The Editor, Sir:

I'm sure the majority of Jamaicans are asking what happened to our sweet Jamaica and why has it become so violent? I believe the lyrical content of the past and present songs has played a big part in this. Lyrics like, "clean mi gun inna bwoy face, rinse mi gun, duss ah bwoy if him tes'", etc., has transformed the past youth into the gunmen of today.

Haunted by the songs

What were the deejays, producers, sound systems, censors, etc., thinking about when these 'songs' were being created, played on the air and in the dancehall? They were only thinking about the money and themselves. Now these very same songs have come back to haunt us. Every day the body count gets higher and higher; what is the Government doing to tackle this violence? Or are they not concerned? Do they care? This situation can't continue and something has to give.

Tighter scrutiny over new releases needs to happen like yesterday. Everyone needs to take account and play their part. Bob Marley sang in a song, "It seems like total destruction, only solution". I just hope and pray this is not the case.

I am, etc.,

NOEL TAPPER

nltapper@hotmail.com

London, England

Via Go-Jamaica