Dear Editor,
Jamaica is truly a beautiful yet comical place to live, work and raise families. The ongoing Tivoli Commission of Enquiry bears testimony to this fact.
Among the suggestions emerging from last week's proceedings is one from a university lecturer that language interpreters maybe necessary at the commission to ensure that the lawyers clearly understand the witnesses and vice versa.
As Jamaicans, we all are familiar with and indeed speak two languages: Jamaica English or Patois and Standard English. The suggestion that interpreters may be needed to decipher/decode what the witnesses at the enquiry are saying belittles our rich culture, as well as highlights the fact that we are not really one, despite what the Jamaican National Motto says.
Social class prejudice and discrimination are very much alive and well in 2014. As far as I am aware, all the lawyers at the enquiry are Jamaican. They should all be capable to understand the language of the people. Interestingly, the chairman of the commission, Sir David Simmons, is not a Jamaican, and he appears not to have any problems understanding the language of the witnesses.
As a people, Jamaicans are very versatile and witty. Why is it that the lawyers at the enquiry cannot speak in a manner that the witnesses will be able to understand? Is it that the lawyers are beyond code switching in languages?
Included in the terms of reference is for the commissioner to examine the reasons and circumstances for the declaration of a State of Emergency in West Kingston and related areas in May 2010, as well as to ascertain the conduct of the security forces during this period. As a nation we deserve to know what really happened in May 2010 in Tivoli Gardens. The people of Tivoli Gardens need closure; so too the society. Those who suffered or whose rights were violated by the State should be compensated by the State.
Wayne Campbell
waykam@yahoo.com
www.wayaine.blogspot.com
Don't let 'Jamaica speak' cloud the Commission results
-->
Jamaica is truly a beautiful yet comical place to live, work and raise families. The ongoing Tivoli Commission of Enquiry bears testimony to this fact.
Among the suggestions emerging from last week's proceedings is one from a university lecturer that language interpreters maybe necessary at the commission to ensure that the lawyers clearly understand the witnesses and vice versa.
As Jamaicans, we all are familiar with and indeed speak two languages: Jamaica English or Patois and Standard English. The suggestion that interpreters may be needed to decipher/decode what the witnesses at the enquiry are saying belittles our rich culture, as well as highlights the fact that we are not really one, despite what the Jamaican National Motto says.
Social class prejudice and discrimination are very much alive and well in 2014. As far as I am aware, all the lawyers at the enquiry are Jamaican. They should all be capable to understand the language of the people. Interestingly, the chairman of the commission, Sir David Simmons, is not a Jamaican, and he appears not to have any problems understanding the language of the witnesses.
As a people, Jamaicans are very versatile and witty. Why is it that the lawyers at the enquiry cannot speak in a manner that the witnesses will be able to understand? Is it that the lawyers are beyond code switching in languages?
Included in the terms of reference is for the commissioner to examine the reasons and circumstances for the declaration of a State of Emergency in West Kingston and related areas in May 2010, as well as to ascertain the conduct of the security forces during this period. As a nation we deserve to know what really happened in May 2010 in Tivoli Gardens. The people of Tivoli Gardens need closure; so too the society. Those who suffered or whose rights were violated by the State should be compensated by the State.
Wayne Campbell
waykam@yahoo.com
www.wayaine.blogspot.com
Don't let 'Jamaica speak' cloud the Commission results
-->