Carolyn Cooper | Holness an Tufton a talk outa two side a dem mouth

CHAKA-CHAKA SPELLING

From March 18, govament done wid nuff a di COVID rule dem. An it look so fishy. Dat a four day before Prince William an im wife Kate come a Jamaica. Mi a fi wonder if a choo govament never waan force di royal visitor dem fi wear mask outa road mek dem dash weh di Disaster Risk Management Act quick-quick. After all, William an Kate live inna England an it look like seh COVD done deh so.

Di UK prime minister Boris Johnson an Andrew Holness a sing di said same Sankey: “Lives versus livelihoods.” Dat simple mean seh shop can’t lock up fi one long-long length a time sake a COVID. Money ha fi mek. Who a go dead a go dead. Johnson an Holness nah directly seh dat. But a dat it boil down to. If business lock down an yu nuh have nuh work, yu a go dead fi hungry. An if business nuh lock down, yu might a ketch di virus an dead same way. So it better fi keep business open.

Den, a no ongle man have livelihood. Woman have it too. But man have livelihood an lively hood. If dem lucky! Some Jamaican man nuh know seh if dem ketch COVID, fi dem personal and private livelihood could a pop down. Mi tink seh if di man dem did know, plenty a dem would a tek di vaccine fi protect demself an keep up dem manhood.

TOURISM DON GORGON

Last week, govament done wid nuff more COVID rule. Yu nuh ha fi tek nuh COVID test fi come a Jamaica. An mask no ha fi wear inside a building. Wa mek? Di prime minister an di minister a health a tell wi seh wi ha fi protect wiself from COVID. An same time, dem a gwaan like seh COVID gone bout it business. Dat no mek no sense. Dem a talk outa di two side a dem mouth.

It look like seh a di tourism don gorgon dem a force govament fi get rid a COVID test fi visitor. Ascorden to one Gleaner report weh come out pon April 14, “. . . tourism stakeholders have, publicly and in backchannel talks, pressured healthcare officials to ease restrictions to rekindle the flagging fortunes of the major foreign-exchange-earning industry.” Seet deh now: “lives versus livelihoods.”

Andrew Holness an Christopher Tufton nah listen to di doctor dem. Dat same Gleaner report seh, “Dr Brian James, president of the Medical Association of Jamaica (MAJ), questioned the basis of the decision and is eager to know the basis for the removal of the measures.” Dr James tell Gleaner seh, “What we have not heard from the public-health authorities is their assessment of the situation, so we are not certain what the situation is, but whatever it is, we have to ensure that we are ready to protect the Jamaican public.” Govament nah protect wi. Wi better listen to di doctor dem. Chicken merry, hawk deh near.

PRAPA-PRAPA SPELIN

Fram Maach 18, govament don wid nof a di KUOVID ruul dem. An it luk so fishi. Dat a fuor die bifuor Prince William an im waif Kate kom a Jamieka. Mi a fi wanda if a chruu govament neva waahn fuors di raayal visita dem fi wier maask outa ruod mek dem dash we di Disaster Risk Management Act kwik-kwik. Aafta raal, William an Kate liv ina Ingglan an it luk laik se KUOVD don de so.

Di UK praim minista Boris Johnson an Andrew Holness a sing di sed siem Sankey: “Lives versus livelihoods.” Dat simpl miin se shap kyaahn lak op fi wan lang-lang lent a taim sieka KUOVID. Moni a fi mek. Uu a go ded a go ded. Johnson an Holness naa dairekli se dat. Bot a dat it bwail dong tu. If bizniz lak dong an yu no av no wok, yu a go ded fi ongri. An if bizniz no lak dong, yu maita kech di vairos an ded siem wie. So it beta fi di bizniz dem opn.

Den, a no ongl man av livelihood. Uman av it tu. Bot man av livelihood an lively hood. If dem loki. Som Jamiekan man no nuo se if dem kech KUOVID, fi dem porsnal an praivit livelihood kuda pap dong. Mi tingk se if di man dem did nuo, plenti a dem wuda tek di vaksiin fi protek demself an kip op dem manhood.

TUURIZM DAN GAAGAN

Laas wiik, govament don wid nof muor KUOVID ruul. Yu no a fi tek no KUOVID tes fi kom a Jamieka. An maask no a fi wier insaid a bildin. Wa mek? Di praim minista an di minista a elt a tel wi se wi a fi protek wiself fram KUOVID. An siem taim, dem a gwaan laik se KUOVID gaan bout it bizniz. Dat no mek no sens. Dem a taak outa di tuu said a dem mout.

It luk laik se a di tuurizm dan gaagan dem a fuors govament fi get rid a KUOVID tes fi visita. Azkaadn tu wan Gleaner ripuot we kom out pan Iepril 14, “. . . tourism stakeholders have, publicly and in backchannel talks, pressured healthcare officials to ease restrictions to rekindle the flagging fortunes of the major foreign-exchange-earning industry.” Siit de nou: “lives versus livelihoods.”

Andrew Holness an Christopher Tufton naa lisn tu di dakta dem. Dat siem Gleaner ripuot se, “Dr Brian James, president of the Medical Association of Jamaica (MAJ), questioned the basis of the decision and is eager to know the basis for the removal of the measures.” Dr James tel Gleaner se, “What we have not heard from the public-health authorities is their assessment of the situation, so we are not certain what the situation is, but whatever it is, we have to ensure that we are ready to protect the Jamaican public.” Govament naa protek wi. Wi beta lisn tu di dakta dem. Chikin meri, haak de nier.

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. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and karokupa@gmail.com.