Dear Editor,

In the 10 years since I’ve returned to Jamaica, I have never been so compelled to write a letter to you until now, after I saw the May 12 cartoon done by Clovis. This cartoon portrayed a dancehall DJ singing the lyrics, “Bullet, bullet man fi dead”, and then later being shot and the producer running and shouting, “Jesus dem shat up DJ, wi neva know it woulda reach wi”, while another character screams, “Wi want a miracle fi bring ‘im back.”

Well, clearly Clovis was depicting the recent incident where a member of the popular dancehall group was shot several times. I was so very disappointed that Clovis chose this incident which involved Oneil Ewards of Voicemail in such away, as that image is so far removed from who Oneil is as man, an artiste and a member of the Voicemail group!

I have known the members of Voicemail for the 10 years that they have been a group. They have always had a clean and positive image. They always thought about their lyrics and how it was viewed by their fan bases which are teens and young adults and the young at heart. They are conscious, honest and respectable men who love God, their families and friends, Jamaica, and of course their fans! They only seek to make good music that will lift people to their feet to celebrate what is good in life and urge them to “dance the night away”!

I am proud to call Oneil Edwards a friend and all the members of Voicemail friends. They never sing negative lyrics; they never portray or glorify a “bad man” lifestyle. When I was planning an event called “Youth View Award”, from the very first year Oneil and Voicemail gave support and positive feedback and stressed how Voicemail encouraged positive entertainment for the youth of Jamaica and that they would do whatever they could to support dancehall in a positive way!

Voicemail singers are the poster boys for a clean dancehall image that appeals to the masses. Any corporate company would be proud to have them represent their brand, whether in Jamaica or overseas. There are far too many artistes who encourage violence in their lyrics, but Oneil Edwards and Voicemail are not part of that group!

I would hope that Clovis would look at Oneil as the artiste he is and not throw him into a negative light to give the impression that all dancehall artistes are negative and encourage violence. I have no doubt that he and his group have a lot more positive music to give Jamaica and the world, and I for one can’t wait to hear it! Oneil is a fighter and he is the son of a king so I trust God will see it fit to let his son live many, many more years and bless us with some more great music.

Faith is a mover of mountains and I have faith that my dear friend Oneil will live to walk his beautiful baby girl down the aisle on her wedding day! I hope that those who saw the Clovis cartoon and who might sit in judgement of dancehall artistes do not lump them all together, but will know that dancehall does have some wonderful artistes who believe in Brand Jamaica and our youth, and are positive about the music they choose to sing.

Karen Clarke

Kingston 5 Karen.aea@gmail.com