The song "Rum Till I Die" should be banned from the air waves as it has no benefit to people at all, Chaguanas Mayor Dr Surujrattan Rambachan said yesterday.
By Anna RamdassIn delivering the feature address at the Alcoholics Anonymous National Convention at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope, Rambachan said: " 'Rum Till I Die' should never be played on the air waves."
He received a thunderous round of applause from the scores of people who turned out to celebrate the AA's 49th anniversary in this country.
The mayor said the song, which is sung by young chutney star Adesh Samaroo, did not provide a good example. He explained that music had the power to reinforce beliefs and send a message but added that this song did not do that.
"The 'Rum Till I Die' attitude is wrong," he said.
He said people in society had to exude moral strength and he praised former President Noor Hassanali for banning alcohol at President's House, St Ann's when he was in office.
Apart from Hassanali "there has been no President.. who had the moral strength to stand up for what they believe," declared Rambachan.
He added that society would be lost without strong important groups in the country such as AA, the Rotary clubs, the churches, as well as non-governmental organisation (NGOs).
He urged the many present to act as a catalyst in society and to help others who suffered from alcoholism.
He quoted from the Bhagavad Gita (Hindu holy book) to express his message that one had to lift oneself out of one's actions, and he reiterated the point that many people were weak and needed others in their life to help them do this.
Samaroo was said last night to be still in some pain following a recent accident, but his friend and spokesman, Imtiaz Seepersad, said Samaroo believed it was up to the people to decide whether his song should be condemned or not. Seepersad added that Rambachan should not just target Samaroo as other artistes have also sung about alcohol and others would sing about it in future.
