I WAS recently reading in the North Coast Times (St. Ann paper), about the opening of the Island Village in Ocho Rios, St. Ann, where reggae artiste Luciano was asked to sing our National Anthem. From what I read in the paper, Luciano made some changes in terms of the music as well as the lyrics.
I am in disagreement with both changes, but more so with changes to the lyrical contents of the anthem. I am proud of the lyrics for my anthem and I don't think that the anthem itself should be altered in any way, by any individual whoever the individual might be.
Our anthem is sacred, it is a prayer set to music which should be respected by one and all. One doesn't see any other nation changing up their anthem in an international setting to suit their performance. Luciano's performance was done with a lot of international visitors in attendance. I am in total disagreement with what Luciano did and I condemn it, and pray that this will not be done again by any of our performers who might think that it is their God-given right to re-compose the music for our anthem and to also change the lyrical contents. I think most if not all Jamaicans are satisfied with our national anthem as it is.
