Any Caribbean citizen with even a smidgeon of knowledge of the region’s history would agree that Colonialism profoundly impacted our region. They would know that the former Colonial powers (British, French, Spanish, and Dutch brought disease, slavery and warfare to the region, which decimated indigenous people and destroyed and/or diluted their lifestyles, cultures and societies.
They would also be aware of the region’s ignoble status as a hub for the Transatlantic Slave Trade, during which millions of Africans worked in horrific conditions on sugar, coffee, and tobacco plantations for over 300 years. Colonialism involved the unconscionable plundering of the region’s natural resources and the repatriation of profits therefrom to support the opulent lifestyles of absentee plantation owners and the Empire building of the Mother Colonies. In fact, the Colonies were structured to benefit the Colonial powers, thus creating monocrop economies that underpin the region’s openness and dependence on exports.
Additionally, Colonial rule entrenched rigid class and race-based, political, social and economic systems that privileged white Europeans, while marginalising people of African and mixed descent. These systems continue to influence Caribbean societies, though not to the same degree as during Colonial times.
Amidst the stifling oppression, our enslaved fore-parents preserved and adapted their heritage. Many Caribbean nations still face challenges in their attempts at diversifying their economies and reducing their dependency, which many historians and economists attribute to Colonialism.
Of relevance to the thrust of this commentary is the fierce and resolute resistance of freedom fighters against Colonial rule, manifested in uprisings, such as the Tacky revolts in Antigua in 1736; the Haitian Revolution in 1791; and the Morant Bay Rebellion in Jamaica in 1865. Labour unrest across the English-speaking Caribbean spawned the Moyne Commission’s report, the infusion of capital for social development, gradual autonomy in decision making and eventually, Independence.
English-speaking Caribbean nations achieved their independence in the 20th century, beginning with Jamaica in 1962 and ending with St. Kitts and Nevis in 1983. Yet, 4 to 6 decades later, it’s argued that the region is dealing with the legacies of Colonial rule, in its weak institutions, economic inequality, and open and dependent economies. Some writers have even posited that the region’s vulnerability to extreme weather is part of the legacy of Colonialism. I will return to this argument in the second part of this commentary.
These arguments give me some discomfort. It’s easier for me to hold Colonialism responsible for the way things WERE than for the way things ARE. Let me explain.
I fully agree that it’s nigh impossible for our region to completely reverse the colossal damage that Colonialism has caused to its societies and economies, and the psyche of Caribbean people in 60 years. I acknowledge that when Great Britain relinquished control of its former colonies, it left behind bare Treasuries, dilapidated social and economic infrastructure, hopelessly dependent economies, and astronomical levels of illiteracy, poverty, unemployment and underemployment.
I was “privileged” to have been born and raised at a time that offered me a baseline of the deprivation that Colonialism left behind and to better appreciate the social and economic transformation that has occurred since Independence. The region has certainly come a long way. However, I contend that with the right mindset, we could have made more headway in reversing many of the deleterious impacts of Colonialism.
While we frequently cite the legacy of Colonialism, we seem reluctant to take actions that would reduce the negative impact of that legacy. In certain respects, it can be said that we seem unwilling to part with Colonialism.
What explains our region’s leech-like attachment to a country and a system that we rightly claim is the cause of our persistent poverty and underdevelopment?
Why do we celebrate the valiance of our anti-colonial fighters, yet we seem reluctant to continue their fight to fully separate ourselves from the scourge of Colonialism?
Should Colonialism be blamed for the fact that several Caribbean countries retain the Privy Council as their Final Appellate Court, instead of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ)?
Why have so few former colonies taken concrete steps to fully domesticate their jurisprudence by eliminating the many areas where English Law is complicating the application of domestic Law?
Why have so many former Colonies in our region remained as Constitutional Monarchies, with the King of the former Mother Colony as their Head of State?
How much longer will we blame Colonialism for our ongoing dependence, openness and vulnerability to external shocks, such as those unleashed by the ongoing Tariff war?
Can we claim that the tariff tussle reveals new lessons for us? Can we say with straight faces that we didn’t know the actions we needed to take to reduce our vulnerability to these external shocks?
Our region’s response to the Tariff upheavals bears a sad similarity to its response to past external shocks. When the 1973 Oil Crisis hit, our leaders at the time committed to reducing our reliance on fossil fuels. Some attempts were made to increase energy efficiency, especially in the transportation sector. Barbados went further than most by embracing solar water heating. In Saint Lucia, import bans were placed on vehicles with engines exceeding 1600 cc. But many of the steps that were taken were tentative and short-lived. As soon as the crisis receded, we returned to our energy-guzzling habits. When the 2008 Financial Crisis hit, our leaders promised to build a robust and more integrated financial ecosystem. They haven’t. When the Covid-19 crisis hit, our leaders pledged to reduce our over-reliance on external suppliers of goods and services and to revisit supply chains. They haven’t. Our region is now more dependent on Miami than it was before the pandemic hit.
Now that the region is faced with the ramifications of a Tariff War and an ultra-aggressive “America First” policy, our leaders are again recommitting to making the CSME a reality. Hopefully, this time around, they will do exactly that and stop blaming Colonialism for their inaction.