Dancehall centres needed in communities - Jack Scorpio

In a time where Jamaican music is being sampled at an all-time high by international artistes like Drake, Rihanna, Jay-Z and Kanye West, veteran sound system operator Maurice 'Jack Scorpio' Johnson is recommending one way in which the government can preserve dancehall culture - construct 'dancehall centres' in communities.

"When I think about these two political parties, I don't know if dem don't see the value of dancehall or the value of reggae music cause dem not trying to preserve it," Johnson told The STAR. "Same like how dem build a school of arts, I think they should build a centre quarter mile away from where people sleep, cause we understand seh people haffi rest. Build it somewhere where it won't affect the Noise Abatement Act because we have to keep this culture going in this country."

Johnson said each centre should be available for rent to allow communities to generate income.

"Reggae music mek Jamaica and Jamaicans benown all over the world,' he said. "When you go a Japan and Europe and England and everywhere else you see dem have places where you can go to have fun and listen dancehall. We nuh have nuh likkle place we can have fun every now and then and keep reggae music alive."

Johnson suggested the government does not heavily invest in dancehall for a specific reason.

"The government a beat it down because dem feel like a dancehall cause crime. I don't think so cause since dem stop dance at 2 o'clock fi how much years now I don't see where less killing a happen. I don't see where the country is in a way better place than before," said Johnson. "Other countries a tek weh dancehall and a mek millions off this music weh we create. The whole world a tek on to dancehall right now so this is the time for us to do more things to preserve the culture in our own country."