Meaning
A referee — the official who governs football and other sports, and, more loosely, anyone who steps in to settle a dispute or keep order. 'Di ref blow di whistle' at a match, while 'who a play ref?' asks who is trying to mediate a quarrel. Football being a national passion, the ref is a familiar figure, praised and abused in equal measure, and the word stretches naturally from the man with the whistle to any would-be peacemaker who inserts themselves to judge a row.
Examples
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Di ref call a foul pon di striker.
The referee called a foul on the striker.
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Wi need a ref fi settle dis argument.
We need someone to settle this argument.
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Di crowd cuss di ref fi di bad call.
The crowd cursed the referee for the bad call.
Origin
A clipping of 'referee'; also loosely a mediator/settler of disputes.
How it’s used
A sports referee; loosely a dispute-settler. Compare 'strika', 'bones' for the sporting/game field.