See full statement from the Ethnic Relations Commission:
The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) was recently made aware of the song “Good Like Jesus” by Jamaican artist Vybes Kartel, which contains blasphemous and deeply offensive statements concerning the Lord Jesus Christ, central to the beliefs of the Christian community. As such, the ERC strongly condemns the contents of this song, which is profoundly disrespectful to Christian religious sensibilities and undermines the values of reverence, respect, and harmony that underpin Guyana’s multicultural society.
Importantly, the Lord Jesus Christ is not only a revered figure in Christianity but is also recognized and respected within the Islamic and Hindu faiths. In Islam, Jesus (known as Isa) is honoured as a prophet and messenger of God, while in certain Hindu traditions, he is regarded with spiritual reverence. Content that demeans such a universally respected figure risks offending multiple faith communities and threatens the delicate balance of inter-religious harmony in our society.
The ERC reaffirms that while freedom of artistic expression is a protected right, it is not absolute and must be exercised in a most responsible manner with due regard for the religious and cultural values of all communities. Any form of content that mocks, trivializes, or desecrates sacred religious figures erodes the foundations of mutual respect and threatens the peaceful coexistence of our diverse society.
In response to this troubling incident, the ERC formally calls for the said song to be banned from the airwaves in Guyana and to be removed from all digital platforms and cease any form of public dissemination, within Guyana.. This action is a necessary measure to prevent further injury to the Christian community and to uphold public standards of decency and mutual respect.
The ERC will be engaging the promoter of the upcoming concert featuring Vybes Kartel to directly address this issue. The Commission expects full cooperation in ensuring that the event does not contribute to the spread of this offensive content that undermines interfaith harmony.
The ERC remains unwavering in its commitment to safeguarding the rights, dignity, and faiths of all Guyanese. Acts of religious disrespect will not be tolerated and will be addressed with firm and constructive measures.
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