Girl With a Purpose (GWAP)

Rest in Peace, Wilmott "Mutty" Perkins

 

["Now We are Free" with lyrics (words)]

 

When I heard of the passing of famous Jamaican journalist and radio Talk Show Host, Wilmott "Mutty" Perkins, this morning, I was deeply saddened.

 

"Mutty" Perkins had been a journalist for the better part of sixty (60) years and a radio Talk Show Host for the better part of fifty (50) years.

 

 

This stalwart of a man, was a very balanced journalist, who was never afraid to speak his mind and the truth.

 

He taught on his programme, "Perkins on Line" about everything, from...

 

...life - he stressed the importance of marriage,  being a responsible family man  and  the need for equality and justice for all Jamaicans

 

....to politics - he ensured that the listening public truly understood Jamaica's political history...from a balanced point of view.

 

He was  a husband who was completely dedicated to his wife Elaine...

 

...who, when his sight and hearing failed him -  became his eyes...his ears.

 

In his final days, he became ill, with his program "Perkins on Line" being hosted by the very capable, Joan Williams and later, by another capable Talk Show Host - Michael Anthony Cuffe.

 

"Mutty" Perkins transitioned at 1:06 a.m this morning, at the age of eighty (80) years old.

 

We, at Girl With a Purpose (GWAP) Blog, dedicate "Now We are Free" by Enya and the theme song of "Gladiator", to the memory of "Mutty" Perkins (just listen, will you? :)).

 

We hope, "Mutty", that Jamaicans will truly be free to understand that Jamaica is for Jamaicans and those who love her and not for those who would abuse politics to destroy her.

 

Mutty...may your soul rest in peace.

 

Our deepest condolences to his wife and the rest of the Perkins family, his Power 106 FM family and the Jamaican media fraternity. (Power 106 FM is the radio station that currently hosts "Perkins on Line").

 

(Just a note re the lyrics  of "Now We are Free" in the above video #2..the linguists claim that Enya would often sing in her own language - yes, she made up her own language based on Irish Gaelic.

 

What she has brilliantly done, above, is integrate Latin, Irish Gaelic & Hebrew in the above song.

 

So the lyrics above, have been approximately translated..she charted her own course...as did "Mutty").

 

(Many thanks to Akashadon and Lisa Gerrard  and for providing inset videos 1 & 2, respectively).

 

Gillian

 

Sources Include

1) Nationwide Radio's "This Morning", February 10,2012

 

2) Approximate English translation of lyrics -"Now We are Free", by its co-composer, Lisa Gerrard

 

3) Best Answer: "What language is the song 'now we are free' from gladiator soundtrack?", via Answers.com

Congrats Gifton Wright - New 2012 Gleaner Spelling Bee Champion!

A big Girl With a Purpose (GWAP) Blog congratulations go out to Gifton Wright, of Kingston College, who won this year's Gleaner Spelling Bee Championship.

 

[The Gleaner Spelling Bee Championship is an annual event put on by the Jamaica Gleaner, where top spellers across Jamaica, compete for prizes and the right to be called Spelling Bee Champion for the applicable year.

 

The two-stage competition begins in August, with the Parish Championships - where top spellers in each of the 14 Jamaican parishes compete for prizes and the title of parish Spelling Bee Champion.

 

The second stage (which occurred on February 2 this year), sees the 14 Parish finalists compete for the title of Gleaner Spelling Bee Champion.

 

Spellers have to spell long and very intricate words from the Oxford Dictionary...the dictionary used in Jamaican schools.

 

The competition's main sponsor is the Jamaica Gleaner's Children's Own Newspaper - the only newspaper available on island, for children at the Primary Level of our educational system].

 

As with all Jamaican Spelling Bee Champions, Gifton will represent Jamaica at the Scripps National Spelling Bee competition to be held in Washington DC, between May 27 and June 1 of this year.

 

Gifton's face showed relief (he had placed 4th last year), when he won and it was heartening to see the look of satisfaction, pride and victory on the Rev. Glen Archer's face when he realized that one of his students had won. 

 

[Rev. Archer, who also coached runner-up Davian Stewart, has consistently coached several Spelling Bee Champions over the past 20 years].

 

Gifton, as with most students in the competition, has the right approach to life:

 

He stated in Gleaner article, "Gifton's The Champ!", that, "You have to make sacrifices to get big things" and that "after winning the Kingston Parish Championship, he told himself he was going to win..trained hard and ended up champion" (paraphrased).

 

Our congratulations also go out to the other finalists:

• Davian Stewart, St Catherine (2nd place - placed 6th last year)


• Jaden Henry, Clarendon (3rd place)


• Jonathan Liu, Westmoreland (4th place)


• Tianne Barclay, St Andrew (5th place)


• Rushawn Stewart, Portland (6th place)


• Lois Robinson, St Elizabeth  (7th place)

 

(I'd like to thank the Jamaica Gleaner for the use of their YouTube video above - showing Gifton's win).

