Candidate for Diego Martin Regional Corporation: JAYBEE (aka WAPPEE)

 

'I eventually became a gambler, under the nickname of Wappee... I’m most suited to handle any complaints of my constituents – drink, gamble, write and party hearty.'

I’m the first to admit. I’ve been a “rogue element” in the media for the past 66 years. How come the police never caught up with me, is anybody’s guess.

I was fascinated, as a boy, about how the media operated. Some event happens today, and you’re reading about it in tomorrow’s paper. Now with the development of technology, the event is right there before your eyes on television.

No longer, people have to hustle home to listen to Lionel Seukeran, or Tubal Uriah Buzz Butler, or Norman Tang, Roy Joseph, or Albert Gomes on the Rediffusion box.

Fascinated by the lengthy and full reports on the broadsheet Port-of-Spain Gazette, or the Guardian. It was mostly about, what is now archaic – writing Shorthand.

Let’s back-track a bit.

From my early teens I developed from playing a chac-chac at the family home in Arouca. My aunt played the piano; another aunt played the guitar; my uncle sang, while my male cousin played the violin to complete the Babb’s band.

As a result, music also attracted me. I had a quiet wish that the talent my aunt displayed on the piano. My hope was that when she died, the talent would automatically transfer to me. But that did not happen. I had to learn it the hard way. From the home piano, I was elevated to the church organ, then elevated again to be choirmaster of a choir of about 30 persons. I was an organist for some 20 years. My friendship with cathedral organist, Prof. Alan Carr, helped me a lot with my music.

I also ran the gamut with a string of combos, featuring “JayBee and the Highlites” – playing music for people to fete and wine; then hustling to Arouca to be on the organ at 6 am. It was hectic, but I loved it.

I eventually became a gambler, under the nickname of “Wappee.” I would always hustle a wappee game in order to get 50 cents, so I could have gone to the cinema, and be comfortable in Pit with a mauby drink and a sandwich. By then I was real street smart.

My turning point in life came when  first I decided to dive into newspaper work, urged on by my late buddy, Stanislaus Mora. He hooked me up to the Gazette, where initially, I was a country correspondent, being paid the princely sum of one cent a line. Not that any story was more than 20 or 30 lines.

Six months later, when news got around I was a Shorthand whiz at around 150 words per minute, the Gazette then was seeking writers at 84 words per minute. The salary was $2.50 per week.

Initially, the job was a “shoo-in” for me. While at work I continued pursuing my Shorthand speed which got up to 200 words per minute. I worked at the Gazette for 10 years.

Shortly after Radio Guardian (610 Radio) was launched, and I became a radio news reporter.

As a prolific shorthand writer, I usually doubled between Radio Guardian and Trinidad Guardian newspaper.

On two occasions, through the courtesy of the US State Department, I was member of a Caribbean group of newsmen in the US, covering the presidential race of both John F. Kennedy, and Lyndon Baines Johnson.

Shortly after I returned from the US, I later joined the newly established local branch of the London Daily Mirror newspapers, during which I filled the roles of News Editor/Political Reporter/General Reporter.

Following closure of the Mirror, I returned to the Guardian, and it was then I was at the peak with my Shorthand writing ability. I was pushing at the time then to get close to Emily D. Smith’s world record of 300 words per minute. No sireeee, I got no further than 220 words per minute. I’ve been through a number of books. I must recall that I got some good training when the late Dr Eric Williams, on his entry into local politics. Any problem that confronted the then government, Williams would order – “set up a committee.” We Shorthand writers made some money – at the rate of ten cents per line. All of the Shorthand writers in Parliament were busy, hence they had to look for additional Shorthand writers from the private sector.

All through my working career, I will never forget the advice of my Shorthand teacher, Mrs. Gwendolyn Jordan-Elcock – “always trust your notes.” Ever since, that has never changed.

I experienced it through the years. Reporters who would use their tape-recorders, would often call, to seek corrections. It was simply because of a battery problem, or some other issue.

To cut a long story short, after spending some 33 years at the Guardian, I retired for one week-end, because by the following week I was in the midst of carpenters or joiners building desks and cupboards to get Newsday started. Since then I’ve been here.

Now doesn’t that tell you that I’m most suited to handle any complaints of my constituents – drink, gamble, write and party hearty.