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By Vinette K. Pryce
WOMAN HA’ HEAVY LOAD – Maroon Nanny knew it. Louise “Miss Lou” Bennett-Coverley spread it. And in 2006, Portia Simpson-Miller, a woman of humble beginnings is experiencing that woman’s burden is always heavy. How Jamaica’s folk queen expressed the challenge is “Woman Ha’ Heavy Load.” With grunts and music Miss Lou packed plenty of patois the first female, prime minister of Jamaica will reference during her tenure as leader of the People’s National Party and ultimately the voice of the nation.
Last Saturday, the sole woman to contend with three, distinguished gentlemen – Dr. Peter Phillips, Dr. Omar Davies, and Dr. Karl Blythe – Simpson-Miller’s “Team Portia” campaign placed her solid as a rock with the people’s doctorate. “Portia Have Delegates” is how they graduated their Ph.D. With 3,808 votes from delegates, Simpson-Miller claimed a majority of 1,775 or 46 percent of the votes. Closest comrade Phillips 1,538 took 40.5 percent, Davies’ disappointing 204 managed to register a meager 7.4 percent. Blythe’s measly 5.4 percent is barely worth a mention. Since the Saturday evening tally at Jamaica College, some unkind comments have been venting on Mutty Perkins’ Power On Line. Monday along with his regular listeners, they have been lambasting the woman to the shame of the nation. Decrying her lowly upbringing, Perkins is of the mindset that Simpson-Miller represents a class that should not rise to leadership positions. Unfortunately, he uses comments from her party partners to discredit her potential. Comments from Phillips, K.D. Knight, Maxine Henry-Wilson and other comrades dug deep into ghetto affiliations to denounce the woman who fully understands the patois verse “woman ha’ heavy load” ah ha.  

STRENGTH OF A WOMAN – I was sitting in the Grand Stand at the national stadium last Saturday when Asafa Powell raced to the finish of a relay race. His fans – the entire Jamaica—cheered him on for being the world’s fastest sprinter. O.K. so there I was, just barely impressed but trying hard to be enthusiastic due to the overwhelming support for him wearing those sky-blue huggers. The night before he had accepted a special honor therefore, the reception was all that and some more. But when Portia Simpson-Miller emerged wearing yellow, track and field had to take a back seat to politics. The crowds cheered, stomped, and waved endorsement of her election. From the stands, shouts of “Portia! Portia” echoed across the Grand Stand to sound all across Mountain View Ave. The prime minister designate seemed to know exactly what the crowds wanted. Responding to spectators, the new leader of the People’s National Party sprinted past me and the thousands who looked on. Running, walking and race-walking, the future prime minister circled the stadium as if taking a victory lap after winning the gold. As Shaggy declared in words and music, that exhibition displayed the strength of a woman.

I AM WOMAN – Women seem empowered by the victory Portia Simpson-Miller claimed recently. Some men have conceded to acknowledge that “a fi oonu time now, gwaan.” To hear them say “mek mi si wey oonu can do” is a challenge the pioneering woman will have to face. But she is not alone. Women throughout the island, representing both parties seem to standing in support with their gender. Olivia “Babsy” Grange told me she was proud of her rival-comrade. “I am happy that she got through,” the Member of Parliament. For long a gender, defender for the Jamaica Labour Party, Grange has had bouts with men sparring to champion her worth, her roots and her right to participate. Across the seas, former City Councilwoman Una Clarke praised the election of Portia Simpson-Miller. “The Jamaican community in New York is very happy. We all supported Team Portia. We are anxious for her inauguration.” Clarke said many people tried to dissuade her from supporting the only female candidate.  “They told me she was just popular…that she had no chance…no education.”
“I told them if (George W.) Bush can become president, then Simpson-Miller can do it. She has to surround her herself with good people.” To the cynics and all who admonish Simpson-Miller’s humble beginnings, Clarke said “Poverty of the pockets is never poverty of the mind.”
Clarke said supporting Team Portia broke every rule she had ever made about openly supporting any leader in Jamaica. “This is the first time I have ever openly supported anyone because I never wanted anyone to feel uncomfortable,” Clarke explained. In order to represent her Brooklyn councilmanic district Clarke had to appease nationals of every ilk who reside in her constituency.   “This time I took a good look at Jamaica, and with the crime and other problems knew I had to support Portia.” On hearing the tremendous gain for a woman in Jamaica’s history, Kathy, the wife of activist Rev. Al Sharpton responded saying: “I think it is wonderful. It’s a new day. Woman represents mother earth. Without women there is no life. I wish her well.”
 
