Who’s monitoring our airwaves?

Editor: It is with a grieving heart that I listen to our local radio stations and I’m repeatedly shocked and appalled at the content of both the discussions held by radio deejays and the musical compositions that are allowed to be aired. Have we so much eroded into a society that has no values, no morals? Who is the governing body with the authority to monitor our local radio stations?

Radio deejays are permitted to engage in hypes that continue to denigrate the female gender, lyrical content that refers to women as sketels, to the female genitalia and body in derogatory ways. Is there any wonder that others ask if there is a rape culture that exists in St Vincent and the Grenadines? Women are seen as objects to be owned, controlled, used, possessed and disposed of, as seen fit by the opposite sex. Is there any wonder that we now live in a society where domestic violence and assaultive acts against females is so pervasive? Women are given negative labels and subjected to ridicule, even after many years of struggle for women’s rights, even in areas of reproductive health with a woman’s right to choose. Why are we allowing these things to fester in our society?

What is the responsibility of the local media when it comes to these negative forms of education? Added to this, these messages are propagated daily through amplified music that exists within our minivan system. It is high time that someone looks very seriously at the messages being conveyed by our deejays and minibus operators, who appear to be more concerned about achieving popularity and fame than real social responsibility with which they have been entrusted.

The church too has a role to play, as women in some denominations are often told to be submissive and are not given any meaningful active or leadership role within the church. Again, this is being reflected in the workplace; women are being subject to sexual harassment and other negative conditions.

Our society is eroding at the seams, as few want to take the responsibility to correct the wrongs and do what is right. Can we blame our young people today for falling short when those in authority are not owning their responsibility to ensure that the right decisions and actions take place? I beg our people please to be cognizant that we have a very youthful society and one where many of our young people fall by the wayside through abuse, neglect, peer pressure etc. Those in authority, let’s review our policies and the individuals who are placed in active roles to implement them. Let’s do what is right for the future of our young people in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Concerned