Crawford disappointed with ‘pay for play’ attitude - Believes artistes should make dubs for politicians whose policies they support

Senator and vice-president of the People's National Party Damion Crawford says that while he has been enjoying the entertainment value of the 'dub-for-dub' showdown between the major political parties, he believes that artistes should use their platforms and thrust their support behind politicians only if they support their mandate.

Speaking with THE STAR, Crawford says that he was excited at first to hear all the dubs and to see how the 'battles' would unfold, but as time has progressed, he believes that it has become more of an opportunity for financial gain rather than using the music to push policies and drum up support for the best candidate.

"So one artiste a make song fi di two side, and maybe it's just me, but mi wouldn't make a dub if mi nuh inna agreement wid the person or the party policy. So even though dem still have to pay mi, I would have to be in agreement with their policies," he said. "Remember say is a country's direction we a discuss, innu, and so there is a certain negative that comes if the wrong people are set to design the country. As much as I was excited at first, me recognise say it was 'pay for play' thing, so anybody that was willing to pay, they (the artistes) would sing, and mi never like that." Crawford said that although artistes are feeling the pinch from the shutdown of entertainment due to COVID-19, money should come second to what is best for the country.

USE PLATFORMS POSITIVELY

He believes that artistes should use their platforms to support the person best suited for the job.

"There are many companies, many entities that will refuse sale to certain type a people if they don't agree with dem opinions. I just think it's a misuse of influence if you don't agree with their opinions to do dubs," he said. "Political support is in an effort to design a country that you are comfortable with. So if a man is saying 'poor people shouldn't get a chance', should Bounty Killer do a dub for him when he is the one always saying poor people should get a chance? If Shenseea say woman fi free and have rights, and dem thing deh, and a man come and say woman nuh fi have rights, should Shenseea still do a song for him because of COVID and because she nah travel or tour? Mi nuh think it shoulda go that far inna my opinion."