President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, called on leaders to prevent violent music from taking root in their respective countries.

“We do not need lyrics that promote violence in this region,” Ali stated.

“We have the ability to promote good lyrics and lyrics that will move people in a positive direction and move people to think, act and behave positively. As leaders of this region, we have to take this situation very seriously and ensure the lyrics of the region are the lyrics of Bob Marley, the lyrics of positivity and the lyrics of positive living and positive change.”

Ali said he recently held talks with Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley, where many young people questioned his government’s decision to ban a “certain” artiste from performing at a concert.

The artiste was viewed as a security risk for Guyana since he “is on an INTERPOL Red list,” the President said.

“We cannot allow our culture to be captured in this narrative,” Ali stated.

“We have to lead a revolution against this narrative and re-position our culture in the way it was conceived — that is, for positive living and positive upliftment. And this is not about anyone or against anyone, this is for our region and the future of young people in [the] region”.

The Guyanese Government has already taken steps to prevent artistes who promote criminal lifestyles and violence from performing in the country.

Trinidad artiste, Kman 6ixx, was prevented from entering Guyana to perform at a concert last week.

The artiste, whose real name is Kashif Alexander Sankar, was also banned from performing in St Kitts and Nevis due to security concerns.

Kman 6ixx was recently charged for being a gang member contrary to Section 5 (1)(b) of Trinidad and Tobago’s Anti-Gang Act and professing to being a gang member contrary to Section 5(1)(d) of the act.

He was granted TT$40,000 bail when he appeared in court.

In 2022, Guyanese authorities also banned Jamaican dancehall artiste, Skeng, from performing at public events in the country.

The ban came after gun violence erupted while he performed on stage. (Loop News)