I join the many well-thinking Jamaicans who have come out condemning the recent staging of a dance held for children in an inner-city community. Those children were reportedly encouraged by adults to exhibit their dancing skills by performing some sexually suggestive dance moves to 'songs' laced with lewd and violent lyrics.

I have long maintained that the Government of Jamaica must, as a matter of law, seek to punish severely any dance establishment or promoter, and the parents of children who are found at any dance session or facility after a certain hour at night.

Should move to punish

We should similarly move to punish, through hefty fines and/or imprisonment, any singer, dance promoter and establishment, and any person or media outlet that plays publicly any song that is laced with lewd or violent lyrics. The dance establishments and media outlets, after a number of breaches or depending on the severity of a breach, should have their entertainment or broadcast licences revoked and be closed down by the authorities.

I am totally in favour of Jamaicans being allowed to express their artistic abilities freely, whether through music, dance or other forms. In fact, our Constitution does provide for the protection of free speech and expression, but these are not and could not reasonably be expected to be absolute freedoms.

When such artistic expressions have the effect of creating greater public harm than good - such as corrupting the minds of our children and leading them to engage in certain deviant behaviour, or encouraging our people generally to engage in lewd or criminal conduct - the State should exert the responsibility to curtail and discourage such expressions or practices.

I am, etc.,

KEVIN K.O. SANGSTER

sangstek@msn.com

New Jersey, USA