Brief Political History of Jamaica
Summary
TLDRThe video script explores Jamaica's history from its colonization by the Spanish and British, through slavery and resistance, to its independence in 1962. It touches on significant events like the Maroon Wars, the shift from sugar to banana production, and the rise of political movements like Black Nationalism and Rastafarianism. The script also discusses the country's political evolution, economic challenges, and social struggles, highlighting key figures and pivotal moments that shaped Jamaica's path to modernity.
Takeaways
- ๐๏ธ Jamaica's history was significantly influenced by slavery and colonialism, transitioning from a Spanish to a British colony with a history of resistance.
- ๐ Christopher Columbus first claimed Jamaica for Spain in 1494, and later, the Spanish introduced enslaved Africans after the local Taino population was decimated.
- ๐ฌ๐ง The English took control of Jamaica in 1655, and despite challenges, including from Spanish loyalists and Maroons (escaped slaves), they maintained control into the 20th century.
- ๐ Jamaica's economy flourished with the development of a plantation system focused on crops like cocoa, coffee, and sugarcane, which relied heavily on enslaved labor.
- ๐ธ The wealth of Jamaica's English elite grew immensely from the sugar trade and the transatlantic slave trade, making Jamaica a crucial hub for the British Empire.
- ๐ฅ Major slave uprisings, such as the Baptist War in 1831, contributed to the eventual abolition of slavery in 1833, though full emancipation wasn't realized until 1838.
- ๐ณ๏ธ After abolition, Jamaica faced political and economic challenges, including restrictive voting laws and a shift from sugar to banana production, impacting the social fabric of the country.
- ๐ Natural disasters like the 1692 earthquake in Port Royal and subsequent hurricanes had profound effects on Jamaica's development and population movements.
- ๐ฅ Key political figures like Norman Manley and Alexander Bustamante emerged in the 20th century, shaping Jamaica's path to independence and founding political parties that continue to dominate Jamaican politics.
- ๐๏ธ Jamaica gained full independence on August 6, 1962, becoming a member of the Commonwealth with its own flag and national identity.
- ๐จ Post-independence Jamaica has grappled with high crime rates, political instability, and economic challenges, including fluctuations in the banana trade and tourism sectors.
Q & A
What significant event marked Jamaica's transition from a Spanish to a British colony?
-The significant event was the invasion by English forces led by Sir William Penn in 1655, which resulted in Jamaica remaining under British control until the 20th century.
What was the role of the Maroons in Jamaica's history?
-The Maroons were enslaved people who escaped and took to the hills, fiercely defending their freedom against the British. They played a crucial role in the First and Second Maroon Wars and eventually negotiated treaties for autonomy and land in exchange for helping the British suppress rebellions.
How did the buccaneers contribute to Jamaica's early economic prosperity?
-Buccaneers, initially seen as a threat, later became allies to the British during the Second Dutch War. They defended Jamaica, contributed to its wealth through raids on enemy vessels, and helped establish Port Royal as a major city and trading hub.
What was the impact of the 1692 earthquake on Port Royal?
-The 1692 earthquake caused massive destruction in Port Royal, toppling much of the city into the sea and killing over 2,000 people. This led to the decline of Port Royal and the rise of Kingston as Jamaica's new capital.
What was the significance of the 1831 Baptist War in Jamaica's history?
-The Baptist War, led by Samuel Sharpe, was the largest slave uprising in Jamaica's history. It involved a general strike that escalated into violence, leading to the destruction of property and loss of life. The rebellion's suppression influenced the British Parliament to pass the Slavery Abolition Act in 1833.
How did the Morant Bay Rebellion of 1865 affect Jamaica's political landscape?
-The Morant Bay Rebellion led to the declaration of martial law and the execution of many rebels, including Paul Bogle. The British government's response resulted in Jamaica becoming a crown colony directly ruled by the British Parliament, marking a significant change in the island's governance.
What were the key factors that led to Jamaica's independence in 1962?
-Jamaica's independence was the culmination of a process of constitutional decolonization, which included labor riots, the granting of universal suffrage in 1944, and virtual autonomy in 1947. The Jamaican Labour Party and the People's National Party, founded by Norman Manley and Alexander Bustamante, played pivotal roles in this process.
How did the banana trade impact Jamaica's economy and tourism industry?
-The banana trade, which began in 1866, became a major source of income for Jamaica, peaking in 1921. It also expanded the tourism industry as banana traders promoted the island to defray transport costs, eventually leading to a significant source of GDP in the 1950s.
What is the significance of the Rastafarianism movement in Jamaica's cultural and political identity?
