Gordon Robinson | The language of politics

So, the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ) relented and registered the United Independents’ Congress (UIC) as a political party.

In my October 22 column (‘Colour Prejudice?’), I took the ECJ to task for its unreasoned and seemingly discriminatory delay in granting the UIC’s registration application. I made it clear that based on listening to a lengthy interview of Party Leader Joseph Patterson, I was a fan:

“I like this UIC because its platform is based on a need for constitutional reform. I know. Been there (NDM). Failed at that! But why?

• NDM (National Democratic Movement) was formed for suspect motives by old-style politicians;

• Its message was before its time.

NDM’s eventual demise and members’ mass return to JLP seemed to confirm suspicions. But the message is one whose time may now have come.

So, ECJ do betta dan dat! ’Low di people fi register dem party!”

By the way, that passage proves that it’s exactly because patwa is ‘phonetic’ that it’s simple to write and read. So kindly nix the patronising excuse for not crediting patwa as ‘official’ and not teaching in patwa (as propounded on ‘All Angles’ on December 4 by one Kevin Jones) that it can’t be written or read.

Unlike the Queen’s English, where ‘bow’ (tied or performed) and ‘bough’ can be pronounced identically (multiple meanings) but not like enough and trough; where Leicester, Worcester, macabre (pronounced ‘mahcahbr’ NOT ‘mahcahber’) or refer/prefer (only ONE ‘f’ puh-leeeze) give Jamaicans (including broadcasters) tongue injuries, patwa is easily written and understood for the simple reason that it’s a language written as it’s spoken. What’s the difference, in the Queen’s English, between ‘one of’ and ‘one off’? Don’t get me started on sentence structure. Hands up those who can spot what’s wrong with the following ‘English’ sentences!

• My son infuriates me by persistently saying he’s taller than me.

• This is the man I was talking to.

So I pee on this condescending, ‘topanaris’-inspired denigration of Jamaica’s native language from a lofty height. It’s a derivative of several languages, especially Twi (from Ghana), just as English was derived from Latin and Greek then imposed on us by England.

The fact that foreigners might take a while to understand patwa makes it no less credible a language than Jamaicans struggling to understand French, Dutch, or German makes those languages fake or corrupt. English is a foreign language that Jamaican (like Scandinavian) students must learn only because it’s necessary for global communication.

400 YEARS

Now, where was I?

Ah, yes, the UIC. Look, don’t judge me. I’ve already changed my name by deed poll to ‘Al’. Youngsters wishing to be formal may call me ‘Mr Zheimers’. Still, I can recognise a message whose time has come.

400 years

(400 years, 400 years)

and it’s the same (the same)

philosophy!

I said it’s 400 years

(400 years, 400 years)

and the people they still can’t see.

Many music aficionados believe that Peter Tosh was the most naturally talented Wailer, but like many creative geniuses, he suffered from a destructive combination of indiscipline and narcissism. Unlike Bunny, Peter was with Bob for the Wailers’ triumphant 1973 UK tour. But after Chris Blackwell elevated Bob to lead singer and rechristened the group Bob Marley and the Wailers, tension between the two escalated until Tosh left. But his writing skills had already contributed 400 Years to their seminal Catch a Fire album.

Hamstrung by the ECJ’s attitude, I don’t expect the UIC to be ready for 2020’s general election. I hope the UIC is patient, sits out the next election, uses the time to set up groups to help formulate an agenda of fundamental change from the ground up, puts together a mission statement and manifesto of substance, and prepares for 2024. If it does this right, it can be a force to be reckoned with in a country whose electoral majority is frustrated by two political dinosaurs determined to keep Jamaica enslaved to a colonial culture of political patronage, corruption, and cronyism.

Peace and love!

Gordon Robinson is an attorney-at-law. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com.