Robeson Benn defends intervention in calypso playing | Latest

Robeson Benn defends intervention in calypso playing

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Written by Demerara Waves

Friday, 01 March 2013 11:59

ncn_sign Public Works Minister, Robeson Benn on Friday denied ordering National Communications Network (NCN) to stop playing the 2013 winning calypso titled ‘God Don’t Sleep’ but said he found the song offensive particularly on a government station.

“I said it is not for me to tell you to stop playing it but I said I don’t think it should be played,” Benn told reporters. The minister also refuted reports that he had stormed into the station and instructed that all the 2013 calypsos be banned, saying that his intervention concerning one song had created a ripple effect and rumour-mongering.

Benn described the lyrics as abusive and slanderous and could not be proven in a court of law. He said he was not immune to criticism but at the same time he could not support such a song being played on the station.

“I think that in respect of this particular calypso; I felt it was abusive, I felt it was slanderous and I felt that more importantly… I didn’t mind if it was perhaps played on other places which I was not associated with… I felt it should not have been played on the government radio station and I expressed that view and I still hold that view,” he said.

The minister said he entered the state-owned radio and television complex and has so far unsuccessfully requested a copy of the song for it to be discussed at the “highest level” and also with a lawyer. Benn recalled NCN’s Chief Executive Officer, Michael Gordon telling him that the Ministry of Culture had approved the songs.

The Public Works Minister said he did not know that any of the statements in “God Don’t Sleep” could be proven in a court. He said publicly funded events should be based on some fact that could be properly contested.

Benn said he hoped that the lesson learnt from that experience would be “proper, appropriate vetting” of calypsos.

He also rejected suggestions that he should not have gone to the station because he is not the Minister of Information. “I hold it as my right to go to the station to intervene in an activity which I think impacted me as a citizen and also as a government minister.”

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Comments

+42 #1 Mignon 2013-03-01 12:21

Mr Benn needs to realise that it is neither his nor the governments station, but the taxpayers station

+30 #2 pee pee pee see 2013-03-01 12:24

Thishouse slave is real dictator....are private citizens given the right to protest matrs tat afect them too...NCN IS NOT THE GOVT'S STATION IT BELG TO TE PEOE O GUYANA SIR...

+27 #3 colin westmoreland 2013-03-01 12:41

Where in the world do these type of people come from. Do they know of freedom of speech. The y want to claim that they are not dictators but this action smacks of dictatorship. It does not matter how he feels or think about the song. This is freedom of conscience and speech. To stifle it is dictatorship. Now he gave the song justification and the irony is he feels " the lyrics as abusive and slanderous and could not be proven in a court of law. "

The issue of ben proven in court is just stupid and has no relevance. Proven in court is the mind set of this criminal government. On a government radio station is also stupid. If there is one place freedom of speech should be demonstrated it is on government media. This is the test of democracy.This also prove that their is no free press.

What poor representation of leadership. sheer ignorance and arrogance.

+27 #4 w.c.d.people 2013-03-01 12:52

Can somebody remind me of the origins of Calypso? I thought it was social commentary somewhat like Reggae.

I wonder if it was a 'calypso' song about the opposition, he would have reacted likewise?

+27 #5 Keith 2013-03-01 13:12

Mr. Benn, what other station do you exprct to hear the calypsos on. Who apart from the government has a radio station in Guyana. Further calypso like poetry are considered art and cannot be subject to the same legal scrutiny as an editorial so whats your concern.
Mr. Benn are you a lawyer, on what authority did you advise that the NCN review their playing of the music, remember Roger Luncheon's dictum that if he calls the frequencu management unit and ask for a frequency as Cabnet Secretary whould they refuse. Well Mr.Benn as a powerful minister do you think that the management of NCN would have ignored your comment.

Mr. Benn you have no shame.

+26 #6 Techinskit 2013-03-01 13:18

Mr.Benn, you also do not destroy people's property without due process. What a farce.