 

Gillian

 

Sources Include

Article, "Gifton's The Champ!",Tennesia Malcolm, Staff Reporter - Jamaica Gleaner, February 2, 2012

Jamaica News: Senators Appointed

Twenty (20) Jamaican Government Senators were appointed today, they will be sworn in tomorrow.

 

Their responsibility will be to review laws (legislation) passed in the Lower House of Parliament.

 

The Jamaican constitution allows for 21 senators: 13 to the governing/ruling Party and 8 to the Opposition.

 

The People's National Party has appointed 13 and the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party, 7 senators, so far, according to the PNP's majority in Parliament.

 

The PNP Senators are:

1. Rev. Stanley Redwood - President of the Senate


2. Angela Brown-Burke - Deputy President of the Senate


3. Mark Golding


4. Flloyd Morris


5. Mavil Clarke


6. AJ Nicholson


7. KD Knight 


8.  Sandrea Falconer


9. Wensworth Skeffery


10. Imani Duncan-Price


11. Lambert Brown


12. Noel Sloley


13. Norman Grant

 

The JLP Senators are:

 

1. Arthur Williams - Leader of Government Business


2. Tom Tavares-Finson


3. Robert Montague


4. Christopher Tufton


5. Marlene Malahoo-Forte


6. Camilla Johnson-Smith


7. Kavan Gayle


8. One to be named

 

We at Girl With a Purpose (GWAP) Blog congratulate these senators...

...and wish them clarity,  soundness of judgement and mind, a willingness to understand that they are not totally in charge - that they must request God's wisdom in the solemn responsibility they have,  in ensuring justice for all Jamaicans.

 

Gillian

 

Sources Include

1) Nationwide Radio, January 16,2012

 

2) Article, "Government senators appointed", via RJRNewsOnline.com, January 16,2012

 

3) Article, "Jamaica Government & Jamaica Government Structure", via GetJamaica.com,  accessed January 16,2012

We're Jammin' on Twitter re Jamaica's Pending Departure from the Monarchy!

Yesterday, Mrs. Portia Simpson-Miller was sworn in as Jamaica's new Prime Minister (PM).

 

We're discussing one aspect of her swearing-in speech on Twitter, right now - that of Jamaica's pending departure from the monarchy. 

 

Yep, if PM Simpson-Miller and the majority of Jamaicans have their way, Jamaica will become a Republic in the very near future. (This means that the Queen will no longer be Head of State).

 

(This topic has been getting quite a lot of attention in the UK, since the PM's inauguration speech was broadcast yesterday).

 

Do you agree that Jamaica should forget about having the Queen as its Head of State?

 

Want to share your thoughts?

 

Please join us on Twitter: @GWAPBlog (http://www.twitter.com/GWAPBlog), to participate. :)

 

======== Update January 11,2012======

We want to thank all those who participated in our Twitter Jammin' Session @GWAPBlog!

 

It was great conversing with you!

 

I guess the outstanding question  is whether or not the matter of Jamaica beoming a republic, will go to a referendum (public vote).

 

Let's wait and see!

======================================

 

Gillian

Jamaica's New Prime Minister to be Sworn in Tomorrow (With a Twist)!

Well, tomorrow is the big day for the new Jamaican government, after winning the December 29,2011 elections.

 

The Prime Minister-Designate and leader of the People's National Party, Mrs. Portia Simpson-Miller, will become Prime Minister of Jamaica for the second time. (She was last appointed PM in 2006).

 

Key members of her Cabinet will be sworn in by Friday of this week, with the rest of the Cabinet being sworn in within the next ten (10) days.

 

==========Update for January 5,2012===========

The entire Cabinet will be sworn in tomorrow, as PM Simpson-Miller wanted everyone to start working immediately.

========================================

 

To Girl With a Purpose (GWAP) Blog friends who are Jamaicans and those who love  Jamaica, some of you may not be old enough to be acquainted with Jamaican politics.

 

But listen to your older relatives and other older folk.

 

They'll tell you that you'll hear a lot of promises in election and swearing-in speeches,

 

But you, oh younger ones, must be wise.

 

Don't pay too much attention to what is said, look at what is done,

 

For actions speak much louder than words.

 

Many a Prime Minister has given flowery swearing-in speeches...but at the end of fifty (50) years, you, oh younger ones...

 

Is Jamaica really better off than she was, before becoming independent?

 

Are we richer, healthier, more spiritually-centred?

 

Or are we poorer, less healthy, spiritually depraved?

 

You, oh younger ones must be wise,

 

Always ask yourselves the question...does my government tell me how their performance should be judged?

 

Do they set goals and accomplish these goals?

 

Or do they give excuses for non-performance?

 

You, oh younger ones must be wise,

 

No matter the hype, strip it away and look at the real crux of the matter...

 

...and always ask yourselves...

 

Does my government, through their actions and policies, really value me?

 

More anon!

 

Gillian 

 

Sources Include

 

1) Television Jamaica, January 4,2011

2) Definition of a Parlimentary Cabinet(government) via Wikipedia.org, accessed January 4,2011.