Carolyn Cooper | Tufton an Holness tek wi fi eedyat

CHAKA-CHAKA SPELLING

It look like seh politician can’t ketch COVID. A must be it mek dem nuh ha fi follow none a di rule dem weh dem did a force on pon di rest a wi. Look how Floyd Green im screechy back inna di Cabinet after im did a party a hotel pon one day when nobody never did suppose fi lef dem yard! An Christopher Tufton an three odder member a di Cabinet did a party last week Tuesday night an nah wear nuh mask. A ongle Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange did a wear mask. She have sense. An Alando Terrelonge did a wear mask too. Lisa Hanna she inna Opposition; she never wear nuh mask. An di whole a dem tek nuff picture.

When Gleaner aks Tufton bout how im bruck di law, hear weh im seh: “The images represent poor optics and could send the wrong message to the population around COVID protocols, leadership and personal responsibility at this very important time in our pandemic response.” Weh Tufton mean bout “poor optics”? A di “optics” poor? Nuh wa im do? Tufton done know seh it look bad. But im nah admit seh im do nutten wrong.

Den weh mek Tufton a talk bout ‘could’? Like seh di picture dem never directly send a right message bout how di politician dem nuh have no rispek fi wi. Fi dem slogan a, “Do weh mi seh, nuh weh mi do.” Like seh wi a pikni. Tufton im can gwaan chat bout “leadership and personal responsibility.” Nobody wid sense nah follow back a dem deh hypocrite politician. Dem a nuh nuh real-real leader. Wi ha fi response fi wiself.

$100,000 A NUH NUTTEN

As fi Andrew Holness! Talk bout “poor optics”! Im a charge di MP dem $100,000 fi bruck di law. Look how much poor people inna dis ya country did ha fi pay all $200,000, or go a prison, fi nuh wear mask out a road! An dem deh big-shot politician – Nigel Clarke, Christopher Tufton, Horace Chang an Floyd Green – fi pay ongle $100,000? Wat a piece a wickedness! Holness should a charge dem $1,000,000. Dat a di top-a-top money fi pay fi bruck di mask law.

Den from Friday, Holness done wid nuff a di “Covid Protocols.” Mask no ha fi wear outa road again. Di MP dem did a ketch dem practice pon Tuesday night. Tufton mouth slip a talk bout “this very important time in our pandemic response.” Im never know wat o’clock a strike. Wi no ha fi back-answer di pandemic. It look like seh COVID gone bout it business from last week Thursday. Still for all, wi better tek sleep mark death.

PRAPA-PRAPA SPELIN

It luk laik se palitshan kyaahn kech KUOVID. A mosi it mek dem no a fi fala non a di ruul dem we dem did a fuors aan pan di res a wi. Luk ou Floyd Green im skriichi bak ina di Kyabinet aafta im did a paati a otel pan wan die wen nobadi neva did supuoz fi lef dem yaad! An Christopher Tufton an chrii ada memba a di Kyabinet did a paati laas wiik Chuusde nait an naa wier no maask. A ongl Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange did a wier maask. Shi av sens. An Alando Terrelonge did a wier maask tu. Lisa Hanna shii ina Apazishan; shi neva wier no maask. An di uol a dem tek nof pikcha.

Wen Gleaner aks Tufton bout ou im bruk di laa, ier we im se: “The images represent poor optics and could send the wrong message to the population around COVID protocols, leadership and personal responsibility at this very important time in our pandemic response.” We Tufton miin bout “poor optics”? A di “optics” puor? No wa im du? Tufton don nuo se it luk bad. Bot im naa admit se im du notn rang.

Den we mek Tufton a taak bout ‘could’? Laik se di pikcha dem neva dairekli sen a rait mechiz bout ou di palitishan dem no av nuo rispek fi wi. Fi dem sluogan a, “Du we mi se, no we mi du.” Laik se wi a pikni. Tufton im kyan gwaan chat bout “leadership and personal responsibility.” Nobadi wid sens naa fala bak a dem de ipokrit palitishan. Dem a no no riill-rill liida. Wi a fi rispans fi wiself.

$100,000 A NO NOTN

Az fi Andrew Holness! Taak bout “poor optics”! Im a chaaj di MP dem $100,000 fi bruk di laa. Luk omoch puor piipl ina dis ya konchri did a fi pie aal $200,000, ar go a prizn, fi no wier maask out a ruod! An dem de big-shot palitishan – Nigel Clarke, Christopher Tufton, Horace Chang an Floyd Green – fi pie ongl $100,000? Wat a piis a wikidnis! Holness shuda chaaj dem $1,000,000. Dat a di tap-a-tap moni fi pie fi bruk di maask laa.

Den fram Fraide, Holness don wid nof a di “Covid Protocols.” Maask no a fi wier outa ruod agen. Di MP dem did a kech dem praktis pan Chuuzde nait. Tufton mout slip a taak bout “this very important time in our pandemic response.” Im neva nuo wat aklak a schraik. Wi no a fi bak-ansa di pandemik. It luk laik se KUOVID gaan bout it bizniz fram laas wiik Torzde. Stil far aal, wi beta tek sliip maak det.

For an English translation, visit carolynjoycooper.wordpress.com

- Carolyn Cooper, PhD, is a teacher of English language and literature and a specialist on culture and development. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and karokupa@gmail.com.