Boardlane TV has been following the trial of reggae superstar Mark Myrie, also known as ‘Buju Banton’ since the court session began. Banton is on trial for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five or more kilogrammes of cocaine. He could get a maximum of 20 years to life in prison if convicted.
Buju Banton’s fans have turned out in their numbers for the trial that started on Monday. We have exclusive insider reporting into the happenings inside the Tampa Court from the fans of Buju Banton.
Boardlane TV: Good afternoon, you look a little deflated from the proceedings. Tell us what seems to be your worry.
Suzette: Yes mis lady, mi waan know is why a bare farrina dey pan di jury. Imagine sey a whole heap DJ out dey a look food fi nyam an coulda dey pan di jury fi retribute justice fi Buju. Dem farrin people noh undastan di suffaratian wey yaad man goh troo. Dem jus a goh look pan im rasta head an automatically tink sey im a drugs man. A soh dem dutty minded people apparate.
Boardlane TV: So who would you suggest should make up a jury of his peers mam?
Suzette: Lady mek mi tell yuh -man like Flourgon, Shabba Ranks, Major Mackerel and Yellowman fi up dey a lissen to wey di stinka dem a sey bout Buju. Dem woulda simpatize caah mi know fi a fac sey dem man dey tek coke inna fi dem time to. Yuh did know sey a coke mek Yellow Man mout lean an look like absess a grow inna im teet?
Boardlane TV: No I had no idea. Well thank you for taking my question. Let me talk to another individual. Young lady, yes you in di red blouse… come over and let me have a talk with you for a moment.
Merlene: Hi how yuh doing? Wan minute dey before yuh start. (she takes the mike away from the reporter). I wan to sen greetings to Aunt Myrna ina Dumfries Trelawny. Wishing a hawty ‘ello to mi bredda pan mi modda side – cyaan memba im name now fram Nanny Town dung a Portlan. Big Up! BUJU SHALL OVACOME! WI NAAH LEF IM OUT! BRAP!
Boardlane TV: Ok can I have the mike back please? Thank you. During the trial, you were seen covering your ears when the tapes where being played. Can you explain to Boardlane TV why you did that?
Merlene: Lady mi feel it fi im enoh. It did look bad fi im an den when mi hear sey tape ago play, mi heart cudden stan fi hear noh more an mi dis cawk up mi ears ole. Mi cyaan tek an noh stress seka mi carry belly fi Buju now. Im is di love of mi life, mi hawt an mi soul, only deat will do us part. By di way, yuh did hear wey dem did a sey pan di tape?
Boardlane TV: Yes. He was caught on tape claiming he was getting into drug smuggling to feed and send his 15 children to school.
Merlene: Sey wah??! Den a how di backside im mek di tree pickney dem mi hav fi im a dead fi ungry?! Soh fi mi pickney dem a noh nutten to im? Yuh si seka dat, a hope di govament heng up im roosss by im teelie an put im pan display mek a get fi stone out im kacka-ole!
Boardlane TV: Alright then. So much for supporting Buju. Sir, you in the green and yellow Clarks shoes. Could I ask you a question? What do think about the guilt or innocence of the defendant in the case?
Donavon: Well so far mi tink im innocent enoh. As far as mi si dem a try di man fi taste lickle coke. Fi all I know, Buju coulda tink sey a milk powda dem a gi im fi taste. A set dem set im up. No evidence did dey fi sey di man move coke fram pint A to pint B.. yuh si mi?
Boardlane TV: So what do you think about the accusation about smuggling diamonds from Africa?
Donavon: Dutty canspiracy lady! Mo Fihah! Mi know fi a fac sey wey dem a cawl diamond a Cubic zirconian. A di sed false sinting yuh si a glissen ina Buju teet. A dat dem a cawl diaman smuggling. kiss teet ) Buju B is a ghetto yute. Wey im know bout diaman? Di only ting di man tek outta Africa is wan antique wood stool! Mi noh know wey dem a chat bout!
Boardlane TV: Interesting comments sir. Thank you. Mister over here please. Do you have opinion as to what you have heard in court today sir?
