MARLEY. I give thanks for the praise and the criticism

Damian 'Junior Gong' Marley has shrugged off criticism that his latest single, Welcome To Jamrock, gives a false and unflattering image of Jamaica, arguing that the recording was inspired by what he saw happening here.

"The truth is an offence, but not a sin," quipped Marley in an interview with Splash on Wednesday.

In probably the most biting social commentary now receiving heavy rotation on radio, in clubs and dancehalls, Marley speaks about the different lives led by the rich and the poor.

He makes mention of the inner-city community of Majesty Gardens, also known as 'Back To', bringing the harsh reality of life in impoverished areas to the fore.

'Back To' is a heavily populated community where poverty and woefully inadequate social and economic conditions are the norm.

The single tells visitors to the island that the lavish life they live when they stay in all-inclusive resorts does not accurately reflect the harsh realities of life in Jamaica's poorest communities.

Marley's use of the line out in the streets, they call it murder from Ini Kamoze's 1984 hit, World A Reggae Music, is a jolting reminder of the country's high homicide rate.

Welcome To Jamrock apparently earned the ire of Donna Goldwyn of Kingston who, in a letter to the editor of this newspaper published on March 1, wrote that young Marley had "decidedly fashioned Jamaica as an embattled land in which weed-smoking, gun-toting teenagers and babies, along with righteous and saintly Rastafarians are the only inhabitants".

Goldwyn also wrote that the single was an attempt to "intimate that the Jamaican people are all uneducated, idiotic marionettes of unscrupulous and lazy politicians".

She also argued that the single and its accompanying music video depict a stark contrast to the multifaceted and beautiful nation that is Jamaica.

But during Wednesday's telephone interview, Marley was unmoved when mention was made of Goldwyn's criticism.
"I give thanks for the praise and the criticism," Marley said, "Anybody who lives in Jamaica knows how life is in Back To."
According to Marley, the experiences of persons in Back To and other impoverished areas inspired him to write the lyrics.

"The inspiration came from life. The people need opportunities," Marley said.

Marley, who has managed to define himself as an artiste in his own right rather than Bob Marley's son, said he has a lot more in store musically, as the follow-up album to his Grammy award-winning Half Way Tree is due later this year.

"The album will be a continuation of the great works which were started by my father," he said. "I give thanks that I am from that lineage, as it is an honour and a privilege."

Marley, who will perform at Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest tomorrow night, earlier this year embarked on a 40-city US tour with his new backing band, Empire.

Even though he is enjoying more popularity than his siblings - Ziggy, Stephen, Kymani and Julian - Junior Gong insisted that his musical achievements result from concerted family effort.

"All my brothers and sisters support me, as it is a family project," Marley said.

Stephen Marley, whose vocals are featured on Damian's hit single, It Is Written, has played a prominent role in the production of Damian's previous albums Mr Marley and Half Way Tree.

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