Could I as a citizen of Guyana, barge into NCN studios and demand my rights.

Like Jagdeo, you people think you own Guyana and every other citizen is your sheep.

Will you guarantee Michael Gordon's job, if he tell his side of the story.

Regarding the lyrics about its correctness, you own the courts, but ask any Guyanese who is not a PPP fat cat.

Well Mr. Benn 'massa day' comin soon fa de PPP. You people are a disgrce to Guyana, started by Jagdeo.

+26 #7 kalimba 2013-03-01 13:31

I see a common and sad error here. Is NCN owned by the Government or the PEOPLE of Guyana? This question begs to be asked.

+4 #8 kalimba 2013-03-01 13:35

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVpnPnnfchQ

+19 #9 Arrow 2013-03-01 14:07

Autocracy
1. Government with unlimited power; despotism.
2. A country or state that is governed by a single person with unlimited power.

+20 #10 Hawkeye 2013-03-01 14:14

Power corrupts absolutely, so if I as a citizen feel that some songs lyrics is offensive, could I ask the programme director, of whom soever is in charge to dis-continue playing the songs? What nonsense I'm hearing. That's dictorship pure and simple. Time will tell,and not too long from now.

+23 #11 caban 2013-03-01 14:18

Benn will now be listening to the late great BOB MARLEY who the cap fit let them wear it when a throw me corn me na call no fowl

+26 #12 Pee Pee Pee / Crooks. 2013-03-01 14:25

benn is nothing but a bully and a big dunce
he abused his authority and power
the opposition should vote a no confidence motion on him
where is the puppet president on this gross infraction of freedom of expression and free speech
this is another nail in the pee pee pee elected dictatorship racially elected govt.

+20 #13 Michael Williams 2013-03-01 14:35

When Calypsonian "The Mighty Rebel" sang "Dese u wrang"...it was played on the Government stations and no one rejected even though it had slanderous contents...but that was the culture in society that allowed calypsonians to sing commentary kaiso as is the custom in all our Caribbean islands....the next year when Rebel sung"d president lie" it was banded off the airwaves...so this is nothing new of a Government who boast about restoration of democracy and freedom of expression...d hammer man just following thin skin consortia antics..My colleague and friend stop me this morning and showed me in the print media that they banded her song... about garbage in the city...are these folks for real?

+22 #14 aplusgy 2013-03-01 14:40

hahahaha, “I hold it as my right to go to the station to intervene in an activity which I think impacted me as a citizen and also as a government minister.” This statement should be the opposition party mantra when it comes to NCN.

+8 #15 crazy GTe 2013-03-01 14:53

No gov nor its servant should oppress freedom of expressions , that not democracy, its dictatorship ,welcome to Burnhamsum ,the Ppp no differ

+23 #16 PETER SAM 2013-03-01 15:05

Robeson, remember one thing, nothing last forever, look at Hammy Greene, could u have been more powerful than him?

Nebuchadnezzar ate grass like a donkey even though he was king of Babylon. Adolf Hitler, Josef Stalin to name a few, all gone with the wind.

Robeson, remember u have a life after the PPP and the power u know wield will leave u with time. I tell u my brother, when power leaves black men they become dregs, let history warn and guide my brother.

Let me leave u with this story Robeson. Many yrs ago I was driving my pick up along the East Bank public road. I saw this old man flagging vehicles and none would stop, I felt compelled to stop and give the guy a drop, after all what can an old man like that do to me?

When I stopped it was none other than Dr. Ptolomey Reid the former all powerful, second man to the great Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, no body guards, no assistant, no body but himself, there were no laces on his shoes. I dropped him to Barama, he asked to be dropped there.

As I drove away it hit me, men are but flesh and blood, they will die, they will lose their strength, power will not be in their hands forever.

This same man who had us using horse drawn tandem buses, who was part of the decision to ban flour and tell us what to wear to school and what to eat, was now a nobody and god allowed me to see him as he was, flesh and blood.

