The decision by the Broadcasting Commission to clean up the airwaves will once again help to put reggae music back on a path of sustainable growth and development. Bob Marley's death created a vacuum in the music where it took a free fall towards destruction, buoyed only by the constant strains from people like Third World, Beres Hammond, Tony Rebel and others who kept the musical flame burning.

There is nothing wrong with dancehall music, it's just some of the lyrics in it. This genre, however, cannot be allowed to be the main pillar of our music which, incidentally, does not belong to any one group of persons. Reggae music embodies the cries of our slave ancestors, the shouts of the Maroons, the teachings of Marcus Garvey, the drumbeat of kumina, the sweetness of mento and the wailings of Rastafari. So it is ours to protect.

How did hardcore dancehall music invade air space? The blame is to be placed squarely at the feet of the gatekeepers who fell asleep on the job. Thousands of sweet, clean, melodious songs end up at the city dumps or in some forgotten music library, while the most foul-mouthed, lewd, bawdy and insensitive rantings passing for music get stuffed down our eardrums.

In the discussions that are taking place there must be a rescue plan for our music. The discussion should not only be centred on cleaning up the airwaves but also to devise a strategic plan to take back control of the music.

I am, etc.,

MILTON MOORE

Soundproof31@hotmail.com