Reggae star wants bigger minimum wage increase

Reggae singer Keznamdi is a little taken aback by the Government's decision to increase the minimum wage by $1,000, or 6.7 per cent, over the current rate of $15,000 per 40-hour work week.

The singer expressed his disgust as he performed Pressure - his final song at the annual Earth Hour Jamaica concert last Saturday at Hope Gardens in St Andrew. He opined that the new minimum wage of $16,000, which was announced by Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness in Parliament two days prior, should have been at least $25,000 per week for poverty-stricken persons earning under the threshold.

"I feel like it was very insensitive to raise the minimum wage by $1,000, and then right after that dem increase fi dem thing enu. I think we need fi do better, and it's not like we a call out nobody, but come on man. Who can live pan $15,000 a week?" a breathless Keznamdi told THE STAR during an interview immediately after his intense performance.

"It just cost $1,000 fi transportation fi go a yu work, come back, little food, little thing, yu money done. Di country nah go grow dem way deh. We have to figure out some new development plans, some new ideas. We just stuck in the old ways. We need fi come up with some new ideas fi really help," he said.

He said performing and climaxing with Pressure was only fitting because it connects with the current economic situation in Jamaica.

"In a di song weh mi seh, 'When di bank dem fall down. System a crash. Place in a turmoil and burn out to ash. Just get some cash and it done off so fast. The price dem a raise and we down to wi last. Minimum wage and we can't afford the cost. Minimum wage fi a youth get a chance. Need new ideas, new development plans, cause this is pressure'," Keznamdi said while including a verse of his song.

"We're in an economic crisis right now. We're in a depression right now, and I feel like economics is a thing that we need to master fi di youths dem, cause that a di only way where we can really liberate the little ghetto youth dem. People need money fi survive, so we need fi figure out new ways and boost up the economy," he said.

He also performed songs in recognition of persons lost, such as Michael Morrissey - the father of the Earth Hour Jamaica event's coordinator for the past decade, Alex Morrissey. Keznamdi delivered songs such as So Right, My Love For You and Victory. He also called his sister and fellow artiste Kelissa on stage to perform her single The Best Kept Secret.