Kingston, 5 April 2023 (JIS) - As Easter Sunday approaches, persons can catch up on their bible readings in Patois, the Jamaican language.

The Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport has launched its podcasts dubbed, ‘Scriptures in Patois’.

The series began on Ash Wednesday, the day after International Mother Language Day, which is observed globally to promote the awareness and importance of linguistic and cultural diversity.

On Easter Sunday (April 9), Patois scriptures will be read by the Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange; State Minister in the Ministry, the Honourable Alando Terrelonge; wife of the Prime Minister, the Most Honourable Juliet Holness; Jamaican actress, Karen Harriott and Jamaican actor, Lenford Salmon. They will read the Patois version of Matthew 28, verses 1 to 10.

People can listen to the podcast, which will be posted on the Ministry’s social media platforms, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Director of Public Relations and Corporate Communications at the Ministry, Oliver Watt, told JIS News that the main aim of the initiative is to celebrate the Jamaican language and “to do something practical and meaningful that we all can participate in and look forward to”.

“We need to celebrate every aspect of our Jamaican-ness, the things that make us unique. This is one thing that all of us use, but sometimes we don’t come out ourselves and look back at it or listen to it,” he added.

Mr Watt noted that the response has been good and that people now understand the meaning of the bible verses.

“People who listen to it say they finally get what the bible verses mean. They feel they have a greater emotional connection to what happens,” he said, adding that some of the verses read were on the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Mr Watt pointed out that persons are recognising the importance of the language. “This language is incredibly important. It is part of the essence of who we are as Jamaican people; whether we are uptown or downtown, this is the language that we use,” he said.

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