Guyana’s Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) is calling for an immediate ban on the song “Good Like Jesus” by Jamaican dancehall artist Vybz Kartel, citing its lyrics as “blasphemous and deeply offensive” to the Christian community and other religious groups in the country.
The lyrics of “Good Like Jesus” contain graphic sexual references and use religious imagery in a provocative context.
In a strongly worded statement issued Wednesday, the ERC condemned the track for what it described as a “profoundly disrespectful” portrayal of Jesus Christ, a figure revered not only by Christians, but also by Muslims and Hindus.
According to the Commission, the song threatens to disrupt the delicate balance of interfaith harmony that underpins Guyana’s multicultural society.
While acknowledging that freedom of artistic expression is a protected right, the ERC stressed that such freedom “is not absolute and must be exercised in a most responsible manner with due regard for the religious and cultural values of all communities.”
The Commission is formally calling for the song to be banned from Guyana’s airwaves, removed from all digital platforms accessible in the country, and prohibited from any form of public dissemination. It is also engaging the promoter of an upcoming Vybz Kartel concert to ensure that the song is not performed or otherwise promoted during the event. He is slated to perform in the country on May 24.
The Commission emphasized that its stance is not an attack on artistic expression but a necessary step to preserve respect across religious lines. “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 ERC stated.
The call for a ban comes just months after Vybz Kartel visited Guyana, where he launched his Str8 Vybz Rum brand and met with President Irfaan Ali.
The ERC emphasized its broader mission to preserve public decency and promote mutual respect among Guyana’s diverse religious and ethnic communities. “Acts of religious disrespect will not be tolerated and will be addressed with firm and constructive measures,” the Commission stated.
In a related move, the Commission also plans to address concerns surrounding another controversial song — this time by local artist Baby Skello — which reportedly makes reference to a Hindu deity. Hearings on that issue are expected soon.
The ERC closed its statement with a firm declaration: “The Commission 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.”
 is calling for an immediate ban on Jamaican dancehall artist Vybz Kartel song “Good Like Jesus.”){kind=link}