Nuh Draw Mi Tongue!

(This article was first published on February 2, 2007 at 9:15 p.m. PST. It has been republished today to give a fuller and more accurate explanation of what was depicted in Las May's cartoon of the PM's response re her overseas travel bill.)

The Jamaican media has been buzzing since yesterday, when Las May, The Gleaner's Cartoonist, portrayed Prime Minister (PM) Portia Simpson-Miller,as a sketel (a Jamaican woman who's trashy).

(The Gleaner is one of Jamaica's leading newspapers.)

The PM was portrayed with a nose ring in her right nostril, in a tube top and a mini skirt (which was drawn up to her panties), with the top of her breasts exposed. Her shoes were also thrown off to the side, so too was the copy of The Gleaner's report [re the JMD $10.4 million that she and her entourage have racked up in overseas travel expenses over the PM's first seven (7) months in Office.] 

In the cartoon, she was saying:

1) "A long time unnu waan' draw mi tongue" [Jamaican, meaning, "it's a long time that you (the press and the Jamaican people) want to force me to give you a cussing".]

2) "Mi always travel in style" (Jamaican, meaning, "I always travel in style".)

3) "See't...mi husband gimme credit card!" (Jamaican, meaning "Look here...my husband has given me a credit card".)

Las May was depicting the PM's response to the report in January 28th's Sunday Gleaner when she was asked about her enormous overseas travel bill.

She then told the press that she had been given a credit card by her husband to spend as she wished, thus inferring that she didn't need the nation's money.

Well, of course her response shocked the nation, as most of us thought her response to be very inappropriate.

Not only did she not accept liability for the huge bill, but it's as if she didn't understand that this expenditure was bordering on illegal, as she had far overspent on what was budgeted and constitutionally legal.

This is from the same PM, who, when asked if the JMD $31 million "gift" from Trafigura was returned to them, told the press, "don't ask me, as the PNP". (Now, she is the head of the PNP, which has formed Jamaica's government for the past 18 years :))

[Trafigura is a Dutch oil company who had a contract with the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica to lift Nigerian oil and give Jamaica a set percentage of the profits each year.

This is a long story, so I'll keep it short. - The JMD $31 million was reportedly given to the PNP as a gift for their election campaign. This is the same amount of money that Jamaica was entitled to, annually, as a result of the Trafigura- Nigeria deal.

However, when the Opposition got wind of what was happening, they contacted the Dutch Government. (It's illegal for Dutch companies to fund political campaigns). So of course, Trafigura retracted the statement that the JMD $31 million was a "gift" and then said it was payment for the Trafigura-Nigeria deal.

The PM then promised that the money would have been returned to Trafigura...this is yet to be done.]

Well some people have been hopping mad re the cartoon. - They feel it's in poor taste to have depicted the PM in this manner. They also feel that The Gleaner's editors should never have sanctioned the cartoon.

The PNP's Women's Movement and Tourism Minister Aloun Assamba have gone as far as to demand an apology from The Gleaner. (They are yet to give it :)).

Well, you know that I just have to you give my opinion :).

On Thursday, when I saw the cartoon...I honestly thought it was funny...so funny that I laughed and laughed for about 2 hours :).

No, unlike some Jamaican women, I didn't feel that Las May's depiction of the PM's response, was done as a result of her being a woman.

And no, I don't believe that his depiction was scandalous...

Why?

Because this is what cartoonists do.

Las May and other cartoonists have depicted  former Opposition Leader Edward Seaga and the former PM, PJ Patterson, in very colourful ways as well.

And guess who has benefitted and has been benefitting from all of this? ...you've got it - The Gleaner.  Everyone wants to see the cartoon!

I bet The Gleaner has sold more copies of The Thursday Gleaner of February 1, 2007, than they have sold any other edition, for the entire week!

It's a pity that we have chosen to major on the minor - how the PM has been depicted. We should instead be concerned about her burgeoning travel bills. - Bills that we as Jamaicans have and will have to be paying for.

Hmmh...when will we learn to hold our politicians accountable?

When?

Gillian

Trafigura News Report Sources:-

1. Article, Jamaican Government to answer to Trafigura charge, The Gleaner, Saturday, October 14, 2006

2. Article, Jamaican Official Resigns Amid Scandal, by Howard Campbell, International Business Times, October 9, 2006