Two spelling systems are used for the Jamaican language below. The first, ‘Chaka-Chaka’, is based on English spelling, which is notoriously irregular. The second, ‘Prapa-Prapa’, is the consistent, specialist system designed by the Jamaican linguist Frederic Cassidy. It has been updated by the Jamaican Language Unit at the University of the West Indies, Mona. After the two Jamaican versions, there’s an English translation.
CHAKA-CHAKA SPELLING
Pon Bob Marley birthday, February 6, Queen Elizabeth start celebrate fi her 70 year Jubilee. Di two 6 clash inna Reggae Month. She a di first queen or king deh pon di throne fi so long. An party a go keep fi one whole-a year. Since as how Missis Queen a di head a fi wi country, it look like seh wi must an bound fi celebrate wid her. Nuh matter wa wi tink bout her an fi her generation dem! All like Queen Victoria she, weh directly response fi di Morant Bay War. A she provoke black people fi stand up an fight fi wi rights. An a fi her Governor Eyre murder nuff-nuff a wi.
A di said same Queen Victoria weh Jubilee Hospital name after. Di hospital did build inna 1891 fi member fi her 50 year Jubilee inna 1887. It did name Victoria Jubilee Lying-In Hospital. Dem time, after woman have baby, dem would a lie down inna hospital couple day fi ketch up back demself. All now, some a wi call di hospital ‘Ly-neel.’ Wi never know di rightful name.
So Jubilee deh pon wi. Mi go pon King’s House website an mi see di letter weh di Governor-General, Sir Patrick Allen, send to di Queen. Hear how it start off: “I have the honour to convey to Your Majesty the felicitations of the Government and People of Jamaica on the occasion of Your Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee.” A which ‘People’ di Governor-General aks if wi want send “felicitations”? Im can chat fi Govament. Not fi di whole a wi! Plenty a wi nuh business wid di Queen.
BUCKINGHAM PALACE DONE KNOW
Mi call King’s House fi find out a who come up wid di plan fi William an Kate come ya. Dem tell mi fi go aks di Prime Minister office. Mi nuh get nuh answer deh so. So mi call Buckingham Palace an dem send mi to Kensington Palace. Mi just a go round an round. Mi aks one a di Communications Officer a Kensington two question: “How was the visit initiated? What is its purpose?” Di officer seh she can’t answer dem deh question right ya so. She wi send press release bout di visit when it come out.
Mi lucky fi find one story weh Rebecca Russell she write fi My London News. It post pon February 2. Hear weh she seh: “Another country that has been tipped as a high possibility of being visited by the couple is Jamaica. Much like Barbados, there have been murmurings that the country has thought about declaring independence and it is hoped that Prince William and Catherine will give the monarchy the boost it needs to convince Caribbean leaders not to follow Barbados.”
Seet deh now! Mi get di answer to one a mi question. An mi see seh Rebecca Russell nuh know seh a long time now wi a claims seh wi independent. Almost 60 year! But if Andrew an Kate a come ya fi try stop wi from turn republic, it look like seh Buckingham Palace done know seh wi nuh independent to dat. Inna 2022, one woman from foreign a di head a fi wi country? Nah! Nuff a wi ready fi get rid a di Queen. Wi just a wait fi Govament call referendum. William an Kate can’t stop dis ya emancipation.
PRAPA-PRAPA SPELIN
Pan Bob Marley bortdie, Febieri 6, Kwiin Elizabeth staat selibriet fi ar 70 ier Juubilii. Di tuu 6 klash ina Rege Mont. Shi a di fos kwiin ar king de pan di chruon fi so lang. An paati a go kip fi wan uola ier. Sins az ou Misiz Kwiin a di ed a fi wi konchri, it luk laik se wi mos an boun fi selibriet wid ar. No mata wa wi tingk bout ar an fi ar jinarieshan dem! Aal laik Kwiin Victoria shii, we dairekli rispans fi di Morant Bay Waar. A shii provuok blak piipl fi stan op an fait fi wi raits. An a fi her Govana Eyre morda nof-nof a wi.
A di sed siem Kwiin Victoria we Jubilee Hospital niem aafta. Di aaspital did bil ina 1891 fi memba fi ar 50 ier juubilii ina 1887. It did niem Victoria Jubilee Lying-In Hospital. Dem taim, afta uman av biebi, dem wuda lidong ina aaspital kopl die fi kech op bak demself. Aal nou, som a wi kaal di aaspital ‘Lai-niil.’ Wi neva nuo di raitful niem.
So Juubilii de pan wi. Mi go pan King’s House websait an mi si di leta we di Govana-Jinaral, Sir Patrick Allen, sen tu di Kwiin. Ier ou it staat aaf: “I have the honour to convey to Your Majesty the felicitations of the Government and People of Jamaica on the occasion of Your Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee.” A wich ‘People’ di Govana-Jinaral aks if wi waahn sen “felicitations”? Im kyan chat fi Govament. Nat fi di uol a wi! Plenti a wi no bizniz wid di Kwiin.
