Germaine Smith, Staff Reporter
Artistes like Beenie Man have to sign a declaration of not using discriminatory lyrics during performances in order to get a work permit for Canada. - RICARDO MAKYN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
LIKE LIFE itself, the music business is seeing some changes that it probably would never have thought possible 10 years ago.
In the early 1990s, artistes could spew lyrics on stage without much thought of corporate backlash, court appearances for so-called 'bad words', or even restrictions on which shows they could later appear on.
In the old days, after quick processing of work permits, they could easily load dozens of their friends into an airplane and jet off to foreign lands for performances where they never dreamed of facing protests against them.
The world, however, is a different place now than it was then, and though the excitement and elation that our artistes bring to the business remains the same, the conditions under which they are admitted overseas for performances have changed.
Terrorist threats, immigration reforms, and pressure from human and gay rights groups have caused the countries where our local acts ply their trade to adjust their methods of admission there.
DECLARATION
The most recent of these changes was reported recently. Earlier this month, THE WEEKEND STAR reported that Canada required that local performing artistes sign a document declaring that they would not use discriminatory lyrics before their work permits are prepared or issued in Jamaica.
The High Commission stated that this has been in effect since November last year.
"All entertainers going to Canada are required to sign a declaration that states that the entertainer will not engage in activities in Canada that will break the Canadian Criminal Code, or engage in or advocate the hatred of persons because of race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex or sexual orientation," stated a release sent from the commission.
Among the declarations were:
"I will not engage in or advocate the hatred against persons because of their race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, or sexual orientation," while another reads; "I further understand that contravention of Canadian laws may lead to prosecution and, if convicted, I may be rendered inadmissible to Canada."
This is a fairly new phenomenon in a music industry that is somehow being pushed to accept significant changes.
However, subsequent checks by The Sunday Gleaner with the United States Embassy revealed that artistes do not have to sign similar declarations. Work permits were still processed without these declarations about the lyrics.
NO SUCH REQUIREMENT
The public affairs officer for the United States Embassy, Glenn Guimond, told The Sunday Gleaner in a statement that, "The United States does not require any artistes going to perform in the United States to sign a declaration about the content of their performances."
Another popular country for performances is the United Kingdom, and the British High Commission reported a similar situation to that of the United States.
While in the U.K., however, different areas of the country may have different requirements for artistes, so the respective law enforcement agencies may require some form of declaration.
"That (signing a declaration about lyrical content) is not a visa requirement," stated Mark Wauller, press and political affairs officer at the British High Commission.
"There may be something that the local authority in the area they are going to perform may ask them to do. It may be something that they, along with the local police authority and other groups who govern the district may require, but it's not something they have to do for a visa."
Wauller pointed out however that this was not only for Reggae acts.
"They do this for any performer, no matter what their nationality. It's just something done to ensure that the event in the area goes as hassle-free as possible."
The Sunday Gleaner pressed a few of our local acts on their opinions on the situation, but they declined to speak on record.
However, Patrick Roberts, Director at Shocking Vibes Records which represents Beenie Man, Tanto Metro and Devonte among others, stated that the changes are welcome as far as he is concerned.
"I don't have a problem with that, because as long as you are going to a city you must comply with the rules there. That is the rule so go by it," he stated earlier this week.
Tracing the changes, Roberts noted that the times were just different now.
"Ten years ago we did not need a police record for example for Canada, but now we do. That time you had to carry it in yourself, but now they acquire it themselves."
Roberts reinforced his point using an analogy. "Ten years ago too, the cell phones could not fit in your pocket because it was so big. Ten years ago they were as big as land lines, but now they are so small."
"Times change and things change with it. Look at the fingerprint thing for the US. People were not welcoming the change but I am actually glad for it. Now as they take the print they know who I am, no questions. They see the print, they say hello Mr. Roberts and I am gone."
DIFFERENT AGENDA
Commenting on our culture of notoriously resisting change, Roberts added that it was in their best interests to get hip with the Canadian requirements.
Some argue that the restrictions impact on artistry and free speech, which are the very definition of being an artist, and accepting the terms of the documents, amounts to bowing under pressure.
"If an artiste refuses to sign such a document, it must mean they have a different agenda," stated Roberts
"It is not bowing to pressure and they must understand it. Look at it like this; If I am employing you, then you have to abide by my rules, or you just go your way. That's just how it is."
The choice seems pretty clear. When the United States introduced more detailed searches at their ports of entry and departure, the moves were initially resisted but eventually followed.
We could probably argue that just like ordinary citizens, artistes simply have to comply with things they may not be comfortable with.
