Louise Bennett-Coverly, a true revolutionary.

 The entire month of September every year, should be dedicated to honor the late Hon. Louise Bennet-Coverley O.M., O.J., M.B.E. D. Lit. For not only was she Jamaica’s first recorded artist, a literary genius, comedienne, actress, teacher, poet and dramatist, but also a true revolutionary.

Naturally, I am not using the term revolutionary in a political sense but with respect to the fact that she, brought about complete and dramatic change to the Jamaican cultural landscape.

 It was by no means an easy task at all!

For she was born in 1919 (September7th) and started appearing on stage from 1929. This was at the height of the British colonial period. At that time, most still took umbrage at their subjects communicating with each other in a language they could not understand.

Stop and think therefore about the fight she must have received in the early days, in promoting the use of the Jamaican language which is today so widely loved internationally and even being taught at York University in Canada and Harvard in the USA.

I remember well, being a child in the 50’s and 60’s, and being prohibited from speaking 'Patois '(Patwah) both at home and school. In those days, our native language was disparaged by the British colonial establishment and their hangers-on’s, as being broken English which only the uneducated used.

Miss Lou however set the record straight and restored our pride in our African ancestry, when she taught us that our language was mostly derived from TWI, a West African language. Like all other major languages throughout the world, it also adopted a springling of words from other languages like English, Spanish etc.

If the backward attitude towards our native language prevails to some extent even today in some quarters, can you imagine the fights and condemnation Miss Lou had to face when she went on stage in the early days to recite her poems and perform in the skits she wrote in Patwah?

 According to Enclycopedia.com, in the 1930’s and 1940’s, “Some criticized her ‘improper’ manner of speaking—a stark contrast to the Oxford English spoken by educated Jamaicans—but her poems instantly became popular among Jamaicans on the island and abroad. The island's newspaper, the Gleaner, initially refused to publish her work.”

Hers must have been a lonely journey, but she was unfazed and soldiered on.

Despite her best efforts though, as a young Jamaican girl, I still was not able to speak my native language comfortably until I migrated to live in Canada in the late 60’s. It was wonderful, to, like the myriad of other immigrants there, have my ‘own language,’ Better yet, being able to communicate freely with my Jamaican friends while totally discombobulating outsiders, was priceless.

Not only was she outstanding in the dramatic arena, but when you listen carefully to her work, whether done comically or seriously, I dare say she was one of Jamaica’s most thoughtful and profound political commentators. I opine that her most impactful work is to be found in the series “Aunty Roachy Seh” where our social consciousness as a nation was being awakened, through her inimitable humor.

Miss Lou’s entire contribution has been so ground-breaking that it needs to be fully analyzed, appreciated and widely disseminated for the entire month of September each year.

Statue of Miss Lou in Gordon Town where she lived for years

In explaining her early immense interest in language and culture, in an interview entitled “Miss Lou and the early Jamaican Theatre” produced by the National Library, she explained that it was her exposure to women from all walks of life from an early age, which stoked her passion.

Her mother had been a dress-maker with clients ranging from the wives of governors and other “top a naris people” to those from the humblest circumstances. To her mom though, everyone was a lady, from “coal lady” to “governor wife lady.”

What she observed early from their interaction with her mom and each other, was how important humor was to conversation and most importantly, how everybody was speaking the language of the common people when they became comfortable.

In 1948, when the national pantomime was being staged by expatriates in Kingston and performed in the queen’s English, she wrote Bluebeard in patois and acted in it.

That totally revolutionized the theatre landscape in Jamaica. However the prejudices against our own language have persisted among some colonial minded individuals even today.

It is important to note that although promoting respect for and the use of Patwah, Miss Lou has never discouraged us not to learn and use other languages. That would have been an imbecilic attitude and she, being a great believer in each of us acquiring the widest education possible never trod that path.  

She spoke English flawlessly and I dare say if she was around today, she would encourage us all to.at the very least, get a working knowledge of as many languages possible, including Mandarin!

Her contribution to knowledge and culture and her role in opening the doors so that persons like myself can even be doing commentaries today in Patwah on You tube, (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj0wewemvZosv5SQNO3vnlw) demonstrates how far we have come from the days when I could neither speak my native language at home nor at school!

Thank you, Miss Lou.

 Talk Jamaican: Louise Bennett - YouTube

(160) Joan Williams, author - YouTube

https://youtu.be/EG_UIhU0uac

Poor James Forbes

I think most Jamaicans are saddened that Senior Sup. James Forbes has been found guilty in what is loosely being called the Bicknell bribery affair, as for years Senior Sup. Forbes has represented all that we wished for in a police force, by giving it a warmer, human face and an air of professionalism. 

What I have found lacking in the press reports of the trial is what was made of the fact that it was a former Commissioner of Police and current adviser to the Ministry of Security, Lucius Thomas who dragged Forbes into the who messy affair. 

For according to the Gleaner report of the 22nd August 2012, which stated under the heading "Thomas Offered Advice" "When Police Sergeant Jubert Llewellyn met with former Police Commissioner Lucius Thomas at his home, the younger police officer was reportedly advised by the retired police chief to ensure that he takes care of his family.

The police sergeant had reportedly gone to Thomas' home on the advice of a friend, after pressure was allegedly brought to bear on him to drop the bribery charge against businessman Bruce Bicknell.

It is understood that when the sergeant solicited the retired policeman's advice, Thomas sought an assurance from Llewellyn whether he was convinced that Bicknell was actually seeking to bribe him.

The former police commissioner reportedly told the sergeant that he had done the "correct thing", based on what was happening but urged him to think about his family.

