Information Minister, Robert Nesta Morgan, said the decision of the Broadcasting Commission to ban songs which promote criminal activity is not a tool the Government is using to fight crime.

The minister, who was speaking at a post-cabinet press conference on Wednesday, stated that the directive issued by the Broadcasting Commission on Tuesday was in standing with the Broadcasting and Radio Re-Diffusion Act which prohibits the promotion of illegal activities.

“The Commission’s responsibility is to govern content -- based on the Radio Re-Diffusion Act -- that is broadcast by its licensees. The Act and the regulations are clear that you cannot promote illegality or you cannot promote content that violates your license,” Morgan said.

He added, however, that there is a responsibility to control the type of content that is played over the airwaves to set an example and a standard for listeners.

“Let’s give a scenario; my office is in front of Clarendon College so a child walks through the gates of Clarendon College, they go on a bus, [and they hear only] chopping songs, molly songs. They come off the bus and on the road someone is playing a radio, chopping songs, molly songs; they go home and their uncle is playing the radio chopping songs, molly songs. We have a responsibility for the spaces that we control to set the standard and set an example,” the minister stated.

He added that the directive from the Broadcasting Commission is not to interfere with free speech, nor is it a means of crime fighting, but to apply the regulations and laws that govern the content played over the airwaves.

“We are not fettering people’s right to free speech; there are so many other portals that you can use to promote your artistic freedom but when it comes to free to air that is accessible to every single member of society no matter their age that is regulated by particular laws. So it is not about fighting crime, it is about decency and standards. That is all it is about,” Morgan said.