THE EDITOR, Sir:I HAVE prepared a sample of what a prayer in Jamaican creole for Parliament might be like. It is written using the Cassidy/LePage spelling system so it will give some trouble for the uninitiated (Clue: just pronounce what you see, one vowel one sound):
"Faada ina Hebn, wi jos a tek taim out fi tank yu fi ow yu a bles wi likl ailan Jamieka. Wi aaks yu fi sen yu Spirit fi gaid wi wail wi a wok an plan fi di nieshan, so wi kyan liid di piipl dem rait.
Faada, wi nuo se yu hav di powa fi set op govament an tier dong govament so shuo wi di wie Laad, an gi wi di strent an korij fi liid yu piipl an no fiel.
Rait now Laad, wi jos waan fi prie op di Govana Jinaral, di Praim Minista, aal di politishan an biga eds dem. Toch evri man an uman, uol an yong. Mek wi memba se wi fi lov wan aneda an gyaad an protek wan aneda tings.
Sen wi muor a yu lov, so wi kyan liv laik wan big fambili. Truu Jiizaz Krais. Iemen!"
I know we will eventually come up with a suitable prayer whether in English or Jamaican, or both and I know it will move the Almighty God to offer us more than an "autograph", but to continue to "guard us with His mighty hand".
I am, etc.,
JOSEPH T. FARQUHARSON
jotifa@yahoo.com
A.Z. Preston Hall
UWI, Mona campus
