THE REST OF THE WORLD STRUGGLES TO UNDERSTAND WHY JAMAICA REFUSES ITS OWN CULTURE!
By Gilbert Morris
Why would the Jamaican parliament ban the world’s favourite vernacular patois?
Why?
In cultural linguistics there is something called “code switching”. Our older politicians did it well. No one in the current Jamaican parliament speaks English better than Michael Manley and yet Manley switched between English and patois beautifully. Sir Lynden Pindling did the same between British university English and Bahamian dialect.
No one is saying come to Parliament and carry an entire debate in Patois (although, Patios and Jamaican Patti (before they started putting that green mucus into it), are amongst my favourite things in this world.
Jamaica has given more to the world than any country: Boukman Dutty…who inspired the Haitian Revolution; Marcus Garvey who is the father of all black freedom movements; Bob Marley, the greatest musician of all time; all my elementary school teachers in The Bahamas; Merline Otty…the most beautiful woman in the history of humanity; and Usain Bolt a star even amongst stars; Butch Stewart who taught the entire region to do business; Dr Nigel Clarke…the finest Minister of Finance in history; street slang and the language of cool…and just Jamaicaness…which is the world’s most vigorous spirit of self-expression:
Why the hell would one ban the language that expresses that?
Jamaica keeps doing this: Bob Marley is under appreciated. Even Usain Bolt was mistreated trying to acquire a home and finally robbed by an institution meant to prefect his wealth!
Why does Jamaica fail at home to celebrate what the world loves most about Jamaica?
It’s ridiculous, shameful and sad!
Banning patios outright is not only self-hating, it’s banning folklore in the heart of an institution that’s supposed to be representative.
Nothing could be more beautiful than hearing after a long debate in plain English the Opposition rising and saying: “What-a gwan.
This ban should be lifted and code switching, using popular patois phrases should be welcomed.
I say always: Turks and Caicos is my mother, The Bahamas is my wife - but Jamaica is my sweetie: it shouldn’t take a TCI-Bahamian to remind Jamaica what’s beloved about it!
