What ah prekeh! We doan even stop talking 'bout ah whole heap ah tings - the results of the recent polls dealing wid de two political parties and their leaders; de bad man (or ooman?) dem chikungunyah and Ebola; and de high cell phone bill fi di government ministers dem before another news item buss out. Ah true to backscup - never a dull moment in Jamaica.

I am talking about the comment allegedly made by Minister of Foreign Affairs and government, senator AJ Nicholson, on Friday, October 31 in the Senate when the Upper House of Parliament was debating the Flexible Working Arrangements Bill.

In response to concerns expressed by former resident magistrate and Opposition senator Marlene Malahoo Forte, essentially that women working later hours at night face more security risks such as rape, Senator Nicholson allegedly said, "What yuh want flexi-rape?" This immediately created howls of protest from the opposition senators and Senator Nicholson later issued several apologies including to Senator Malahoo Forte, the public and the Cabinet.

Senator Nicholson maintained that he was only "joking", but as old time people used fi seh, "what is joke fi yuh is death fi me!"

There are at least two schools of thought - one is that the comment was off the cuff, meant to be funny and that people are overreacting. Another is that "rape" is a serious issue, one of the more prevalent offences in Jamaica and Senator Nicholson should have known better to "run ah joke" about such a delicate matter. This was especially so because Senator Nicholson is the head of a government ministry that is supposed to be the leader in 'diplomacy'.

The issue has also brought to the fore a view shared by many, especially women, namely that many men do not appreciate how difficult and traumatic rape can be. For example, if Senator Nicholson was sensitive to this, then he could never have even contemplated making a joke about such a topic.

Mi ah wonder if ah becausen seh ah did Halloween dat duppy tek hold ah him and mek him speak in 'tongues'? Weh oonuh tink ?

The plot further thickened as it was later reported in the electronic and print media that in subsequent email exchanges involving the parties, Senator Nicholson allegedly 'threatened' Opposition Senator Kamina Johnson Smith, who had objected to Senator Nicholson's "flexi-rape"comment.

Many have been clamouring for him to "pack his bags and go"; yet I don't think our parliamentarians have reached that level of consciousness. Others are saying that there is no need to go that far because "a likkle joke him did a mek", but when one occupies certain office dem haffi careful wid dem speech because "cock mout kill cock!"

Rape is a serious matter and there is absolutely nothing funny about it. I will at least give credit for his apology, but a comment like dat cut to the core of an issue that many women (and to a lesser extent men) deal with on a daily basis.

Dis yah one yah already seem like one real soap opera and might gather steam. Weh oonuh tink a go happen inna de next episode? Catch up wid oonuh! More time!

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thefluffydiva and on Twitter and Instagram@fluffymisskitty.