Bermudian photographer Ras Mykkal has come under the spotlight in Jamaica for what some have deemed his negative exposure of the country's affairs.

Mykkal, who left Bermuda last February to enroll in New York Institute of Photography, was invited to Jamaica this summer by some family friends.

He quickly earned a reputation there for his photographic work. In fact, the managing editor for the magazine "Unfold,'' which will begin publishing in January, offered Mykkal a job as a staff photographer.

But it was what Mykkal was doing in his spare time which has landed him in the hot seat.

Trying his hand at poetry, he wrote about the alleged blatant injustices throughout the Caribbean island.

While his poem "Three Blind Mice'' -- which has been set to music -- did not mention any names, it was not hard to figure out that it referred to Jamaica's political parties.

Mykkal said he wrote the poem after months of listening and watching the news there in disbelief.

"...some of the most unbelievable crimes happen daily and nothing is done to justify or correct them,'' he claimed.

Referring to some of the headline stories in his poem, Mykkal notes: "The opposition leader calls the government leader `a butty boy' or `gay' at a party rally. A woman is raped by the police at the police station. Gunmen and police wage a three-day shootout. Five bodies are found in barrels. Twenty eight taxi drivers murdered and so on...'' But once the song was completed, Mykkal said he could not find a record label that would release it as a seven-inch single for the Jamaican market.

"Jamaican authorities are known for brutally retaliating to songs that cut too deeply into social or political affairs,'' he pointed out, "and with general elections in the makings many felt that the song is very timely, but possibly provoking.'' Therefore, he added, it was only released to less than a handful of deejays, including RJR's Radio host Richie B (Richard Burgess) and Irie FM's Mutabaruka.

Both stations played the contentious song which has also aired on Power 95.

And they received plenty of feedback.

Richie B -- who visited the Island during the weekend for the Culture Shock dance hall/cultural nights featuring a variety of local performers and Jamaican artists Lady Saw, Dennis Brown, Tony Rebel, and Anthony B at Number One Shed on Front Street -- told The Royal Gazette : "People liked the rhythm, but there were comments about the controversial aspect of the lyrics.'' He said he decided not to play the song again after receiving about ten phone calls from irate supporters of Jamaica's government.

"There were no serious threats,'' Richie B said, "but there were people with strong views. I will not be playing it again. But I think he needs to get it to other stations. If it is not banned by the radio stations, he should not have a problem getting it played.'' He said Mykkal also needed to secure "a proper sound'' to accompany the song.

"If he does this by the upcoming elections, it should do well,'' the respected deejay said.

He also noted that controversial material often worked in an artist's favour.

"Sometimes it increases sales; controversy sells,'' Richie B said. "But it puts them in trouble with those who are offended by the work.

"But what he has said is nothing compared to what some other artists have recorded.'' The visiting radio host described Mykkal's work as "commendable''.

"We have to commend him for the effort,'' Richie B said. "If he continues along the right path, he should be successful.'' Mykkal, who said he learned in Jamaica to live everyday as if it was his last, called the experience of writing and recording "interesting''.

"I wouldn't mind being a recording artist,'' he said. "I have written enough poetry to do an album.'' But he maintained that his focus was still on photography.

He received certification as a professional photographer in New York last month.

JAMAICAN EXPOSURE -- Bermudian photographer Ras Mykkal has been gaining attention in Jamaica, not only for his photography, but his writing as well.

Through poems such as "Three Blind Mice,'' Mykkal has taken aim at Jamaica's social and political underbelly. wary of what happens to those who speak out on the injustices of Jamaican life, Mykkal told The Royal Gazette he lives every day as if it were his last.

PHO