Analyzing the Present State of Jamaica - Essay Example

The present of Jamaica What are the implications of history to the present of Jamaica? In the book, “The present state of Jamaica”, the authors present a critical analysis of the present state of Jamaica. From their presentation, Jamaica, a former colony of the British in the Caribbean islands is historically recognized for the tremendous exchanges in cultural values. Jamaica’s first settlement comprised of Tainos who migrated into the country in 800 A.D. However, the founding of Jamaica was officially articulated to the discovery made by the Spanish explorer called Christopher Columbus in the 15th century1. He discovered that Jamaica comprised of over 200 hundred villages of the indigenous population in the southern part of the country. Thereafter the British proclaimed the Jamaican colony and Spanish conceded defeat, as they were militarily weak to engage in a battle with the British. Therefore, Henry explored further into the northern parts and established British settlements after realizing that the colony had rich soils that would promote agricultural projects. From a critical analysis of the book “The present state of Jamaica”, the following discussion explains on the tremendous exchanges in the Jamaican history that resulted to distinct cultures, political systems, economic practices, and social exchanges through demographic dimensions. Spanish colonies were the most established in the Caribbean islands since their founding by Christopher Columbus in the early 1450s. On occupying Jamaica, the Britons realized that all the surrounding colonies belonged to the Spanish and were prosperous in all their economic, social and cultural environments. The Britons lacked financial capabilities to ensure that all activities ran in accordance to the desired set of plans. This period whereby the British tried to weigh out the surrounding circumstances and the possible methods of achieving success in the colony is directly relative to invasions they made in the Spanish rich territories. A young Henry Morgan engaged in the military in his early age, gained experience and turned out to be an aggressive privateer, and through him most of the Britons in Jamaica benefited from the ambushes he laid against the Spanish territories the Spanish. He owned ships and privateers who reflected aggression in all expeditions that Henry termed as profitable2. The book referred to as the present Jamaica is a reflection of the activities aged before 1665 in Jamaica and the extent at which they shaped the subsequent environment in the country. These intercultural relations are born of Captain Morgan’s invasions, and the British military slavery practices in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Jamaican colonial masters traded in slavery in order to yield enough manual labor for farming. Most of the slaves were from the African continent while the rest comprised of the South Americans, Asians, and the indigenous population of Jamaica3. Throughout the past 6 centuries, Jamaica has been a hub for many of the world’s notorious pirates, a factor articulated to the practices of Henry Morgan. Ancient practices continually passed through generations and the country’s current culture of Jamaica is comprised of notorious and aggressive individuals, many of whom are youths. The rise in crimes and indulgence in drugs, and the considerable praise heaped on the legendary Captain Morgan reflect to the current practices. In the 15th century, the British were well established and had begun to rear a wide variety of domestic animals ranging from fowl, flocks of sheep, horses, mules, and wild birds of whose products would be of vital use at their homes. The masters argued out that all the present animal and food variety were of better quality compared to those present in their homeland, Britain. As the colony continuously amassed strengths and engaged in worthwhile economic activities, their Spanish predecessors would make surprise attacks, but all were combated by the military generals. For example, Sir Charles Littleton and Sir Thomas Lynch were the legendary military generals who protected and suppressed any enemies at the Jamaican coast, for instance the war at the Old Harbor and at Charles Fort4. As a British colony since the early 15th century, Jamaicans social practices reflected a European culture despite the diverse racial composition. The languages portrayed English words, but with distinct pronunciations and sentence structures thus; linguists argue out that Jamaican Patois is the appropriate name for the language. It is an incorporation of English and African languages. As such, it has spread widely because of the reggae genre of music. The Jamaican colonialists formed an administration but later on dissolved it on the basis of accountability and devolution of power and authority. Since the ancient times, the country reported to the monarch family comprising of the king and queen of England remains to be the supreme leader of the state with a representative in the country5. There are two Jamaicans representing the will of the people in the monarchical parliament, which further comprises of other chosen representatives forming the legislative body of the parliament. Jamaicans portray aggression towards the English oppression since their engagement in the system of governance has never phased out thus portraying a system of neo-colonialism. Through