Michel Chebat
Late this evening, representatives of the Roman Catholic Church rushed to the Supreme Court seeking an interim injunction to stop a concert that is planned for this Independence holiday weekend at a church-state school in San Ignacio. It follows a statement issued this morning by Bishop Dorick Wright. The Church is outraged that Sacred Heart College has made its facilities available for a concert by Dancehall performing artist Alkaline. Popular among youthful audiences, Alkaline and his subgenre of Dancehall music have been described as both satanic and lewd. In a brief appearance at our studio on Thursday, Alkaline’s look was somewhat unsettling, complete with black corneal tattoos and a ghastly mask. The Bishop says the decision to rent the facilities represents, “a serious error in judgment on the part of the Administration of Sacred Heart.” Bishop Wright is also of the view that the event presents a grave moral danger to the socially fragile and impressionable youths from all over Belize who will attend. This evening, Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin directed that the injunction be heard in the courtroom of Justice Courtney Abel. Shortly after five o’clock, attorney Michel Chebat, on behalf of the Catholic Church, told the media that an interim injunction has been granted and that an inter parte hearing is set for Saturday morning at ten o’clock to determine the fate of Alkaline’s performance at Sacred Heart College.
Michel Chebat, Attorney
“It’s an application by the Catholic Church of Belize and the injunction is geared at preventing Alkaline’s concert at the Sacred Heart College grounds. As you all may be aware, in the church’s view, this artist does not reflect the morals and the values of the Catholic Church. It is alleged that this gentleman is involved in satanic worship, his lyrics are lewd. I would say to you that somebody like that should not be allowed to even enter into Belize. He is not somebody that we would want our youths to be exposed. And so thankfully the court has seen that and the court has granted a temporary injunction preventing the concert. We are to return tomorrow morning at ten o’clock for an inter parte hearing where the promoters will get an opportunity for the court to hear them if they so wish.”
Isani Cayetano
“One of the questions is why at a last minute, at the eleventh hour; would the catholic church decide to forward this particular request?”
Michel Chebat
“[Umm] This has just been brought to the bishop’s attention and it is the bishop who has mandated and has instructed me to proceed to obtain the injunction. As you all are aware, the Roman Catholic Church is the proprietor of Sacred Heart College and in that light he is the ultimate authority over that school and he has so exercised his authority today.”
Reporter
“This might be seen or taken as a publicity stunt. Any sort of publicity is good publicity even though it is bad; it might boost ticket sales for the artist. How do you respond to those who say that the church has bought into that game and they have allowed Mister Alkaline more attention than he wouldn’t have got, had you not taken this step?”
Michel Chebat
“I think your comment is a fair comment. We would hope that people out there who are looking and listening and who have done the research on Alkaline would know exactly what it is that he represents and would stop their children from attending this concert. Certainly we don’t want our kids to be exposed to this kind of a person, bottom line.”
Reporter
“Sir but shouldn’t the organization’s principal and dean, shouldn’t she have vetted this individual before granting permission for this concert?”
Michel Chebat
“Absolutely, absolutely. But whether she did or did not, it does not prevent the bishop, who is the ultimate authority so to act. And that is what he has done. He has acted and this is where we are today.”
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