The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) in Guyana on Wednesday condemned what it termed “blasphemous and deeply offensive” a song titled ‘Good Like Jesus’ by Jamaican dancehall artiste, Vybz Kartel, saying it “is profoundly disrespectful to Christian religious sensibilities.”
It is calling for the song, which heavily references the female genitalia, to be banned in Guyana.
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Kartel is due to perform in Guyana on Saturday, May 24 as part of the Baderation concert.
In a statement, the ERC said that it had recently been made aware of the song, which it argues contains blasphemous and deeply offensive statements concerning the Lord Jesus Christ, central to the beliefs of the Christian community.
“As such, the ERC strongly condemns the contents of this song, which is profoundly disrespectful to Christian religious sensibilities and undermines the values of reverence, respect, and harmony that underpin Guyana’s multicultural society.”
The ERC said that importantly, Jesus Christ is not only a revered figure in Christianity but is also recognized and respected within the Islamic and Hindu faiths.
“In Islam, Jesus (known as Isa) is honored as a prophet and messenger of God, while in certain Hindu traditions, he is regarded with spiritual reverence. Content that demeans such a universally respected figure risks offending multiple faith communities and threatens the delicate balance of inter-religious harmony in our society.”
The ERC said that while freedom of artistic expression is a protected right, “it is not absolute and must be exercised in a most responsible manner with due regard for the religious and cultural values of all communities.
“Any form of content that mocks, trivializes, or desecrates sacred religious figures erodes the foundations of mutual respect and threatens the peaceful coexistence of our diverse society.”
The ERC said that it is “formally” calling for the “song to be banned from the airwaves in Guyana and to be removed from all digital platforms and cease any form of public dissemination within Guyana.
“This action is a necessary measure to prevent further injury to the Christian community and to uphold public standards of decency and mutual respect.”
The ERC said it will be engaging the promoter of the upcoming concert featuring Kartel to directly address this issue.
“The commission expects full cooperation in ensuring that the event does not contribute to the spread of this offensive content that undermines interfaith harmony. The ERC remains unwavering in its commitment to safeguarding the rights, dignity, and faiths of all Guyanese. Acts of religious disrespect will not be tolerated and will be addressed with firm and constructive measures.”
The ERC said that it has also noted that a loval singer, Baby Skello, has been arrested by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) in relation to his recent song which contained “blasphemous content against the Hindu religion.
“The ERC respects the independent actions of the GPF to investigate and address this matter within the full extent of the law.
“However, the ERC wishes to clarify that this matter is also being addressed at the level of the ERC, and Baby Skello has been summoned to face the commission. While the ERC has referred several matters to the police based on completed investigations, that is not yet one such case.”
The ERC said also wishes to clarify that the artist Richard Singh and Vision Clake in relation to their song “Chiney” have also been summoned to the ERC to address the contents of their song.
“The ERC will keep the public informed as we work towards addressing those issues within our mandate to promote harmony and good relations among all peoples of Guyana,” it added. (CMC)