reggae music, the inhabitants despise British involvement and argue upon it as the source of the continued rate of poverty despite the availability of vast natural resources whose utility may eradicate poverty eternally. The country is dependent on agricultural production with sugarcane posing as the main cash crop. However, much of the arable land belongs to the rich British settlers who inherited it from their British families. Because of these economic inequalities, majority of the Jamaicans live in abrupt poverty, with 15% of the population being unemployed. Jamaica has shown an incorporation of the political system to criminal gangs focused on illegal economic dealings6. For example, criminal gangs ensure that they have a stake in the political system by electing and supporting their associates into the government. These political representatives are formidable, their role is to harbor bills, and laws that may lead to decline of illegal businesses such as drug trafficking. The gangs enforce undemocratic stipulations that forcefully deprive the majority population of their political freedom as it becomes mandatory to register membership with their favorite parties and vote for the favorite candidates. The blacks represent the majority population and account for most of the atrocities against the European races. Consequently, the system of governance reflects hindrances to bills that may propel the economy and social welfare in that the politicians differ in accordance to races and religions. The Europeans are Christians whereas the Africans are Jamaican maroons thus; they reflect a controversy in beliefs and attitudes7. The rate of criminology underlies the history of Henry Morgan who devised a convincing approach to prove innocence after committing atrocities against the Spanish colonies. Morgan would argue out of the specific reasons behind his attacks and the British colonial masters would approve those facts as concrete grounds of the attacks. Another reason that encouraged the British to perceive that Morgan was right in his endeavors was the fact that his expeditions benefited other British privateers, whose earnings would be bolster economic propulsion through the investments they made in the colony. These practices passed through generations to the present state of Jamaica whereby criminals impact considerable influence in governance of the country, without any measures or legal formalities to curb their continuity with the perception that they lead to economic growth. However, with poor exercise of democracy and poor rate of economic growth, facts are that the criminal activities do not serve the interest of the majority population compared to the extent at which the negative aspects affect the society8. The above hindrances in economic propulsion are relative to the book “The Present State of Jamaica”, which provides a precise approach on the exercise of British encroachment and the measures set to accrue much of the beneficial part of the Jamaican land in the 16th century. For example, the author stipulates the soil composition of the north, south, east and west parts of Jamaica and argues on the available differences in the arable and non arable land. He denotes an understanding that all the fertile land belonged to the Tainos and issues different names to the places where the British colonial masters would rest their hopes on implementation of successful plantations9. The examples are St. Catherine, St. Davids, St. Dorothies, and Clarendon, which represent 90,000 acres of the arable and the arable that would lead to the success of sugarcane farming among other agricultural activities. In conclusion, Jamaica’s environment comprises different aspects that affect growth forecasts in the country. With a 2 million population, the country’s economic stability continues to dwindle whilst establishing an increased rate of antisocial practices in the country. A reflection of colonial Jamaica poses meager differences to the current one. For instance, “The present State of Jamaica” stipulates that the country’s poverty levels were high at a time when the compound population of all races totaled to 30,000 individuals to the current 2.5 million head tally. Jamaica’s defense force is dependent on English military network for efficiency and competence; a factor related to the history that the military was formerly called the West India Regiment, and was a British owned military. Currently, most of the agricultural activities revolve around the growing need to prosper economically thus, Jamaicans are slowly shifting towards illegal drug businesses, which have a rich exchange value10. Therefore, the comparisons made imply that the history of the country impacts the present state and is accountable for the continued retrogressive practices, and the poor rate of growth in the economy. Work cited Columbus, Christopher, and Henry Morgan. The Present State of Jamaica with the Life of the Great Columbus: ... to Which Is Added, an Account of Sir H. Morgan's Voyage To, and Famous Siege and Taking of Panama. London: F. Clark for T. Malthus, 1683. Print. Read More

Columbus, Christopher, and Henry Morgan. The Present State of Jamaica with the Life of the Great Columbus: ... to Which Is Added, an Account of Sir H. Morgan's Voyage To, and Famous Siege and Taking of Panama. London: F. Clark for T. Malthus, 1683. Print.

 

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