Shahine speaks out against skin bleaching

Government minister Shahine Robinson has used the Emancipation Jubilee to appeal to Jamaicans to stop bleaching their skins.

"Why do we want to look like the people who enslaved us?," Robinson asked as she spoke at the vigil that was being held in Seville, St Ann, on Tuesday night.

Robinson, the Labour Minister and Member of Parliament for North East St Ann, encouraged persons to: "Wear our skin as a badge of honour."

While some persons showed appreciation for what Robinson had to say, some persons were not pleased with her comments on bleaching.

Patrick, a St Ann resident, said that people should learn to love themselves and their skin colour.

"When it comes to principle, I support it, and you should love yourself and be proud of your skin," he said.

However, he laughed at the fact that the slave master comment was by someone of a lighter hue.

"I support what she said, but it was totally ironic coming from her," Patrick said, pointing out that Robinson is a 'browning'.

Sher, who hails from St Ann, said she appreciated the fact that Robinson sought to get black people to show love for their black skin.

"I don't have a problem that she addressed the bleaching situation, but she could have said it another way because it came off offensive," Sher said.