Singing cop touts optimistic messages for troubling issues

Jan 24, 2016 News

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By Jarryl Bryan
The scourge of suicide has almost been overwhelming in Guyana in recent times. The recent escalation caused President David Granger to convene a suicide prevention meeting on January 8.

And there are others who want to play their part. Thirty-two year old Police Corporal Orlanzo Webster, is a General Duty rank stationed at Central Police Station. He is a writer, singer and co-producer who goes by the name of ‘Big hard times’, and is determined to reach out to those most at risk using music. In fact, his lyrics are drawn from societal issues.
Webster, who holds a degree in Strategic Management, is adamant that music has a great deal of influence on the minds of everyone, especially youths. With research indicating that there is a suicide every second around the world and statistics from the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) showing that suicide ranks among the leading causes of death among youths aged 13-24 in Guyana, there is no doubt that any positive message would be of consequence.
As an officer of the law, Webster is cognizant of how serious the issue is.
Recalling the case of the pregnant 14 year old, Sherry anne Alli and her 21 year old lover, Deoraj Persaud, who were found hanging in a house at Lonsdale, East Bank Berbice, just six days into 2016, Webster opined that the case appeared to be one in which a young couple lacked the requisite guidance.
“When I talk about guidance, I mean parental. So some people lean on their own understanding (of life) when they should have talked to somebody, who could advise them or show compassion and cause them to ignore their dangerous inclination.”
VULGARITY
Webster then made a detour while relating to youths.
“As a police officer and a university graduate, I am very serious about songs that promote vulgarity. I believe that musicians have an essential role to play in society. I believe that from the time one becomes a musician, he becomes a leader.”
“The influence that music carries on young people can cause either upliftment or destruction,” Webster said. “Even if you want to sing dancehall lyrics, the message must be positive. It must be a message of upliftment to all in society. Even if I want to bring out a particular point about sex life (in a song), I try to use words that are not degrading.”
Webster pointed to cases where DJ’s got crowds excited or “hyped” to the point where violence erupted at dances, or girls exposed themselves indecently. Indeed, amateur videos have trended on social media platforms including Facebook, showing girls stripping to the command of DJ’s at dances. Webster referenced this as example of the power of DJ’s on members of the public.
“DJ’s of today must contribute to positiveness in society. Play lyrics that people will enjoy and not lyrics that people will want to fight and glorify violence.”
“(Sometimes) a DJ tells himself that he can play music and he can go behind a mike,” he said, also expressing the opinion that many DJ’s lack an academic foundation. “This (the result) makes the police work more hard, makes families have to cry.”
“My mission as a musician is to police people through music, as my talent is singing. It is a form of entertainment enforcement,” he said. “And I must praise the Commanders out there who try to get involved in society.”
POLICE AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Webster also touched on another troubling issue – domestic violence. He reflected that it is usually when a case has become frustrating to either or both partners that a report is made at the station. He stated that it would rarely be the first instance of violence when partners show up at the station to make that report.
“…So when a woman or man shows up at the station, the police have to take immediate action. Make the person comfortable, interview them and file the report. And Commanders are very serious now. If one doesn’t feel comfortable, they can go to the hierarchy to make the report.”
Webster stressed that how police handle initial reports is an important link in how such cases end.
He also highlighted that the law caters for everyone, regardless of gender.
“Men probably used to feel intimidated about going to the station. But in this modern age, every rank is (educated) in handling domestic violence cases. The key lesson is they are being reminded (in training) that every victim must be treated equally.”
PLANS FOR 2016
Webster noted that for 2016, he will be launching an album entitled “Stop Suicide & Domestic Violence”.
According to him, the lyrics speak directly to these issues and in some way offer advice and guidance on how to avoid them, but “in the form of dancehall”. He referenced the lyrics of one song entitled “Back, back home”.
“If yuh know yuh man a give you blow, why you going back, back home?
If yuh know yuh wife a give you blow, why you going back, back home?
You give yuh partner everything, but still it nah change him.
You better consider someone else before domestic violence is in the ending.”
“If yuh know yuh wife a give you blow, why you going back, back home?
You give yuh partner everything but still it nah change him. You better consider someone else before domestic violence is in the ending.”
“Ignore the women dem, if dem cannot solve the problem.
Ignore the women dem, when them can’t behave themselves.
Sometimes you have to accept the wrong or the right, in an effort to avoid big, big fight.”
Webster stated that the prevailing theme of his music was its Guyanese flavour. He stressed that it was important for foreigners to be able to identify the music as coming from a Guyanese singer and consequently, that Guyanese were serious about bringing awareness to suicide and domestic violence.
Webster also noted that he will be using the electronic and social media platform intensely in a bid to bring awareness to these issues. He said that it will encompass the airwaves, television and the internet.
“Being around groups and events, I will seize every opportunity to (urge) young people to ignore suicide and to turn away from domestic violence. It’s not about violence against women and children alone; it’s about violence against everybody.”
Important to reiterate is the fact that Webster is a serving rank of the Police Force and as he goes about his beat, he also intends to educate those he meets while exercising his duties.

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