Jarmila Jackson, Features Writer

Chuck Fender

The recent upsurge in brutal acts of violence against children has sent the nation into fits of distress. At least one artiste was moved to capture the nation's cry.

It's Getting Serious, the recently released single by Leshorn 'Chuck Fender' Whitehead, a passionate and gripping condemnation of vile acts against children has already been buzzing on the radio waves. The song, which opens with the line "Keep your eyes open, Almighty God protect our life and guide our children", grapples issues of crime, poverty and neglect, expresses disbelief at the current state of the nation and calls down 'judgment' on the wrongdoers.

Local airplay

Fender, who a few years ago had his hit song Gash Dem banned from local airplay for 'inciting violence' against society's miscreants, is no stranger to social commentary.

"They said that the song was inciting violence," said Fender. But the artiste insists that the song's context was ignored.

"I said 'when God hol' you', I did not say me, because the Almighty said leave all judgment to Him," he said.

Fender, who is often referred to as 'the living fire' and 'the poor people's defender', says that while he can afford to move to so-called 'uptown' areas, he has chosen to remain in Portmore, so that he will never lose the pulse of the people.

"I've just been absorbing what is going on out there, so it's just a different vibe I'm coming with now, nothing fictional, just reality," said Fender.

It's Getting Serious, he says, while articulating his own contempt, has in a large sense been demanded of him by the people.

Protection

It's really terrible to see wha gwaan," he said.

"The people dem a get fraid ya now, till them haffi a seh 'Fenda, yu haffi do a next song. You haffi do something wah say boy people protect unnu kids.'"