History · Westmoreland · written in Patois with an English translation
Westmoreland a sugar country fram long-long time. Di whole plain roun Savanna-la-Mar did full a cane piece, an nuff-nuff people wuk pon di estate dem. Inna 1938, one big new sugar factory open a Frome (the West Indies Sugar Company central factory), an tousan a people fram all bout come a look wuk. But di pay did likkle-likkle an di wuk haad. Di wukman dem get bex an tap wuk. When police an wukman buck up, gunshot fire, an some a di wukman dem dead. Di whole a Jamaica hear bout i, an strike bruk out all ova di islan dat same year. Outta dat trouble, big-big tings born. Bustamante, weh did deh a Frome a talk up fi di wukman dem, go start im trade union (the BITU, 1938), an later im start di Jamaica Labour Party inna 1943. Norman Manley come a Frome fi help settle di dispute, an inna September 1938 im start di People's National Party. So hear dis: di two big party dem weh run Jamaica politics till tideh — both a dem have dem root inna dat deh 1938 time. When yuh pass Frome now an see di factory, memba seh a deh-so ordinary sugar wukman tan up fi demself an change di whole country.
Westmoreland has been sugar country for a very long time. The whole plain around Savanna-la-Mar was full of cane fields, and very many people worked on the estates. In 1938, a big new sugar factory opened at Frome (the West Indies Sugar Company central factory), and thousands of people from all over came looking for work. But the pay was very small and the work hard. The workers got angry and stopped work. When police and workers clashed, shots were fired, and some of the workers died. All of Jamaica heard about it, and strikes broke out across the island that same year. Out of that trouble, very big things were born. Bustamante, who was at Frome speaking up for the workers, went on to start his trade union (the BITU, 1938), and later he started the Jamaica Labour Party in 1943. Norman Manley came to Frome to help settle the dispute, and in September 1938 he founded the People's National Party. So hear this: the two big parties that run Jamaican politics to this day — both have their roots in that 1938 moment. When you pass Frome now and see the factory, remember that it was right there that ordinary sugar workers stood up for themselves and changed the whole country.
Westmoreland a shuga konchri fram lang-lang taim. Di uol plien roun Savanna-la-Mar did ful a kien piis, an nof-nof piipl wok pan di estiet dem. Iina 1938, wan big nyuu shuga faktri uopm a Frome (the West Indies Sugar Company central factory), an touzan a piipl fram aal bout kom a luk wok. Bot di pie did likl-likl an di wok haad. Di wokman dem get beks an tap wok. Wen poliis an wokman bok op, gonshat faiya, an som a di wokman dem ded. Di uol a Jamieka ier bout i, an schraik brok out aal uova di ailan dat siem yier. Outa dat chrobl, big-big tingz baan. Bustamante, we did de a Frome a taak op fi di wokman dem, go staat im chried yuunyan (the BITU, 1938), an lieta im staat di Jamieka Labour Party iina 1943. Norman Manley kom a Frome fi help setl di dispyuut, an iina September 1938 im staat di People's National Party. So ier dis: di tuu big paati dem we ron Jamieka palitiks til tide — buot a dem hav dem ruut iina dat de 1938 taim. Wen yu paas Frome nou an si di faktri, memba se a de-so aadinari shuga wokman tan op fi demself an chienj di uol konchri.
The history and the figures come from the sources above. The Patois is mine.
Hear this read aloud in Westmoreland →