MANDEVILLE, Manchester — Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ) President Byron Buckley has urged members of the public to boycott media houses that continue to carry derogatory lyrics and lewd programme content.

Buckley, who was speaking at the recent launch of the Caribbean Annals at Northern Caribbean University here, said it was time for members of the public, who are the consumers of the media, to speak out against the negatives and stop supporting the ‘guilty’ media houses.

“…The public should shout out against the negative content, instead of merely engaging in verandah talk,” said the PAJ president.

“People need to know there are alternative voices, alternative morals…But to do that, we have to listen to what’s out there and engage in discussion,” he said.

Buckley also called on the public to act as watchdogs for his association by reporting offensive content, adding that the PAJ does take action against its members when they fall out of line. “Recently we had to call a particular colleague and read him the riot act; we do that,” he said.

Meanwhile, Education Minister Andrew Holness said his ministry would be doing more to tackle music that incites violence among school children.

He said he told dancehall artistes Vybz Kartel and Mavado at a Peace Management Initiative meeting at Jamaica House last week that: “I think we should move very swiftly to deal with music that incites violence. It might impinge upon your creative space but at the same time we have a duty to protect the children.”

Minister Holness said what the Government wants to do is define what is appropriate for the public space so that there is a minimum standard that everyone agrees on.