ERC wants Vybz Kartel’s ‘Good Like Jesus’ song banned in Guyana

The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) has issued a condemnation of the song “Good Like Jesus”, written by Jamaican dancehall artiste Vybz Kartel, and has labelled its contents as blasphemous and deeply offensive to the Christian community. This song has been released since 2024.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the ERC denounced the lyrics of the song for being profoundly disrespectful to the figure of Jesus Christ, who holds central significance in Christianity and is also revered in other major religions, including Islam and certain Hindu traditions.
“The Lord Jesus Christ is not only a revered figure in Christianity, but is also recognized and respected within the Islamic and Hindu faiths,” the Commission noted. “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.”
While acknowledging the importance of freedom of artistic expression, the ERC has emphasized that such freedoms must be exercised with responsibility and sensitivity. “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,” the Commission has stated.
As a result, the ERC is formally calling for the controversial song to be banned from broadcast on all airwaves in Guyana, and removed from digital platforms accessible within the country. The Commission has also urged a halt to any further public dissemination of the song, and disclosed that it would be engaging the promoter of an upcoming concert featuring Vybz Kartel to directly address the issue.
The Commission has said it expects full cooperation to ensure that the event does not contribute to the spread of what it describes as “offensive content that undermines interfaith harmony.”
Reaffirming its role in promoting respect and unity among Guyana’s diverse population, the ERC has said it “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,” the statement noted.
During a visit to Guyana in March, the Jamaican Dancehall sensation announced that he will be returning to Guyana to seek out local artistes with whom he would collaborate on upcoming projects – an initiative that President Dr Irfaan Ali has described as an “opportunity of a lifetime.”
During that visit, he held an engagement session with Guyanese artistes at State House. During the interaction, Kartel announced plans to collaborate with a male and female Guyanese artiste.