-Rastafarianism is an Afro-centric, Abrahamic religion that gained respectability and visibility in the 1960s and 1970s, largely due to the popularity of Bob Marley and other reggae musicians. It promoted the idea of Africa as the promised land and influenced Jamaica's social and political identity.
How have Jamaica's political parties, the Jamaican Labour Party (JLP) and the People's National Party (PNP), shaped the country's political history?
-The JLP and PNP, founded by Alexander Bustamante and Norman Manley respectively, have dominated Jamaican politics since the country's independence. Every prime minister has been a member of one of these parties, with the JLP being more conservative and the PNP leaning towards democratic socialism.
What are some of the major challenges Jamaica faces today as it approaches its 60th year of independence?
-Jamaica faces significant challenges, including high crime rates, poverty, environmental threats due to deforestation and overdevelopment, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its economy, particularly the tourism sector.
Outlines
๐ฐ Early History and Colonial Struggles of Jamaica
This paragraph outlines Jamaica's early history, shaped by slavery and colonialism. It narrates the island's transition from a Spanish colony to a British one, with resistance from the indigenous Taino people. Christopher Columbus's arrival in 1494 and subsequent Spanish colonization are discussed, including the exploitation of the Taino and the introduction of enslaved Africans. The paragraph also covers the English invasion in 1655, leading to Jamaica's long-term British rule, and the challenges faced by the English, including battles with Spanish loyalists and Maroons (escaped slaves). The rise of the buccaneers and their role in defending Jamaica during times of war is also highlighted.
๐ The Impact of Slavery and the Maroon Wars on Jamaica
This section delves into the brutal history of the transatlantic slave trade in Jamaica, detailing the conditions of the Middle Passage and the treatment of enslaved Africans upon arrival. It discusses the significant wealth generated by the English elite through sugar production and the slave trade. The paragraph also covers the major slave uprisings, including the First Maroon War and the Baptist War, and the treaties that granted the Maroons autonomy. The economic reliance on enslaved labor and the living conditions of the planters and slaves are also explored, highlighting the tension and rebellions that persisted despite treaties with the Maroons.
๐จ The Road to Emancipation and Political Reform in Jamaica
This paragraph discusses the journey towards the abolition of slavery in Jamaica, culminating in the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 and unconditional emancipation in 1838. It describes the limited improvements in the lives of the formerly enslaved, the introduction of poll taxes to restrict voting rights, and the socio-economic conditions leading to the Morant Bay Rebellion of 1865. The response to the rebellion led to Jamaica becoming a crown colony, and the subsequent political and economic changes, including the shift from sugar to banana production and the growth of tourism, are outlined. The emergence of social and political movements like Black Nationalism and Rastafarianism, along with the key figures Norman Manley and Alexander Bustamante, who shaped Jamaica's path to independence, are also covered.
๐ฝ Independence and the Struggle for Political Power in Jamaica
The paragraph focuses on Jamaica's independence, achieved on August 6, 1962, and the establishment of the two dominant political parties, the Jamaican Labour Party (JLP) and the People's National Party (PNP), founded by Alexander Bustamante and Norman Manley, respectively. It details the political landscape post-independence, including the leadership of Michael Manley and his socialist policies, the economic challenges faced, and the political shifts that occurred with the rise of Edward Seaga and later Percival James Patterson. The paragraph also touches on the social unrest, crime, and environmental issues that have persisted in Jamaican society.
๐ Economic Challenges and Sociopolitical Turmoil in Modern Jamaica
This final paragraph examines the economic growth and challenges faced by Jamaica in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. It discusses the slowdown in economic growth, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the tourism industry, and the high poverty rate. The paragraph also addresses the persistent issues of crime, political violence, and the struggle to improve living conditions for the population. It concludes with a reflection on the ongoing challenges as Jamaica approaches its 60th year of independence, leaving the reader to consider the future prospects for the country.
Mindmap
Keywords
๐กSlavery
๐กColonialism
๐กIndependence
๐กMaroons
๐กBuccaneers
๐กPlantation Economy
๐กEmancipation
๐กRastafarianism
๐กBlack Nationalism
๐กDecolonization
๐กPolitical Parties
Highlights
Jamaica's history has been deeply influenced by slavery and colonialism, transitioning from a Spanish to a British colony with a history of resistance.
Christopher Columbus first encountered the Taino people in 1494, leading to Spanish colonization and the renaming of the island to Santiago.
Columbus's use of a lunar eclipse to intimidate the Taino people into submission during his time marooned on the island.
The Spanish introduced enslaved Africans to Jamaica after decimating the Taino population.
Jamaica's shift from a Spanish to a British colony occurred in 1655 under Sir William Penn, leading to British control until the 20th century.
