Legalise, don't penalise 'badwud'
published: Friday | August 20, 2004

THE EDITOR, Sir:

I READ of the stage show that occurred at Trinidad's Indepen-dence Park during which Bounty Killer was arrested and charged for using what has been referred to as indecent language either during or after his performance. I saw the same thing happen while in attendance during the performance of another Jamaican artiste in Barbados on stage some years ago. The crowd responded in disgust by throwing bottles, chairs and anything available.

It is now forty full years, or more, since most of us in The Caribbean have had independence, and we could make this one sovereign decision to stop making it a criminal offence for the appropriate use of those uniquely colourful and culturally expressive Jamaican 'badwud'. They are used by Jamaicans of every class, status, position or location in the Diaspora whether they are doctors, lawyers, beggar men, thieves, Indian chiefs or mascots, literates, learned or illiterates . These should by now be copyrighted complete with meanings, history and appropriate usage so that we could claim royalties when used in songs, movies or other artistic material by non-Jamaicans.

It is hypocritical, oppressive, parasitic and backward to continue with these archaic laws to the extent that other countries have now latched on to the foolishness. They are using this word crime as an excuse to harass, terrorise and exclude our artistes who use them as a part of their artistic presentation. Let us lead the way in a more progressive direction and free up our Jamaican words, decriminalise ganja and liberate the people - artistes included.

I am, etc.,

MICHAEL SPENCE

micspen2@hotmail.com

P.O.Box 630

Kingston 6