Government and law · Kingston · written in Patois with an English translation
Come mek wi talk bout how di country run. Jamaica get har independence pon di sixth a August, nineteen sixty-two (August 6, 1962), an from dat day di people dem a run dem own business. Di Parliament sidung a Gordon House, pon Duke Street dung a tung inna Kingston, from 1960. Di building name afta George William Gordon, one a wi National Hero dem. Parliament have two part: di House of Representatives, weh di people dem vote fi — sixty-tree member — an di Senate, weh dem appoint — twenty-one member. Di Prime Minista a di leada a di govament; a im run tings day by day. Di Governor-General stand up fi di Crown (represents the monarch), but a di people vote decide who fi lead. From long time, two big party deh inna di politics: di Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), weh Alexander Bustamante start inna 1943, an di People's National Party (PNP), weh Norman Manley start inna 1938. Di two a dem tek turn fi run di country, an when election time come, di whole island a talk politics. Wi nuh tek no side ya so — wi jus a learn how di system tan. So when yu pass Gordon House, memba seh a deh-so di law dem mek fi di whole a Jamaica. Likkle island, but di people dem govern demself — dat a someting fi proud a.
Come, let's talk about how the country is run. Jamaica got her independence on the sixth of August, 1962, and from that day the people have been running their own affairs. Parliament sits at Gordon House, on Duke Street in downtown Kingston, since 1960. The building is named after George William Gordon, one of our National Heroes. Parliament has two parts: the House of Representatives, which the people vote for — sixty-three members — and the Senate, which is appointed — twenty-one members. The Prime Minister is the leader of the government; he or she runs things day to day. The Governor-General stands in for the Crown, but it is the people's vote that decides who leads. For a long time, two big parties have been in politics: the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), which Alexander Bustamante founded in 1943, and the People's National Party (PNP), which Norman Manley founded in 1938. The two of them have taken turns running the country, and when election time comes the whole island talks politics. We don't take any side here — we're just learning how the system works. So when you pass Gordon House, remember that that is where the laws are made for all of Jamaica. A little island, but the people govern themselves — that is something to be proud of.
Kom mek wi taak bout ou di konchri ron. Jamieka get ar indipendans pon di siks a August, naintiin siksti-tuu (August 6, 1962), an fram dat die di piipl dem a ron dem uon bizniz. Di Parliament sidong a Gordon House, pon Duke Street dong a tong iina Kingston, fram 1960. Di bildin niem afta George William Gordon, wan a wi National Hero dem. Parliament av tuu paat: di House of Representatives, we di piipl dem vuot fi — siksti-chrii memba — an di Senate, we dem apaint — twenti-wan memba. Di Praim Minista a di liida a di govament; a im ron tingz die bai die. Di Governor-General stan op fi di Crown (represents the monarch), bot a di piipl vuot disaid uu fi liid. Fram lang taim, tuu big paati de iina di palitiks: di Jamieka Labour Party (JLP), we Alexander Bustamante staat iina 1943, an di People's National Party (PNP), we Norman Manley staat iina 1938. Di tuu a dem tek ton fi ron di konchri, an wen ilekshan taim kom, di uol ailan a taak palitiks. Wi no tek no said ya so — wi jos a laan ou di sistim tan. So wen yu paas Gordon House, memba se a de-so di laa dem mek fi di uol a Jamieka. Likl ailan, bot di piipl dem govan demself — dat a somting fi proud a.
The history and the figures come from the sources above. The Patois is mine.
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