RULE MY DESTINY – Buju Banton’s composition became an anthem for radio commentary after the announcement was made that Simpson-Miller would lead the PNP. Playing past commercials and acid dialogue, Banton’s telling track repeated for hours with confirmation that the humblest can decide their future. That Simpson-Miller’s victory came one day after the birthday anniversary of Sir Alexander Bustamante, simultaneous to the first anniversary of the Marcus Garvey Fair in Manchester, during Black History Month and the same time-frame that Robert Nesta Marley is recalled with international celebrations, Banton’s hit seems very appropriate. In time Simpson-Miller could sing “I wanna rule my destiny” and truly mean it.

JAMAICA NUH WA’AN NUH BANGARANG – Needless to say, everyone is concerned about crime, education and unemployment. Critics are saying that although Simpson-Miller has good intentions, Dr. Peter Phillips would have sured-up more investors in the island. Some claim current investors will flee and new ones will be cautious. They argue that jobs may diminish and opportunities will dry up because Simpson-Miller may be popular but lack diplomacy and connections. Whatever the skeptics claim, now is the time for all Jamaicans to band together to secure the country’s future and a better quality of life for the underclass. As the song title says: “Jamaica nuh wa’an nuh bangarang.”


JAMAICA, JAMAICA – The election of a new president of the PNP was just one of the many happenings that Jamaicans focused. In St. Ann’s, thousands visited Nine Miles to honor Marley’s legacy. On the last day of the month, I visited the home of Marley’s teacher Ms. Clarice Neita. She taught Bob Marley at Stepney All-Age School from grade five. She told me some comical stories about the boy from Nine Miles. I also stopped into the school and wondered why it had not been re-named for Bob Marley. After talking with the principal, Tuff Gong’s General Manager Mitzy A. Evans and the Marley family’s most supportive advocate Lorna Wainwright I was told that the Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture had been petitioned to no response. How pathetic is that for the ministry?

In any case, I also visited the Cedella Marley-Booker Basic School, the Stepney Baptist Basic School and the Rhoden Hall Basic School. All the schools benefit from the Bob Marley Foundation, Ziggy Marley’s URGE, Tuff Gong and Rita Marley Music and Bob Marley’s mother Booker whose idea of a basic school enabled a beautiful, and colorful, earthquake-proof, facility that is built to withstand a category 5 hurricane. On that same day, I also stopped into Trench Town to talk with friends of Bob Marley at Culture Yard. On my second visit, I walked down First St. Stopped by Marley’s deteriorating VW van, sat on a stool he reportedly enjoyed sitting on and heard why he penned “No Woman No Cry.” “Mrs. Green (neighbor) was crying about a death and Bob just sit down and write that song,” the Rastaman explained.
Undeniably, the Yard looks much improved from my last visit two years ago. To celebrate the 61st anniversary of Marley’s birthday, the Yard livened with appearances by Spragga Benz, Sugar Minott, Turbulence and others. According to Benjamin Cole, “Trench Town rocked.” I was awed by my return to 56 Hope Road where Jacqueline Lynch-Stewart is making a difference. Now a heritage landmark, the Bob Marley Museum should be a must-see for every visitor.
By the way, Marcia Griffiths was busy last week opening for “The Ice Man” Jerry Butler at Morgan’s Harbour. She also joined Richie Stephens at his CD launch for “Take Me Away.”
At Dornid’s Beauty School on Maxfield Ave. I talked with Allah Lloyd who informed me that Chalice is definitely planning a 25th anniversary CD.

Andrea Davis is tirelessly promoting International Day on Jul. 1. She talked at length at JAMPRO’s media collaborative with the Commonwealth Journalists Association and the Commonwealth Media Development Fund. There Guyana’s ring-bang music promoter Eddy Grant talked with invited guests. He shared the cultural business discussion with Michael “Ibo” Cooper, one of the founders of super-group Third World. I spotted Clyde McKenzie, Desi Young, Steve Golding, and other influential proponents of the music industry in Jamaica.
Listen to Elise Kelly on IRIE-FM for a new Toots & The Maytals single in tribute to Ray Charles. Titled “I’ve Got a Woman,” the Grammy winners provide reggae response to the recent Kanye West/ Jamie Foxx’s r&b/hip-hop collaboration. And the PM, P.J. Patterson talked with investors about Jamaica’s potential in world trade. He pumped brand Jamaica at the Jamaica Pegasus claiming its bank-ability. Wisynco Trading Limited responded with plans to market Bob Marley bottled water later this year. There was so much more happening around Jamaica last week.

Catch You On The Inside!
 
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