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Roger Clarke

My fellow Jamaicans! Woeeeiiii mi sound like prime minister don't it ?!! No man - seriously mi haffi tink some more bout dis politics ting yuh nuh because ah sumpn mi ah penny long time but did kinda seh 'dat ah fi di future'.

Fluffy Diva have nuff pan har plate right now wid big big 'Cook-off' and all dem tings dere! The whole a the radio station still shaken up as to how me and Georgia Crawford-Williams aka Team Divalicious win di cooking competition! All now Cliff and George no recover but mi a go bwoil mi signature banana porridge and mek mi red herring 'flittas' fi revive dem!

After di odder day di politics ting come back braps right inna mi brain. Guess who cause it? Nuh Roger Clarke! One of Jamaica's most loved citizens, political or otherwise, departed this life recently while, ironically, waiting in the departure lounge in Florida to return to Jamaica, the country he worked so hard to improve.

The outpouring of love and affection from all sectors of the society for Roger, who was buried on Saturday, is the most I can remember seeing in recent times after the death of a politician. Mi nuh want fi cause nuh controversy but mi haffi seh dat nuff politician dead and people hardly cough or even pay attention. Wid Roger dat could'n appen! No sah. People sad all over the country.

buss some bawl

PM Portia Simpson-Miller and government Ministers Lisa Hanna and Natalie Neita Headley were caught on camera displaying their sorrow openly and did not hold back the tears. Dem buss some bawl deh widdout any worry fi di make-up! Dem tun up de eyewater when dem see di coffin and realise dat Roger really gone. Dis show dat dem people deh ah real human beings in spite of all de trappings, pomp and ceremony. All mi did haffi bawl too! Dem highlight de woman dem ah bawl but mi sure seh de man dem put dung some cow bawling too but dem hide from di camera man dem!

emotion and respect

Mi even see a pitcha of a well-known JLP politician a touch Roger body when it inna him coffin at PNP headquarters. Ah true show of emotion and respect dat! Mi nah lie though mi did haffi wonder if ah touch him ah touch Roger fi try and get some ah de magic that did mek Roger so popular!

Seriously though a number of lessons can be learnt from an examination of the life of the late minister of agriculture. Firstly, he demonstrated that politics did not have to be bitter, hostile etc. He straddled the political fence and made friends with many whom some of his colleagues might have seen as the enemy.

His great sense of humour and tremendous wit have become the stuff of legend. Who remember when Roger a ask the rich people dem fi buy oxtail and feed dem dog and leave the chicken back so that poor people can get it fi buy"?! Mi ask Roger how him feel bout the cartoon dem inna the paper and him say dem no offend him. As a matter of fact him frame dem and heng dem up inna him house!

was humble

One can also remember his cell phones ("hellloooo, helloooooo!") and the pictures of him getting down ('twerking') with female partners to show that he was up to the challenge! He was humble, hard working, a farmer and true son of the soil. Roger Clarke was a man of the people, by the people and for the people.

His political life is an example that politics is still an excellent option for people who are willing to serve their fellow citizens, that politicians can be loved and respected. He will be forever missed but his legacy will always be with us.

I remember interviewing him about the same 'twerking' picture weh did come and his jovial way of handling it was remarkable. Roger mek mi laugh so til! I replayed the interview on my radio show and further realised that the passing of Roger was not only a loss to our country but to humanity. Until we meet again ... Walk Good Roger.