Colonialism and Neo-colonialism in Jamaica

656 Words2 Pages

Colonialism and Neo-colonialism in Jamaica

It is now 51 years since Jamaica gave birth to its independence, however it is like a baby whose umbilical cord was never severed after birth. The baby grows up, undeveloped with limited mobility, still attached to its mother by an extended umbilical cord. This attachment restricts the baby’s movement while giving an uncaring mother a great degree of control; she can impose her will, put unfair demands on the child, withhold food, and take from the child if the child does not conform to her wishes. This metaphor is a depiction of neocolonial control over the island.

For many years colonialism milked Jamaica and other Caribbean countries by imposing false identity on our people, diminished resources that affected growth and development. In spite of the richness of these countries, they are still referred to a third world and under develop countries. All the post-colonial unrest and instability in the Caribbean has the footprints of traditional colonial entities. They usually come into the country, attach themselves to some factions, mostly opposition parties then supply guns and ammunition, dangle the carrots, and influence elections. Their main objective is to prevent governments that would encourage self-reliance, equality and justice for the people. They rather keep the masses poor and needy so they can pass their breadbasket and their offering plate in which they drop a penny and take a pound .They come under false presence as human rights advocates, freedom fighters and stability agents while instigating and spreading propaganda to create unrest among the people. They create artificial shortage of basic food like bread, milk and flour so the poor cannot eat, all to undermine...

... middle of paper ...

...nted true independence on all front and was not willing to be anybody’s puppet. He was not afraid to associate himself with those the world hated; he had a mind of his own. Michael Manley did put up a good fight against neo-colonial forces.

It’s time to chase those ball heads out a town. It’s time to stand up to neocolonial forces, throw away the wigs and gowns and pay allegiance to the people of Jamaica. Stop licking the back of Mrs. Elizabeth’s head on those stamps, how many Jamaicans are on British stamps? “Jamaica, Land We Love” what about Jamaica’s people we love. Stop allowing the devaluation of Jamaican dollar, stop the slave wages when people are paying an arm and leg for food. Trinidad just gave a 12-14% wage increase across the country, its Jamaica’s time now.

God bless Jamaica but the parties need to come together and make it about the people.

Open Document