+7 #17 king lion 2013-03-01 15:27

Firstly I think this goes beyond Ben.I believe it shows that we now have a president who lacks control over his ministers. Culture has no problem but works has a problem? Its shows exactly yy our country is rich in corruption and nothing more.lastly Mr.Gordon I watch on tv saying it was his initiative to remove the songs well anyone with sense can see who did. Boots to ur mouth Gordon and u say editors from kiature should stand up to the boss for wrong doings? Well here is your chance.

+5 #18 mike 2013-03-01 15:41

I urge the youths n guyana as myself to stand their grounds n resist the fool wee have here for politions, I wonder if the governMent is not tHe ppl, so he nasty face fell shld be imformed

+7 #19 Hawkeye 2013-03-01 16:15

Quoting colin westmoreland:

Where in the world do these type of people come from. Do they know of freedom of speech. The y want to claim that they are not dictators but this action smacks of dictatorship. It does not matter how he feels or think about the song. This is freedom of conscience and speech. To stifle it is dictatorship. Now he gave the song justification and the irony is he feels " the lyrics as abusive and slanderous and could not be proven in a court of law. "

The issue of ben proven in court is just stupid and has no relevance. Proven in court is the mind set of this criminal government. On a government radio station is also stupid. If there is one place freedom of speech should be demonstrated it is on government media. This is the test of democracy.This also prove that their is no free press.

What poor representation of leadership. sheer ignorance and arrogance.

So bloody true. The man face contortions could tell you a story, and not a happy one at that.

+9 #20 hngry10inches 2013-03-01 16:23

Herein lies the revelation that serves to inform and educate the public about how members of the government and the government sees the assets of the PEOPLE!

NCN and the broadcast spectrum over which it broadcasts, is OWNED BY THE PEOPLE OF GUYANA. IT IS NOT THE PROPERTY OF THE GOVERNMENT!!!!!

The majority of the problems which confront Guyana, is due in large part to the manner in which the government sees itself.

It erroneously believes that because it is governing, it can claim ownership of the country's resources. Because of this misguided belief, the lands of the people are being distributed as if they are the private property of the members of the governing cabal and the cabal itself; the broadcast frequencies are being handed out in a nepotistic manner; licences to explore for oil are being treated the same manner; Guyanese are being bypassed for work they have the skills to do; and on and on it goes!

The people of Guyana need to wake up! TAKE ACTION TO ENSURE THAT THE NATIONAL ASSETS ARE RECOGNISED AS BELONGING TO THE PEOPLE AND TAKE ACTION TO ENSURE YOU GET CREDIBLE AND HONEST STEWARDS TO MANAGE THE! IF YOU DO NOT, THEN FUTURE GENERATIONS OF GUYANESE WILL BE DOOMED!

+9 #21 pete - not Pete 2013-03-01 16:52

This is the same puPPPEt house slave Robeson Benn that has a mistake for a son that is an alleged woman bully... and that can be proven in court.

He cant control his son but he wants to control what is played on the radio - a radio he "thinks" belongs to the his government.

Now we know where his son got his bullyism lessons from.
Quote:

“I hold it as my right to go to the station to intervene in an activity which I think impacted me as a citizen and also as a government minister.”

This is nothing but riff-raff blunt force dictatorsh!t ignorance.

+10 #22 Miranda La Rose 2013-03-01 17:05

What is wrong with Minister Benn? Government does not own any radio station. That radio station is State-owned and paid for by taxpayers.

+6 #23 w.c.d.people 2013-03-01 17:10

Good lesson for all to remember no matter who the person is.

Quoting PETER SAM:

Robeson, remember one thing, nothing last forever, look at Hammy Greene, could u have been more powerful than him?

Nebuchadnezzar ate grass like a donkey even though he was king of Babylon. Adolf Hitler, Josef Stalin to name a few, all gone with the wind.

