Posts tagged media

The state-run Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation in Barbados made a huge mistake last night when someone was either (i) watching porn or (ii) fucking, in its newsroom studio. The audio was simulcast with the weather report of the 7:00pm PrimeTime News.

In a statement on its Facebook page some minutes later, the Corporation issued an apology going something like:

The CBC extends deepest apologies to its viewers for the unfortunate happenings in the presentation of the weather news tonight. Be assured that this matter will be dealt with and we commit to doing all possible to ensure there is not a repeat of this action. Thank you for your understanding in this matter.

How embarrassing. And hilarious.

I am a faux linguist who believes in the importance of preserving “nation language.” Of all such languages, I find Jamaican patois to be one of the most unique and, when spoken by the right person, one of the sexiest Caribbean nation languages one could listen to.

With that said, it goes to reason that I’d fully support the translation of the Holy Bible into Jamaican patois. Further, I think that similar moves to make mainstream literature more accessible and understandable through the use of nation language should be encouraged, particularly if the intention is to appeal to those whose literacy in English is not up to scratch. The problem is, I’m not sure that this was the intention with the Patois Bible.

In my opinion, the phonetic spellings of some words in the Patois Bible are nothing short of mind-boggling, and require the reader to possess as much (or even more) literary competence than s/he would need to understand a rendering of the Bible in Standard English.

An example from the Book of Luke is pasted below:

“ienjel” (angel)? “nyuuz” (news)? “Mieri” (Mary)? REALLY? (Rilli?!) It’s almost like deciphering a secret code.

When deciphered, it’s amazing how authentically Jamaican even I sound while reading it, but I’m willing to bet that this book presents all of the same challenges to the much-less-literate as the Bible’s modern-English versions.

So, on to my question. Is this Bible meant to be any easier for the less-literate masses to comprehend, or is it just meant to be a symbolic triumph for Patois academics? Or, perhaps, it is meant to be read for the masses by such academics? If either of the latter two scenarios is true, there really is no benefit redounding to the Patois Bible’s purported end-user.

I admit, I am not Jamaican and I’ve only lived there for three years. Perhaps some actual Jamaicans could shed some light.

Photo credit: BBC

Trinidadian journalist Dominic Kallipersad cross-examined Attorney-General Annand Ramlogan on his Government’s controversial proclomation of a state of emergency in Trinidad & Tobago, completely infuriating Ramlogan in the process.

As Tropical Storm Harvey approaches Belize, the folks in the newsroom at CBC TV8 in Barbados found themselves in a curious position: not only was their star reporter stranded in Harvey’s direct path, but their only Caribbean map ended at Cuba.

Not to be outdone by the sudden realisation that Belize is also a member of the Caribbean Community along with Barbados, CBC offered this: a 20th Century map of the Caribbean Basin, and a big ass arrow pointing in the general direction of Belize, or Costa Rica.

Here’s hoping that Belize, wherever it is, comes out unscathed.

Men have fought for it, died for it… some may say, it’s the most powerful thing on Earth. Of course, I’m talking about vagina. Or at least, Summer’s Eve is.

This ridiculously objectifying commercial urges women to douche and show their vag some love, while pretending to be empowering. Hey, if men are going to fight for it, at least make it fresh for us.

UNICEF has launched a new and praiseworthy campaign against child sexual abuse in Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, where incidences of such abuse remain unacceptably high.

Shirking the subtleties typical of other UNICEF campaigns, the PSAs clearly define sexual abuse, encourage parents to believe their children when they say they’ve been molested and, importantly, urge caretakers to report adults implicated in sexual abuse.

Naturally, the challenge requires more than PSAs. What remains urgently required are more keenly-targeted behaviour change interventions and legislative responses to prevent and appropriately punish incidences of child sex abuse.

(Source: youtube.com)