THE EDITOR, Sir:
WHAT IS the purpose of the Jamaica Federation of Musicians (JFM)? As far as I am concerned that organisation needs to be revamped and reorganised.
Sting has been erupting for some time now but the most serious eruption came during this year's staging of the event.
You want to tell me that the best the JFM can do is to offer their sympathy and recommend that the police be brought in when a concert goes sour! That's not good enough!
The JFM should be the monitoring body for musical activities in Jamaica. The JFM gives the impression that they are proud of the achievements of dancehall music, but they don't really want to be associated with it.
Every artiste and promoter should be required to register with the JFM and if they don't, then they should not be allowed to perform in Jamaica. Also when any artiste or promoter do things that are not above-board, then they should answer to the JFM.
We cannot continue along this path of destruction! We don't want to exhibit the type of behaviour displayed at Sting for the world to see especially when dancehall music is occupying such a prominent place in the world. Jamaica has a one step forward and three steps backward syndrome.
The large majority of Jamaicans who attend String and similar shows don't go to those shows to see boxing matches between artistes, they go there to see people display there singing, dancing and playing talents.
We need some order and sanity in the music business in Jamaica. We need an organisation that will set rules and maintain order in the dancehall.
A new and improved JFM is needed. One with the motto "A we run tings, tings no run we".
I am, etc.,
HUGH ANDERSON BLAIR
Kingston 3