Robeson, remember u have a life after the PPP and the power u know wield will leave u with time. I tell u my brother, when power leaves black men they become dregs, let history warn and guide my brother.

Let me leave u with this story Robeson. Many yrs ago I was driving my pick up along the East Bank public road. I saw this old man flagging vehicles and none would stop, I felt compelled to stop and give the guy a drop, after all what can an old man like that do to me?

When I stopped it was none other than Dr. Ptolomey Reid the former all powerful, second man to the great Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, no body guards, no assistant, no body but himself, there were no laces on his shoes. I dropped him to Barama, he asked to be dropped there.

As I drove away it hit me, men are but flesh and blood, they will die, they will lose their strength, power will not be in their hands forever.

This same man who had us using horse drawn tandem buses, who was part of the decision to ban flour and tell us what to wear to school and what to eat, was now a nobody and god allowed me to see him as he was, flesh and blood.

+9 #24 junior 2013-03-01 18:19

Someone need to teach our minister the difference between the government and the state

+7 #25 VICTOR A AUSTIN 2013-03-01 18:38

you are wrong Mr Benn. you have breach protocol if nothing else and need to publicly apologize to the Minister of Culture. how can you cross over to his Ministry and direct his staff to change his instruction. are you trying to undermine his authority. Why not fix the host of problem in your ministry.

+8 #26 Michael Williams 2013-03-01 19:58

Six-time national calypso champion Geoffrey Phillips, who goes by the stage name of "The Mighty Rebel," described the state media ban as "petty and disgusting."

"Calypsos are the spirit and passion of the people," he said. "If we are being forced to tone down, then calypso would lose its soul."

+7 #27 CleveM 2013-03-01 21:17

The time is ripe for the privatization of these propaganda machines. The only stipulation would be not to have any of these transactions overseen by Brazzy and gang. We all know the outcome of those other transactions.

+4 #28 Techinskit 2013-03-01 22:56

Twenty seven postings and not one supporting Benn's action.
Does that guy have a brain?

Little wonder, Ramotar and Jagdeo is their leader.

+3 #29 Chris_ric 2013-03-02 00:36

Who gives a rat's behind what Benn thinks should be played or not?!! He should not be able to subject the nation to his taste in music... or anything else, for that matter. This man needs to be put into his place.

+2 #30 A MOORE 2013-03-02 00:48

I hope that some other calypsonian makes a song about how Minister Benn's small- mindedness and incompetence has impacted the packets of all the citizens of Guyana who listen to the station.

+4 #31 Et 2013-03-02 03:17

I want to agree with Peter Sam and Mike. I say the same everyday Peter and Mike let say this unapologeticall y I don't know what more govt is going to do inorder for Guyanese to to take a stand. It's like we are so afraid of this govt we keep allowing them to through [censored] in our every single day and we take with a smile and ask more.

+4 #32 PoorpeopleFedup 2013-03-02 07:19

If freedom of speech is taken away;then dumb and silent we be led like sheep to the slaughter.

+4 #33 dezetante 2013-03-02 07:26

Ben with the 2Ns has ears to hear abusive lyrics, but no eyes to see the the abuse of power by the GoG and its officials. Benn lacks the understanding of CROSSING BOUNDRIES!Benn says:- "I hold it as a right to go to the station to interven in an activity which impacts me as a citizen" Robenson Benn you have clearly shown ABUSE OF POWER!! "IMPACT ME" or THE CAP FITS ME? Robenson Ben with the 2Ns "God Na Sleep" your day of judgement WILL COME just like Henry Greene and pray that your sins do not fall on your children and their children

+1 #34 pete - not Pete 2013-03-02 10:23

Quoting dezetante:

your day of judgement WILL COME just like Henry Greene and pray that your sins do not fall on your children and their children

Pray you say? puPPPets dont pray, they do as their masters say.

Sad to say but his previous sins may have already fallen on his incorrigable woman beating son... and that can be proven in court, like father like son, sue me.

