MPs: Go easy on Rihanna

Barbadians need to respect superstar Rihanna’s privacy, to be sympathetic towards her vulnerability as a human and to be a little slower  in criticising her.These were some of the messages coming out of the House of Assembly yesterday when Government announced it was giving Rihanna  a plot of land valued  at $1.2 million  in St James’ upscale  Apes Hill Development.The rhythm and blues (R&B) recording artiste, songwriter and model has continuously been under media watch and has faced public criticism for such things as her clothes, music, behaviour in public and social relations.However, Member of Parliament for the City of Bridgetown, Patrick Todd, said people need to be softer on Rihanna.“Rihanna, as you know, is very proud of being a Barbadian,” Todd told parliamentarians.“ . . . We as a people must demonstrate to her that we are equally as proud of her attainment and we should not seek  to be too harsh on her. Remember that she is  a human (being) . . . .”Todd called on Bajans to give people like Rihanna the respect  they deserve and not interfere with their right to have a private life and to independent thought and action.Opposition parliamentarian Cynthia Forde (St Thomas)  said that in adopting controversial wear Rihanna might just be caught up in doing what girls her age were doing.“I still want for Barbadians to be  a little less critical,”  she remarked.She said Rihanna “needs to be given an opportunity to mature” without constant criticism.She had a lot of advice for the superstar, urging her to make “wise choices” about social partners,  to stay away from  illegal drugs and “never  to forget Barbados”. Minister of Community Development and Culture, Steve Blackett (St Michael Central), said that while Rihanna “seems to have the Midas touch”, turning music into gold, “she  has had her fair share  of criticism”.However, he believes that “the fires she has gone through” will help her to develop into “a wonderful woman”. (TY)