Rohan: Yes mam …a bare almshouse bisness a gwaan ina di courtroom. Yuh si di infarma bway wey a wok fi di govament…unu noh si sey di man a try escape dip back to Columbia? Di way how mi si it a im bring argument to Buju bout coke bizness an Buju run di bway! Im tek bex an cawl dung Babylon pan Buju. A Infarma baway fi dead!
Boardlane TV: But what about the tapes sir? It was Buju who was clearly asking Mister Johnson to set up the deal to acquire cocaine. Wouldn’t you agree with that?
Rohan: Lady tap farm fool! Buju did a talk on behalf of di two bway dem wey come fram Georgia name Ike an Tyke! Buju noh inna noh coke bisness….di yute is all about Music an bussing gun shat inna b@tty bway head. A bet sey dem same set a chi-chi man a set im up. Di same way how dem did sey a neva R Kelly pan di tape .. mi noh believe sey a Buju dat pan di tape eida. Dem dey bogus cassette fi dash wey!
Boardlane TV: Ok thanks for your comments sir. Hi young lady come talk to Boardlane TV. Do you think the defendant is guilty as charged or are you here to support him?
Donnet: Miss lady, Buju a wan a wi, soh wi did haffi come yah fi support im. Mi cyan believ wey dem a try do to wi Jamaican Igol. Di man wey testify tidey sey Buju neva buy di jrugs, im only talk bout it. Soh a how dem fi hole Buju when all im do is fantisize fi bi a drug king pin? At least im a show some ambition. Nuff people have di same dream fi run jrugs up an dung di place ..but dat noh mek wi jrug smuggla….dat jus a show yuh sey money naah run an wi a look fi sinting betta in life. Mek dem move an gwey!
Boardlane TV: But drug smuggling is against the law madam. Shouldn’t he have dreams that are less criminal in nature?
Donnet: People fi tap paas judgement pan di bway. Buju sey im have pickney fi feed an sen goh school. Di man haffi try a ting. Supposen sey im did really a try sell jrugs, mi noh blame im caah Candense milk an school unifarm dare out hell! Imma jus a try bi a good baby faada fi im pickney dem. Dem fi tap treat Buju like im a some cumunoono! After all!
Boardlane TV: Ok I am sure he appreciates your support. Let me get Stephen Marley on Camera. Hi Stephen, you were one of the key witnesses for the defense. What can you tell us about your relationship with Buju and do you think he will be convicted?
Stephen: Well mi haffi come defen mi idren caah mi know Buju fi bout 20 years now. Mi an im use to bun calliweed wid Peta Tosh an Bunny Wailer back when wi was a yute a goh a school – zeen? As mi sey to di court, Buju a di voice of di people. An wi naah goh stan fi di heathen dem silence di vice dat gi wi peace loving choones like ‘Man Fi Dead an Boom Boom By Bye ’. Dem lyrics dey speak to heart of di Jamaican people – zeen?
Stephen then burst out into a skank and begins to sing one of Buju’s songs with gun finger in the air:
Let Jah rise and the heathen scatter
Have to give thanks and praises no matter
Even if the flames is getting hotter & hotter
Every one should know I don’t believe in rumor
Stephen: WHEEEELLLLL!! Buju yuh dun know. Yuh safe lick bulla inna a glass case. Dem a try get yuh outta di rat race. Dem set pizen fi rasta taste but di fi Babylon bway dem noh hav noh case – easy yuhself Dread an non watch noh face!
Boardlane TV: Ok Folks, that’s all the live reporting we have from BoardlaneTV at the moment. We are hoping we can get a word with the Defendant’s Lawyer or the defendant himself later in the day or in the future. Now back to our regular scheduled programming.
About the Writer
Wendy is an aspiring playwriter and author. Many of her ‘Jamaicanized’ stories and original sketches have been ‘viral’ on the Internet for several years. Many who have read her work has been known to laugh uncontrollably from the hilarious portrayal of the characters in the sketches. Wendy’s impressive writing portfolio includes the very funny Jamaicanized version of the Titanic, Cinderella (Punchinella) and most recently the sketch on the American Airline crash in Jamaica. Her work has been featured on the Jamaicans.com forums for over 12 years and enjoyed by many around the world. She is currently in the process of writing her first book to be released soon.
J.C. Wright, Springdale, Maryland © 2010
