National heroes · Hanover · written in Patois with an English translation
Eena one likkle district niem Blenheim, up eena di Hanover hill dem, one bwai baan pon di 24 a February, 1884. Dem christen im William Alexander Clarke, but di worl come fi know im as Sir Alexander Bustamante. Bustamante travel go a farrin as a young man, den im come back a Jamaica eena di 1930s, when times did hard an worker dem a suffer. Eena 1938, when labour unrest sweep di island, im tan up as voice fi di worker dem. Dat same year im staat di Bustamante Industrial Trade Union — di BITU — fi fight fi betta pay an betta treatment. Di colonial government lock im up fi i, but dat ongle mek di people love im more. Eena 1943 im form di Jamaica Labour Party. Im an im cousin, Norman Manley, weh lead di People's National Party, tun di two big tree a modern Jamaica politics. Bustamante serve as di island fus Chief Minister eena di 1950s, an den, pon di 6 a August 1962 — Independence Day — im tek office as di fus Prime Minister a free Jamaica. Eena 1969 dem name im National Hero while im still alive — one a di ongle two hero dem weh get dat honour so. Im dead eena 1977, a 93. Tideh, di likkle house a Blenheim weh im baan a national heritage site, an Hanover people proud cyaan done a dem son.
In a little district called Blenheim, up in the Hanover hills, a boy was born on 24 February 1884. He was christened William Alexander Clarke, but the world came to know him as Sir Alexander Bustamante. Bustamante travelled abroad as a young man, then returned to Jamaica in the 1930s, when times were hard and workers were suffering. In 1938, when labour unrest swept the island, he stood up as a voice for the workers. That same year he founded the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union — the BITU — to fight for better pay and better treatment. The colonial government imprisoned him for it, but that only made the people love him more. In 1943 he formed the Jamaica Labour Party. He and his cousin Norman Manley, who led the People's National Party, became the two great trees of modern Jamaican politics. Bustamante served as the island's first Chief Minister in the 1950s, and then, on 6 August 1962 — Independence Day — he took office as the first Prime Minister of a free Jamaica. In 1969 he was named a National Hero while still alive — one of only two heroes given that honour in their lifetime. He died in 1977, at 93. Today the little house at Blenheim where he was born is a national heritage site, and Hanover people are endlessly proud of their son.
Iina wan likl dischrik niem Blenheim, op iina di Hanover hil dem, wan bwai baan pon di 24 a February, 1884. Dem krisn im William Alexander Clarke, bot di worl kom fi nuo im az Sir Alexander Bustamante. Bustamante chravl go a farin az a yong man, den im kom bak a Jamieka iina di 1930s, wen taimz did haad an woka dem a sofa. Iina 1938, wen lieba onres swiip di ailan, im tan op az vais fi di woka dem. Dat siem ier im staat di Bustamante Industrial Trade Union — di BITU — fi fait fi beta pie an beta chriitment. Di koluoniyal govament lak im op fi i, bot dat onggl mek di piipl lov im muor. Iina 1943 im faam di Jamieka Labour Party. Im an im kozn, Norman Manley, we liid di People's National Party, ton di tuu big chrii a madan Jamieka palitiks. Bustamante sorv az di ailan fos Chiif Minista iina di 1950s, an den, pon di 6 a August 1962 — Independence Day — im tek afis az di fos Praim Minista a frii Jamieka. Iina 1969 dem niem im National Hero wail im stil alaiv — wan a di onggl tuu hiiro dem we get dat ana so. Im ded iina 1977, a 93. Tide, di likl ous a Blenheim we im baan a nashanal heritij sait, an Hanover piipl proud kyaahn don a dem son.
The history and the figures come from the sources above. The Patois is mine.
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