Community Forum Speaks Lively Debate, March 4, 2009, Brooklyn

The New York reggae community and fraternity are abuzz with excitement as they get ready for a highly anticipated community forum and panel discussion being staged by Coalition to Preserve Reggae Music and ZYNC TV NEW YORK LINKZ. The community forum titled “Could Dancehall be the ruination of Reggae and by extension, the Jamaica brand?” takes place on Wednesday, March 4th at the historic Billie Holiday Theatre at Restoration Plaza, 1368 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, New York from 6:30pm to 9:30pm. Admission is free and open to the public. “The temperature is rising around this issue and you certainly don’t want to miss the evening’s discussion,” says Carlyle McKetty, co-founder of Coalition to Preserve Reggae Music (CPR) and one of the organizers of the forum.

Media coverage and community feedback have been extraordinary as the hot button debate comes on the heels of the decision by the Broadcasting Commission of Jamaica to ban lewd lyrics from the airwaves and on public transportation. Sharon Gordon, co-founder of CPR, points out that “instead of music portraying truths, rights, love and respect, we see a popular sound that is demeaning, hateful, destructive and downright vulgar”. 

Panelists include Anthony King, Regional Director, Jamaica Tourist Board; Anthony Turner, journalist; radio personality Vinnie B, Cristy Barber, V.P. of Marketing at VP Records, reggae artist Ed Robinson and dancehall producer John “FX” Crawford. Other participants include radio hosts D.J. Elly and Carter Van Pelt, artist Mikey Jarrett and Sheron Hamilton-Pearson president of the community organization People of Black Heritage. The evening’s host, Sharon Gordon will be joined by radio host King Simon to moderate the proceedings. CPR will document the findings and produce a white paper which will be forwarded to the office of the Prime Minister, the Minister of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports and the Jamaica Tourist Board in Jamaica.
 
Sponsors of the event include Street Hype Newspaper, Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery and Grill, Tasty Delicious Restaurant, Ujamaa Health Food, Yardman Style Clothing, Yardstyle Sorrel and Tropical Paradise Restaurant. Due to limited space, attendees must RSVP at [email protected] or call 718-421-6927.