Colonialism and Neocolonialism in Jamaica and the Caribbean

For many years colonialism milked Jamaica and other Caribbean countries by imposing a false identity on our people

All the post-colonial unrest and instability in the Caribbean has the footprints of traditional colonial entities

By Maurice HAUGHTON


It is now 51 years since Jamaica had to its Independence, however, it is like a baby whose umbilical cord was never severed at birth.  The baby grows up, underdeveloped 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 Jamaica.

For many years colonialism milked Jamaica and other Caribbean countries by imposing a false identity on our people, diminishing resources that affected growth and development.  In spite of the richness of these countries, they are still referred to as Third World and underdeveloped.

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 foods like bread, milk and flour so the poor cannot eat, all to undermine the Government.  Given the circumstance, any baby would buckle under such pressure, while the mother undoubtedly grins as she gets her way, just like the old days of gestation when the baby must shuts its mouth and take whatever comes its way.

During colonialism, Jamaica had to blindly ingest the unsavory meals served up by colonial powers.  They took our harvest and gave us slaves to create more harvest.  It is true, "I and I build a cabin, I and I plant the corn.  Now you look me with a scorn then you eat up all my corn".

Marcus Garvey spoke out against it and Michael Manley tried stopping it, but overpowering forces fought back, using everything from the IMF to big businesses and capitalist tactics.  Neocolonial influence is all over the Jamaica today.

After 300 years of Emancipation, and 51 years of "Independence", people are still talking about 'God Save The Queen'.  When did the Queen ever say 'God Save Michael Manley, Portia Simpson' or any of those stuff shirts who claim to represent her.

In 2009, England suspended part of the constitution of the Turks and Caicos Islands over allegations of corruption.  Like a scolding mother, she usurped the democratically elected government and replaced elected officials with her own appointees.

For those who wish Jamaica was still under British rule, is that what you want?  Why not ask your fairy godmothers for a couple of slave masters and some backra massas too.

All elected officials in Jamaica must take the oath of allegiance to Her Majesty: "I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Her heirs and successors, according to law.  I remember as a young man in Jamaica watching a parliamentary debate when Michael Manley stated that he could not mean it in his heart but he was obliged to so swear.

He said, while he respects the Monarch, he did not think the people of Jamaica should have to take such an oath.  I remember the opposition pushing back on the idea.

Manley wanted true independence on all fronts 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 put up a good fight against neo-colonial forces.

It's time to chase those self-serving bald 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 the Jamaican dollar, stop the slave wages when people are paying an arm and leg for food.  Trinidad recently gave a 12-14 per cent wage increase across the country, it's Jamaica's time.

God bless Jamaica, but it's time the parties come together and make it about the people and not politics.

Maurice Haughton is a freelance journalist living in Philadelphia, USA. Send comments to: haughton727@ymail.com

February 03, 2014

Jamaica Observer

Can The Youth Save Africa From Neo-Colonialism?

AFRICANGLOBE – In his book, “Neo-Colonialism : The Last Stage of Imperialism, (page11) Kwame Nkrumah cautioned:

‘So long as Africa remains divided, it will therefore be the wealthy consumer countries who will dictate the price of its resources’.

I told you so! This appears to be the bitterness boiling up in the hearts of many Pan-African revolutionaries across the world as Africa gradually sinks into the pit of poverty while its resources are being fleeced for peanuts on a daily basis.

Today, the dangers of Neo-colonialism have become so evident in Africa to the point where no further explanation is necessary. Africa, a continent which claims to be independent has allowed herself to be ordered around, always dancing to the tune of foreign “aid”. This is despite the fact that Dambisa Moyo, a renown Zambian economist and author of the book ‘Dead Aid: Why Aid Is Not Working and How There Is a Better Way for Africa, has clearly demonstrated to our leaders that ‘No nation has ever attained economic development by aid.”

African leaders have over the years obeyed every instruction from the West, yet Africa and its people are no better for it. We’re still indebted to the World Bank and the IMF more than it was 20 year ago. In spite of this, African leaders are not ready to change the old ways of doing things.

To allow a foreign country, especially one which is loaded with economic interests in our continent, to tell us what political courses to follow, is indeed for us to hand back our independence to the oppressor on a silver platter, (Kwame Nkrumah, ‘Consciencism’ pg.102).

The fact is, our founding fathers foresaw the dangers that come with our resolve to rely on the non-Africans to solve all our problems for us. This problem has been compounded by the lack of unity among the African nations.

After 50 years, this statement has become the sad truth. There is not a single African raw material that is traded on the international market which price is determined by Africans. It is now evidently clear that many of our African leaders don’t care whether the solutions to our economic challenges have been well-documented by our founding fathers or not.

It is therefore time for the African youth to step aside these traitors for failing to act in our collective interest as African people.

A new generation of leadership is needed to rise up from among the youth with a determination to save mother Africa from the firm grip of neo-colonialism, political incompetence and corruption which is currently becoming the hallmark of modern African leadership.

Action Plan One: The Role Of the Youth

Earlier in life, I had discovered that if you want something, you had better made some noise. - Malcolm X

It is clear that Africa still remains under-developed because many of the youthful talents that can transform the continent have been ignored for far too long. Nevertheless, this is not a reason for them to give up. It is time for the youth to start making some noise else the status quo will never change. Gather yourselves in front of the parliament buildings and in front of the various African embassies. March in your numbers towards the the stations of the various TV networks.

Whiles you’re there, continue to make noise and Rest Not until their voices are heard and your concerns addressed.

Finally, I therefore put forward an action plan which must be followed in order to ensure that our search for a new generation of incorruptible leaders for the continent becomes a reality within the shortest possible time for the benefit of Mother Africa.

• The African youth must first organise in small groups and create the platforms for dialogue and exchange of ideas.
• The groups must identify and nominate highly incorruptible members as their leaders.
• The groups must have power to remove from office, leaders identified to be corrupt.
• Leaders of the various youth groups must coalesce and draw up a common agenda for the Youth Liberation Movement. All such agenda must focus on youth empowerment including a protest to remove the age-restricted political portfolios from our constitutions.
• The Youth Liberation Movement must remain vocal in their communities, highlighting the challenges of the youth on any given platform.
• It is ideal that the Youth Movement forms a political party solely dedicated to the needs of the youth.
• Leaders of the Youth Movement can thus venture into the political terrain and stand up for the right of the youth. We need more young ones in parliament.
• Where possible, no youth must vote for the old men but rather a candidate nominated from the political parties formed by the youth and dedicated to the youth.

If this is done, the youth can begin to make impact in African leadership and help wrestle power from the old men. It is time for the youth to begin ignoring the old men in elections and rather concentrate on such leaders born out of the Youth Revolutionary Movement who truly have the welfare of the youth at heart. This process if well implemented can help send a strong signal to the world that Africa is now ready for a new generation of revolutionary leaders dedicated to end corruption once and for all.


By: Honourable Saka

The writer is a Pan-African analyst and the founder of the Project Pan-Africa, an organisation established with the sole purpose of unlocking the minds of the African youth to take Africa’s destiny into their hands. He can be reached on e-mail:honourablesaka@yahoo.co.uk.

May 16, 2013

African Globe