He was real lucky he wasnt killed by the last one he abused... but his day will come for the good Lord has mysterious ways of dealing with riff raff ignorant bullies (think henry greene)

+2 #35 GT RADICAL 2013-03-02 11:27

ROBESON BENN HAS NO POWER TO STOP ANY SONG WHATEVER ITS CONTENT FROM BEING PLAYED OVER ANY RADIO STATION IN GUYANA. THIS PPP STOOGE SHOULD BE TAKEN ON BY THE SILENT OPPOSITION. AND WHERE ARE THEY ON THIS ISSUE ... ARE THEY GOING TO SIT ON THEIR HANDS AND ALLOW THIS IMBECILE TO GET AWAY WITH HIS IDIOTIC AND PARANOID BEHAVIOR ? SOME YEARS AGO I ASKED A GOVERNMENT MINISTER A QUESTION ABOUT THIS SAME SO-CALLED VETTING OF CALYPSO CONTENT WHICH I DESCRIBED AS CENSORSHIP. SHE REPLIED THAT IT WAS NOT CENSORSHIP BUT JUST TRYING TO PROTECT THE CALYPSONIANS. THAT WAS THE BIGGEST PIECE OF HORSE MANURE I HAD EVER HEARD FROM SOMEBODY IN POWER. AND WHERE IN THE WORLD BUT GUYANA CAN A PUBLIC FIGURE LIKE A MINISTER IN GOVERNMENT BRING CHARGES OF SLANDER AGAINST AN ORDINARY CITIZEN FOR SOMETHING THEY SAID ABOUT THAT MINISTER. THESE IDIOTS ARE LIVING IN THE 19TH CENTURY AND IT IS THE RIGHT OF THE OPPOSITION TO PROTECT PEOPLE FROM THIS PPP INSANITY. ROBESON BENN, YOUR DAYS AS A PPP STOOGE ARE NUMBERED AND THAT PEDESTAL ON WHICH YOU HAVE PLACED YOURSELF WILL SOON FALL DOWN ... EVERY DOG GOT HE DAY FOOL.

-3 #36 Roberts 2013-03-02 12:29

Hate music of any kind should not be promoted. IGuyanese don't know [censored] about music.

+3 #37 Ally 2013-03-02 13:09

Here is proof that we do not have freedom of the press or the freedom to disseminate information through the media. Mr Benn also seem to feel that he has the power to determin what our cultural norms should be. The fact is that Mr Benn is very scared that his job and the rule of his government will be jeopardized if the truth is told to the masses.

+1 #38 Vance Reid 2013-03-02 13:26

The Minister is a troll. Government radio? That's the Guyanese people radio station. Proven in Court? Is he guilty of something? This is music, satire for crying out loud. This is unbelievable. We Guyanese voted for these characters, so I guess we deserve them.

+1 #39 GT RADICAL 2013-03-03 18:48

ALL OF THE VEHICLES IN GUYANA SHOULD BLAST THIS CALYPSO AS LOUD AS THEY COULD FROM THEIR CARS OUTSIDE ROBESON BENN'S OFFICE IN PROTEST OF HIS ASSININE AND PARANOID BEHAVIOR.

-1 #40 lulu 2013-03-03 23:42

Caribbean music has always been abusive towards women.

+1 #41 Sam Singh 2013-03-04 16:09

I agree! Then Guyana would never be left out of the top most ridiculous country in the world...Quoting GT RADICAL:

ALL OF THE VEHICLES IN GUYANA SHOULD BLAST THIS CALYPSO AS LOUD AS THEY COULD FROM THEIR CARS OUTSIDE ROBESON BENN'S OFFICE IN PROTEST OF HIS ASSININE AND PARANOID BEHAVIOR.

0 #42 Dovi 2013-03-05 14:20

Lot's of empty barrels and advocates for ignorance continue to plague this country.

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