Work and economy · St. Andrew · written in Patois with an English translation
St. Andrew have two treasure weh di whole world respect: one university an one coffee. Mek wi start wid di university. Inna 1948, pon ole sugar estate land a Mona — yu still can see di ole aqueduct dem pon di campus — di University College of the West Indies open i door. I start likkle-likkle: jus thirty-tree medical student. But a di first university fi di whole English-speaking Caribbean, an student start come from every island. Inna 1962, di same year Jamaica get independence, i tun di University of the West Indies fi itself — no more tie to London. Tideh UWI Mona a di heart a learning inna di region: docta, lawya, teacha, scientist an prime minista come outta deh. Now di coffee. Up inna di Blue Mountain dem, high ova di campus, di air cool an misty, an di coffee cherry dem ripe slow-slow. Dat slow ripening a di secret — i mek di bean dem sweet an smooth. Ongle coffee weh grow high up inna di certified Blue Mountain area kyan carry di name Jamaica Blue Mountain — di name protect by law. A one a di dearest coffee dem inna di whole world, an fi years an years, Japan buy di biggest share a di crop. So when yu drink one cup a Blue Mountain, memba seh a St. Andrew hillside faama dem pick every bean by hand.
St. Andrew has two treasures that the whole world respects: a university and a coffee. Let's start with the university. In 1948, on old sugar-estate land at Mona — you can still see the old aqueducts on the campus — the University College of the West Indies opened its doors. It started small: just thirty-three medical students. But it was the first university for the whole English-speaking Caribbean, and students began coming from every island. In 1962, the same year Jamaica gained independence, it became the University of the West Indies in its own right — no longer tied to London. Today UWI Mona is the heart of learning in the region: doctors, lawyers, teachers, scientists and prime ministers have come out of it. Now the coffee. Up in the Blue Mountains, high above the campus, the air is cool and misty, and the coffee cherries ripen very slowly. That slow ripening is the secret — it makes the beans sweet and smooth. Only coffee grown high up in the certified Blue Mountain area can carry the name Jamaica Blue Mountain — the name is protected by law. It is one of the most expensive coffees in the whole world, and for many years Japan has bought the biggest share of the crop. So when you drink a cup of Blue Mountain, remember that St. Andrew hillside farmers picked every bean by hand.
St. Andrew av tuu chrezha we di uol worl rispek: wan yuunivorsiti an wan kaafi. Mek wi staat wid di yuunivorsiti. Iina 1948, pon uol shuga istiet lan a Mona — yu stil kyan si di uol akwidok dem pon di kyampos — di University College of the West Indies uopn i duor. I staat likl-likl: jos torti-chrii medikal styuudent. Bot a di fos yuunivorsiti fi di uol English-speaking Caribbean, an styuudent staat kom fram evri ailan. Iina 1962, di siem ier Jamieka get indipendans, i ton di University of the West Indies fi itself — no muor tai tu London. Tide UWI Mona a di haat a laanin iina di riijan: dakta, laaya, tiicha, saiyantis an praim minista kom outa de. Nou di kaafi. Op iina di Blue Mountain dem, hai uova di kyampos, di ier kuul an misti, an di kaafi cheri dem raip sluo-sluo. Dat sluo raipnin a di siikrit — i mek di biin dem swiit an smuud. Onggl kaafi we gruo hai op iina di sortifai Blue Mountain ieria kyan kyari di niem Jamieka Blue Mountain — di niem protek bai laa. A wan a di dieris kaafi dem iina di uol worl, an fi ierz an ierz, Japan bai di bigis shier a di krap. So wen yu jringk wan kop a Blue Mountain, memba se a St. Andrew hilsaid faama dem pik evri biin bai han.
Higman documents the elevation-based Blue Mountain designation and the export market for the crop, including Japan's long-standing share.
The history and the figures come from the sources above. The Patois is mine.
Hear this read aloud in St. Andrew →