The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) has condemned a blasphemous song by Jamaican artist Vybz Kartel, “Good Like Jesus,” that is profoundly disrespectful to the Christian community.
This is the third statement from the ERC in recent weeks condemning lyrics that hurt the sentiments of a religious community or an ethnic group in Guyana.
The ERC said the Lord Jesus Christ is not only a revered figure in Christianity but is also recognised and respected within the Islamic and Hindu faiths.
“In Islam, Jesus (known as Isa) is honoured 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.
The commission reaffirmed 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, trivialises, or desecrates sacred religious figures erodes the foundations of mutual respect and threatens the peaceful coexistence of Guyana’s diverse society, the statement noted.
“The ERC formally calls for the said 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 will be engaging the promoter of the upcoming concert featuring Vybes 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 statement said.
The ERC also noted Baby Skello’s arrest by the Guyana Police Force in relation to his recent song, which contained blasphemous content against the Hindu religion. The ERC said it respects the independent actions of the police to investigate and address this matter within the full extent of the law.
However, the ERC clarified 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.
Artists Richard Singh and Vision Clarke have also been summoned to the ERC to address the contents of their song in relation to their song “Chiney.”
