It's broken English': Jamaica's ministers joust over language ban in parliament

A maiden speech in Jamaica’s parliament began with ceremonial practices mirroring Westminster, including the arrival of the ceremonial mace and a speaker presiding in formal robes. MP Nekeisha Burchell, speaking as opposition spokesperson for culture, creative industries and information, started in Jamaican patois. Speaker Juliet Holness interrupted immediately, citing standing orders that require English and not Jamaican patois in parliament. Burchell was warned that further interruptions would end her allotted time. Her attempt triggered widespread debate about British colonial legacies, including whether parliamentary robes, prayers for the British monarch, and the “King’s English” remain appropriate more than 60 years after independence. Burchell continued in standard English, referencing the linguistic conventions of the house.

"As in the UK, the session on 12 May had started with the arrival of the ceremonial mace a five-and-a-half foot ornamented silver staff representing the British monarch's authority over parliament which now rested on a table between the government and the opposition. Despite the heat outside, debate was presided over by the speaker, dressed in a ceremonial robe."

"The regulation to which Holness referred was the rule that only English and certainly not Jamaican is allowed in parliament. If I have to stop you again during your presentation, you will not get any additional time, Holness told Burchell, as parliament erupted into protest, with someone chiding broken English!"

"By then, Burchell had already ignited an explosive debate across the country and beyond about the enduring legacy of British colonialism, and whether robes, prayers for the British monarch and the King's English are still right for Jamaica, more than 60 years after it gained independence. Burchell continued her speech in standard English."

"Madam speaker, perhaps I should abandon that attempt to use our local language because I have been reminded of the linguistic conventions of this honourable house. MP stopped from speaking in patois in Jamaican parliament video Because maybe there is no more fitting way to begin a presentation on culture than to speak briefly in the language understood by the overwhelming major"

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