The Editor                                                      Sarah Boseley

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119 Farringdon Road                                   119 Farringdon Road

London EC1R 3ER                                       London EC1R 3ER

Address for Gareth Thomas MP:

House of Commons

London

SW1 0AA

Letter sent:

I write in response to the recent article “Reggae stars “Fuel spread of HIV”.  I was saddened to see that the Guardian had jumped on the band wagon that is the continual negative press of Jamaican Reggae Stars.  I was shocked to read this kind of reportage in the Guardian; the report was more in line with the style of the Daily Mail which seems to have some sort of fetish with Dancehall artists in Jamaica.  There were two things that struck a cord when I read this article.  The first was the examples used and the whole direction of the article.  It seemed as though the intention was simply to add to the already bad press these artist have received, and are still receiving.  The second, was the motives of Gareth Thomas, Minister for International Development.

There is no disputing that there is a real and increasing problem in the Caribbean in relation to the spread of HIV.  It is also true that HIV is spreading at an increasing rate in the Caribbean, and this issue needs to be addressed.  However in saying this, what needs to be addressed at this point is that there are over 30 Islands which make up the Caribbean.  Dancehall artists cannot be attributed to the spread of HIV in all these islands; it is a simply ludicrous suggestion, and a dangerous sweeping statement to be made by any minister of the British Parliament.  Mr Thomas had been asked for “help” by the Caribbean leaders, who are concerned that homophobia is preventing people from getting tested for the virus.  Immediately the Minister began pointing the uninformed finger at Dancehall artist.   Not once is it mentioned that the Minister will address the issue of the legality of homosexuality in the Caribbean.  In some Caribbean islands, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Grenada, the Bahamas, and the Cayman Islands to name a few, homosexual acts between two men or two women are illegal, (in Jamaica the act is only illegal between two men). 

My point is this, clearly the Minister is not there to help in anyway shape or form.  How can he help if he uses the artist as a scapegoat rather than dealing with the real issues?  I find it incomprehensible to think that minister has not mentioned once the legality of homosexuality in the Caribbean, yet he blames artists.  If the British government wanted to help, would they not challenge the Caribbean governments on current legislation in relation to homosexuality?  Would they not try to work collaboratively with Caribbean governments in order to find strategies to decrease the spread of the disease?  If the British government wanted to help, would they not encourage Caribbean governments to take responsibility for the health of ALL their citizens regardless of creed, colour or sexual orientation?  Rather than doing this the British Government is using reggae artist to fuel their own political agenda.  Perhaps, with the forthcoming election, Labour is seeking the homosexual vote.

It is because of this attack on reggae artist, that I welcome the initiatives of organisations such as the Black Music Council who seek to stand up to this blatant misrepresentation and biased reporting.  In this instance the Caribbean governments have asked for help to address a serious issue, but the issues are not being dealt with.  To think that dampening the voices of a few reggae artists will curb the increase in HIV is atrocious.  There is clearly another agenda here.  If the Government is not willing to offer workable strategies, they should leave the islands to their own devices or those who want to help them.  The negative press of Dancehall artist and the sweeping statements of the government are not helping any homosexuals in Caribbean, or dealing with any of the issues the islands are currently facing.  It is time to stop using the backs of Jamaican Artists to gather the Pink Vote and Pink Pound.

Kind Regards

Temah Hibbert