JCC urges respect amid election tensions

JAMAICA

With political tensions rising ahead of the next general election, September 3, the Jamaica Council of Churches (JCC)—of which the Catholic Church is a member—is pleading for inclusivity and respect by Jamaicans.

In this regard, the umbrella church group “has taken note of recent actions” by Government Minister and West Portland Member of Parliament, the Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) Daryl Vaz, who requested a known homophobic song on a political platform, according to a Jamaica Observer report.

It said that Vaz requested TOK’s ‘Chi Chi Man’, a controversial song which preaches violence against men with sam-sex attraction. The popular all-male Jamaican group no longer performs the two-decade old song.

“The JCC has also pointed to recent actions by People’s National Party (PNP) candidate for St Catherine South Eastern, Dr Alfred Dawes, for which he has been referred to the Political Ombudsman,” the article said.

In a letter dated May 22, Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Senator, Charles Sinclair, who also serves as Deputy General Secretary of the JLP, complained about a video posted by Dawes to Instagram and TikTok on or about May 21. The video shows Dawes walking toward the JLP’s headquarters on Belmont Road in St Andrew while wearing an orange cap —symbolic of the PNP— accompanied by a song with explicit gun-related lyrics.

The lyrics referenced in the complaint include: “… badman, real, real gangster, whul on, TV, say dem bad but memba dem a actor, whul on, full a Benjamin and Sangster, we have bare handgun, we have choppaz when me say choppa, a nuh helicopter.” The caption accompanying the post read, “fraid? me?”

The JLP claimed that the post, paired with the lyrics, promotes criminality and gangsterism and may incite political tensions or be interpreted as a threat. The party believes the video breaches multiple sections of the Political Code of Conduct and has asked the Office of the Political Ombudsman to investigate the matter.

In a release to the media, the JCC said, “Any use of divisive material to include the offensive song allegedly requested by Minister Daryl Vaz, departs from the ideals of Vision 2030 Jamaica, National Development Plan.

“We support the call for a public apology. We also bemoan the report of alleged untoward conduct of Dr Alfred Dawes, that was cited in a recent radio newscast. We acknowledge that the matter has been formally reported to the Office of the Political Ombudsman and look forward to the due process that will address this matter,” the JCC added.

“Notwithstanding, we decry all forms of political misconduct and call on our political parties to rein in their members in the up-coming election campaign,” the Council said.

It has pointed to the “importance of inclusive and peaceful messages on our various political platforms, especially in a year when our national elections are constitutionally due”.

“We recognise that parliamentarians are duty bound to protect the rights of all citizens. One of those basic rights is the right to life,” the statement said.