People in Saint Lucia have been calling for accountability on social media, especially after the death of 24-year-old Joy St Omer. Many are now asking if artists should help shape culture and encourage better behaviour through their work.
Some local music and other creative works include themes that seem to promote violence and unhealthy relationships. People have asked Minister for Creative Industries and Culture Dr Ernest Hilaire if these kinds of messages belong in society.
At Tuesday’s pre-cabinet press briefing, he acknowledged that this “is a very active debate” in sociological circles. However, he stressed that music promoting violence should not be part of the mainstream.
“There is a view that if you can eliminate those influences in the socialisation process, our younger people will not be exposed to that kind of mental, almost indoctrination,” he said. “But there’s also the issue about creative expression and not suffocating creative expression … There’s only so much you can go with that kind of argument. There are no circumstances [under which we should] tolerate any expression that glorifies violence in any way, and certainly, you know, when it comes to violence against women as a vulnerable group.
“You have to call on creatives and singers in particular to be more sensitive to those issues. You can’t be calling on people to shoot each other and to retaliate and demand your respect with a gun and whatnot, you just cannot be doing that, and those things have to stop.”
While sharing his strong views, Hilaire admitted that in a democratic society, freedom of expression must be respected. He also said he is “a little old school” about some of these issues.
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