BUCKINGHAM PALACE DON NUO
Mi kaal King’s House fi fain out a uu kom op wid di plan fi William an Kate kom ya. Dem tel mi fi go aks di Prime Minister afis. Mi no get no ansa de so. So mi kaal Buckingham Palace an dem sen mi tu Kensington Palace. Mi jos a go roun an roun. Mi aks wan a di Communications Officer a Kensington tuu kweschan: “How was the visit initiated? What is its purpose?” Di afisa se shii kyaahn ansa dem de kweschan rait ya so. Shi wi sen pres riliis bout di visit wen it kom out.
Mi loki fi fain wan stuori we Rebecca Russell shii rait fi My London News. It puos pan Febieri 2. Ier we shi se: “Another country that has been tipped as a high possibility of being visited by the couple is Jamaica. Much like Barbados, there have been murmurings that the country has thought about declaring independence and it is hoped that Prince William and Catherine will give the monarchy the boost it needs to convince Caribbean leaders not to follow Barbados.”
Siit de nou! Mi get di ansa tu wan a mi kweschan. An mi si se Rebecca Russell no nuo se a lang taim nou wi a kliemz se wi indipendent. Aalmuos 60 ier. Bot if Andrew an Kate a kom ya fi chrai stap wi fram ton ripoblik, it luk laik se Buckingham Palace don nuo se wi no indipendent tu dat. Ina 2022, wan uman fram farin a di ed a fi wi konchri? Naa! Nof a wi redi fi get rid a di Kwiin. Wi jos a wiet fi Govament kaal refarendom. William an Kate kyaahn stap dis ya imansipieshan.
ENGLISH TRANSLATION
Why Are Prince William and Kate Coming Here?
On Bob Marley’s birthday, February 6, Queen Elizabeth launched the celebration of her Platinum Jubilee. The two sixes clashed in Reggae Month. She’s the first queen or king to have reigned for so long. And the celebration is going to last for an entire year. Since the Queen is Jamaica’s head of state, it appears as if we are obliged to celebrate with her. No matter what we think about her and her lineage! Take, for example, Queen Victoria. She was directly responsible for the Morant Bay War. It was she who provoked black people to stand up and fight for our rights. And it was her Governor Eyre who murdered so many of us.
PAINTING BY BARRINGTON WATSON
The Jubilee Hospital was named after that very same Queen Victoria. The hospital was built in 1891 in memory of her 50th year Jubilee in 1887. It was called the Victoria Jubilee Lying-In Hospital. In those days, women would stay in hospital for a few days after giving birth to recover. Even now, some of us call the hospital ‘Ly-neel.’ We didn’t know the proper name.
So we’re in the throes of Jubilee. I went on the King’s House website and I saw the letter the Governor-General, Sir Patrick Allen, sent to the Queen. This is how it started: “I have the honour to convey to Your Majesty the felicitations of the Government and People of Jamaica on the occasion of Your Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee.” Which ‘People’ did the Governor-General ask if we wanted to send “felicitations”? He can speak on behalf of the Government. Not for all of us! A lot of us don’t want to have anything to do with the Queen.
BUCKINGHAM PALACE DOES KNOW
I called King’s House to find out whose idea it was for William and Kate to visit Jamaica. I was referred to the office of the Prime Minister. I got no answer there. So I called Buckingham Palace. I was referred to Kensington Palace. I was just going round and round. I asked one of the Communications Officers at Kensington two questions: “How was the visit initiated? What is its purpose?” The officer said she couldn’t answer those questions there and then. She would send a press release about the visit when it’s issued.
I was lucky to find a story written by Rebecca Russell for My London News. It was posted on February 2. This is what she reported: “Another country that has been tipped as a high possibility of being visited by the couple is Jamaica. Much like Barbados, there have been murmurings that the country has thought about declaring independence and it is hoped that Prince William and Catherine will give the monarchy the boost it needs to convince Caribbean leaders not to follow Barbados.”
There you have it! I got the answer to one of my questions. And I noticed that Rebecca Russell doesn’t know that we’ve been claiming to be independent for quite some time now. Almost 60 years! But if Andrew and Kate are coming here to try and stop us from becoming a republic, it seems as if Buckingham Palace does know that we’re not all that independent. In 2022, a foreign woman is the head of state of our country? No! A lot of us are ready to be rid of the Queen. We’re just waiting for the Government to call the referendum. William and Kate can’t stop this emancipation.
Jamaica Woman Tongue 
Wow. I’ve got so many things and opinions about this but I’m so I’m ignorant about this that I’ll just keep getting studying. You know I worked with a couple gals that became friends from Jamaica and when I read your post I feel like I’m kicking it with them.
What do they mean by “…it is hoped that Prince William and Catherine will give the monarchy the boost it needs to convince Caribbean leaders not to follow Barbados”? We need fi leggo off a di Queen frock tail. Some of our problems might be solved if we stop being a colony. Although independent, we are still a part of the Commonwealth and are still subject to British laws. We need to be prepared to be weaned off Britain’s milk. But then, do we have the required leadership to stabilize the country if it is decided that Jamaica becomes a Republic.
QE2 and her white family is scared of losing $£ while setting the dogs on their own “NOT SO RACIST FAMILY” having William stating twice that Africans have too many children which is harming the plant. These people give nothing back to poor people in the UK or counties away from them only power and money with their pale and stale people.