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Recommended: Four factors that led to the abolition of slavery in the British West Indies between 1791 and 1834

THE NEED FOR LABOUR IN THE WEST INDIES, WAS THE PRIMARY REASON FOR THE DIVERSE NATURE OF THE WEST INDIAN SOCIETIES TODAY.

1. Introduction
History shows that by the commencement of the 20th century, the West Indies was an assemblage of a variety of ethnicities and nationalities. The Caribbean islands are a melting pot of cultures and languages. The history of the region and social relations within it has many contributing factors leading up until the mid-20th century, towards the high variety of race, culture and tradition found within the Caribbean today. Such factors include the presence of the indigenous inhabitants of the Caribbean as well as the different hands that colonies have passes through, including Spain, France and Britain. However one can unequivocally state that history shows the requisite for labour is the primary reason for the diverse nature of West Indian societies presently.
The dominant economic activity of that time was the production of sugar cane, and due to a need for labourers in this and other production fields, a wide range of races and cultures was introduced to the Caribbean, resulting in the diverse nature of the West Indies today. Firstly this thesis can be supported when one looks at the fact that the European governments that had settled in the region had practically exterminated the original inhabitants, thus denying that this was the reason behind the current variety of the West Indies. Secondly, the bulk of the West Indian population had arrived by force from Africa, during the slavery period. Thirdly, after emancipation the need to fill the labour vacancies resulted in Inter-island, North American and African Migration. Lastly the need for labour also gave rise to an influx of labourers from ...

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...ation of their indentureship was completed, they left the estates. While a few returned to China, most remained in the Carribbean, becoming small traders, shopkeepers and restaurant owners. Today their cuisine can be purchased in most areas of Trinidad including resturants and preservatives, and they have influenced activities such as dragon boat racing festivals. (NALIS researchers)
The Javanese, Annamites, Japanese and Yucatecans are other indutured labouring groups that camt to the Caribbean. The Javanese were especially imported to Suriname, after their indentureship, only 22% returned to Java, which was even less that the 35% of Chinese that went back to their native land. About 2000 Yucatecans came to Cuba. (Beckles & Shepherd, 77) Again it can be noted that the arrival of all these races were all due to the need for labour in the Caribbean.

8. Conclusion

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