The Long Road to Progress for Jamaica

The Achievements and Failures in the Post-colonial Era

by Jermel Shim

The Long Road to Progress for Jamaica
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The Long Road to Progress for Jamaica

The Achievements and Failures in the Post-colonial Era

by Jermel Shim

Published Dec 13, 2017
374 Pages
Genre: POLITICAL SCIENCE / Colonialism & Post-Colonialism



 

Book Details

A compelling exposé on Jamaica's roller coaster journey through five and a half decades of independence. Ride along on this journey to discover interesting information that addresses the following: • The role of Jamaica's Prime Ministers in shaping its independent journey • The three political eras that they fit in • Factors that have stymied Jamaica's progress • Practical solutions and revolutionary ideas to reroute Jamaica's journey on a path of progress Author Jermel Shim provides a perspective of Jamaica's turbulent journey that will motivate Jamaicans at home and abroad to make sacrifices that will help make Jamaica a better place for all. "The Long Road to Progress for Jamaica is not a doomsday book by any means. In fact, in spite of what Shim identifies as the unerring truths and conclusions and inevitably sad results of wrong moves made for most of our independence journey, this compelling book is not short of realistic optimism or a practical search for solutions." Lance Neita, Jamaica Observer Columnist

 

Book Excerpt

It was against this backdrop then that Michael Manley became aware that to continue the old colonial political system would not provide the transformation he so dearly wanted for Jamaica. This awareness was the catalyst for his motivation to pursue radical policies never before encountered. To accomplish this, he had to turn for help from non-traditional sources, like Cuba, with its well-established communist regime. It appeared that he was also prepared to get help from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), as evidenced by his visit there in 1979. Fortunately, or unfortunately for Jamaica, fate stepped in and interfered with Michael Manley’s radical changes. The USSR which bankrolled Cuba, collapsed, and the individual countries which made up that super- state regained their individual national borders and became their own countries as they had once been. This left Russia alone, as the major communist country of the former USSR, but without the global power and financial resources that the old USSR had in bundance. With the collapse of the Soviet Union, the steady funding of Cuba stopped. Castro was therefore, no longer able to help Jamaica. Under his leadership, Michael Manley would set the stage for implementing revolutionary changes under his avowed philosophy of “democratic socialism.” Those changes included the Gun Court, imposing the Bauxite Levy, forming a close relationship with Cuba’s Fidel Castro and imposing austerity measures. Because such dramatic policies were implemented together with strong anti-imperialistic rhetoric and a good measure of authoritarianism, they led to political instability and economic decline, which was augmented by developed countries, like neighbouring USA, withdrawing their economic support and in turn, a steep decline in tourism. Manley’s democratic socialism was aimed at reversing the British colonial legacy that put black Jamaicans at a disadvantage and gave people of light-skinned complexions their usual opportunities and privileges. Michael Manley was very aware of this scenario, as he stated in his book: The fact is that people with light complexions enjoy a psychological advantage and consciously or unconsciously have assumed an additional ‘weight’ in the society. In the case of people of dark complexions, the reverse has been the case. To an even greater extent people born to middle class families enjoy both practical and psychological advantages of a substantial nature.

 

About the Author

Jermel Shim

Jermel W. Shim was born in Jamaica and educated in Canada as a mechanical engineer. From his childhood days he developed a strong interest in politics. Although living in the US, for the past 37 years, he has maintained a connection with Jamaican politics that is obvious in this book. This is his fourth published book and first on Jamaican politics. His other books that reflect his love of politics and social issues are: • A New Perspective on Race-related Problems in Corporate American Companies • Whom God Has Blessed Let No Man Curse • Racism in America. In the review of the book about Pres. Obama (Whom God Has Blessed Let No Mann Curse), Kimberlee Hicks, Pacific Book Review wrote, "…there is no denying his passion for the subject, nor his knowledge of politics, which makes him an excellent spokesman for the cause."

Also by Jermel Shim

A New Perspective on Race-Related Problems in Corporate American Companies
Racism in America