It was then that the former Police Commissioner proposed that mediation would best serve to resolve the issue, which brought Senior Superintendent of Police James Forbes into the mix."

It seems therefore it is the former commissioner who brought the Senior Sup. Forbes into the mix to "mediate"! So what weight was given to this and was Thomas called at all to testify at this trial? The report seems to have left out this very important aspect of the affair.

And what did former and present security adviser Commissioner Thomas mean when he reportedly advised  the complainant Jubert Llewelyn to "Think about his family?" 

There is too much left murky in the report of the trial of Senior Superintendent Forbes,  leaving me with a funny feeling that the other half has never been told! 

UPDATE

It took almost nine years, but justice was finally done, hence the Gleaner Headline of February 26, 2021; 

James Forbes freed of corruption charge.

In his famous ‘Letter from Birmingham Jail’, Martin Luther King Jr. wrote that “justice too long delayed is justice denied”. 

That being the case, can we ever say that most people in Jamaica who are drawn before the courts, ever achieve justice?

 Sad.

Why An Army?

I am one of those who cannot be convinced that Jamaica really needs a fully fledged army. For what are the external foes have they protected us from over the years? 

 Yes I can see the rationale behind a coast guard, an Air Wing and an Engineering Corp since these are all important to national development.

But an a large infantry? For what? To be bus boys and valets for the officers? 

 With our penchant for killing each other, what Jamaica needs is a well trained and equipped security force to deal with internal threats, not a group that we call an army which if we ever had an external invasion could probably not keep the smallest invading army at bay for a day. 

But what am I griping about since once our governments decide to waste our money on unnecessary expenditure, not matter the number of billions involved, we have to just shut up and find the money to foot the bill. 

The issue of the army and its usefullness came rushing back into my conciousness as I read the Gleaner headline "Soldiers to get marching orders". According to the story, the army's headquarters is to be relocated to Caymanas and while I have no quarrel with that, what I definitely have a quarrel with is what is happening to beautiful Newcastle on the salubrious hills of St. Andrew. 

Has anyone in authority whether in the army of the govenment been up there recently? What is happening is a national disgrace for the once well kept, pristine training centre has become a virtual dungle and an eyesore. 

Are you really telling that we have a standing army with large engineering corp made up of masons, carpenters, painters, electricians, engineers, plumbers etc. yet they have allowed Newcastle to become such a dump?

While I have heard that very little training takes place there now as that function is to be fully relocated to Moneague, I have seen no such announcement. Anyway, that could never be an excuse for them to have allowed the facility to deteriorate to the condition it has. 

This is a place where they once had cottages that were rented to persons wanting to recharge their batteries in the beautiful hills but not even rats would want to stay there now.

 Further there was a time when the soldiers used to maintain the road leading to the camp and keep it bushed. Not even that is being done anymore. 

 It is going to take more than a move to Caymans to convince many Jamaicans that we do indeed a need a full standing army or that the country gets anything close to value for money for having this largely ceremonial millstone around our necks.

EXTORTION EVERYWHERE

Ever since the onslaught downtown , the issue of extortion has again been highlighted. However, it is not only goons downtown who use extra ordinary practices against the hapless citizens of the country, but also some utility companies. My recent dealings with the National Water Commission (NWC) has brought this forcefully back to mind. Since the water lock offs began in March 2010, my bills started showing increases in consumption of between 600% and 700%. 

Naturally, I immediately took the matter up with the proper authorities and being aware of the fact that the NWC, like vicious extortionist, sometimes uses strong arm methods such as locking off supplies thus endangering lives, (remember water is life!) to try and squeeze money from hapless consumers, I also informed the Offices of Utilities Commission (OUR) of the situation. Would you believe all that did not help for after getting a letter from Ms. Jennifer Wright, Manager – Business Support Services, in late May that the matter was being investigated and hearing nothing further despite a follow up email to the Consumer Affairs Commission, I arrived home just in time on Thursday 3rd June to see NWC officers armed with disconnection notice for my property. I have been informed by the Consumer Affairs Commission that this is a regular practice by the NWC.....in other words, just like the downtown extortionists who beat up little old ladies selling on the sidewalks, burglarize or set fire to your premises if you do not pay, the NWC will cut off your service to force you to pay for what they have not supplied, although the matter is supposedly under investigation. Today's financial Gleaner has an article entitled " Drought drains NWC revenue."

This is no doubt a strategy by their public relations department setting the stage to demand that taxpayers be called on to bail them out. I however maintain that the losses at the NWC are mainly due to staff incompetence, not drought. For example, is the department charged with recouping money from persons who illegally connect to the NWC, giving the organization value for money? What about the department being paid to fix leaks and breaks in the mains on a timely basis? Is that department performing up to the required standard? Then there is my bugbear, what really was the justification for in excess of half billion dollars being used to supposedly set up a new billing system? Exactly what is the company getting for that huge unwarranted expenditure ? Has it proven to be an asset or liability?

 I am also very curious as to why the very curious Contractor General has never seen it fit to look into that particular contract which comes over as being extremely exorbitant, but I guess that's a topic for another day. It seems to me that there needs to be a serious investigation into the operations at the National Water Commission for rather than they striving for efficiency and exercising more care before throwing large sums at questionable programmes, they are trying to take the easy way out.....extortion..

I hope the ministry of water and housing know they will be held fully responsible for the unsavoury revelations which must emerge in the near future when taxpayers are called on to once again write off a huge debt there, as happened some years ago when we were forced to hug up their four billion dollar debt. Yes extortion is rife in Jamaica but unfortunately, too many of us seem to want to continue feeding it by paying up instead of standing up.