Change the image of the Informer (Letter Published 2008)

The Lion's Roar

A Weekly column by Lion Coore

Published Letter of the Day Jamaica Gleaner 2008

The Editor, Sir:

How can politicians tackle crime when they are so far out of touch with the lifestyle and psyche of the youngsters who perpetrate crime? Barack Obama's campaign proved that if you want to communicate with the younger generation, it has to be a grass roots movement using the media they use, which, in the case of the United States, is text messaging, email, YouTube, etc.

I am a ghetto man, and I did not grow up listening to Budget presentations and prime ministers' speeches. Instead, I listened to Bounty Killer, Buju and Beenie. Why not use them as a medium for change? There is an age-old debate about whether songs with violent lyrics lead to violence. I am suggesting that we use a social experiment to solve this enigma once and for all.

Think outside the box

Mr Prime Minister, many before you have tried different conventional strategies with the same disastrous results. I believe the time has come to think outside of the box. I suggest that you invite to a meeting, the top deejays, party sponsors, radio station jockeys, media, etc, and ask them for a show of solidarity to ban all gun lyrics for one year (from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2009).

If violent lyrics do cause violence, there should be a visible drop in crime next year. If there isn't a drop in crime, politicians and society at large can never use this line of argument again.


Over the years it seems to be true that 'informers must dead', whether figuratively when they are demonised in songs, or literally, when they are not properly protected by the law. We must do our best to protect these people, using all appropriate means.

Powerful messages

Also, the DJs/artistes must do their part to change the image of the informer. Imagine a television ad campaign with a Buju Banton saying, 'If I see my neighbour kidnap a little girl, I am going to inform. I am an informer!'

Imagine Vybz Kartel saying, 'If I see my neighbour murder an innocent woman, I am going to inform. I am an informer!'

This would be a powerful and radical

way of changing the face of the informer - and we should know by now that it is informers who solve crimes and not overpaid foreign detectives.

Mr Prime Minister, Jamaicans need you to ask them to do something about crime and violence, but unfortunately, politicians have tricked them so many times that they have muted your voice. I urge you to find another medium - use the voices they trust and understand, i.e. music and the musical prophets.

I am, etc.,

Lion Coore