The English faced challenges from Spanish loyalists and the Maroons, escaped enslaved people who fiercely defended their freedom.
The development of a plantation economy around cocoa, coffee, and sugarcane, which contributed to Jamaica's prosperity under British rule.
The rise of privateers, or buccaneers, who played a significant role in Jamaica's economy and defense during the 17th century.
The significant impact of the 1692 earthquake on Port Royal, leading to the city's decline and the rise of Kingston.
The immense wealth of Jamaica's English elite from the sugar trade and the transatlantic slave trade.
The brutality of the Middle Passage and the high mortality rate among enslaved Africans brought to Jamaica.
The major slave uprisings, including the First Maroon War and the Baptist War, which challenged British authority.
The Abolition of Slavery Act of 1833 and the subsequent emancipation of enslaved people in Jamaica.
The introduction of poll taxes that restricted voting rights for the formerly enslaved population, maintaining a power imbalance.
The 1865 Morant Bay Rebellion led by Paul Bogle, which resulted in significant political changes and Jamaica becoming a crown colony.
The shift in Jamaica's economy from sugar to banana production and the growth of the tourism industry.
The rise of political movements like Black Nationalism and Rastafarianism, which shaped Jamaica's social and political identity.
The influential political careers of Norman Manley and Alexander Bustamante, who founded the two dominant political parties in Jamaica.
Jamaica's path to independence in 1962 and the establishment of the Jamaican Labour Party and the People's National Party.
The challenges Jamaica faces in its 60th year of independence, including high crime rates and poverty.
Transcripts
jamaica's history has been shaped by
slavery and colonialism
it went from a spanish colony to a
british one with a long traditional
resistance throughout
and yet it did not gain independence
until 1962.
since then its path has been uneven to
see why join me for this brief explainer
on the history and politics of jamaica
the spanish were the first europeans to
set eyes on the island
when christopher columbus and his men
landed there in 1494
what they encountered was a group of
local tainos subsistence farmers who
organize themselves into communal
villages and call their home
zamaka or land of wood and water
after a brief stay columbus claimed the
island for spain
and christened it santoyago he would be
back nearly a decade later
when on his fourth and final voyage to
the americas
on his way to hispaniola his warm eaten
ships became no longer sea worthy
around saint anne's bay and he ended up
marooned in the island for nearly a year
while he sent men to hispaniola for help
he and his crew
lived off the goodwill of his taino
hosts
according to spanish chronicles the
tainos eventually tired of providing for
them
but columbus was able to frighten back
into submission
when after consulting his almanac he
predicted that their vengeful god
would show his anger with a sign in the
sky the lunar eclipse of course came to
pass
and columbus and his men were able to
survive until help reached them from
hispaniola
it would not be the last time the
spanish would force the tainos to
provide them tribute
in later years when the spanish crown
terminated the claims of columbus's
heirs
to the entire caribbean as part of the
settlement it made jamaica a fiefdom
of luis colon de toledo columbus's
grandson
even now the title of marquis of jamaica
is held by columbus's descendants
meanwhile once the spanish decimated the
tainos as a result of their enslavement
and ill-treatment
in 1517 the spanish began introducing
kidnapped africans as laborers
but lacking gold or much else the colony
languished as a post
for provisioning ships between spain and
central america
the first settlement had been in the
northern part of the island in sevilla
nueva but by 1534 the spanish moved the
capital further south
into villa de la vega now called spanish
town
given the overall lack of interest in
the colony however it was poorly
defended
so in 1654 when oliver cromwell sent an
expedition to invade hispaniola as part
of his design
to disrupt the spanish trade monopoly in
the caribbean and this failed
the english forces turned south and
attacked jamaica
on may 10 1655 under the leadership of
sir william penn
they finally succeeded from that point
on jamaica would remain under british
control
well into the 20th century not that
british authority wasn't challenged
in the early years they had to deal with
a small band of spanish loyalists
who were eventually completely defeated
at the battle of rio nuevo in 1660.
the much longer problem would be the
cimarrones
or maroons in english enslaved people
who had managed to escape
in the wake of the invasion who took to
the hills and defended their freedom
fiercely
in those early decades of english rule
the colony began to prosper though
because spanish town had been so
severely damaged in invasion
the capital was unofficially moved to
port royal
where a trading economy boomed as a
plantation economy developed around
cocoa
coffee and sugarcane settlement
increased
by 1662 there were four thousand
colonists on the island
including exiled felons as well as
impoverished scots and welshman
who arrived as indentured laborers
because the british were constantly at
war with the french spanish or dutch
throughout the 17th century
they began sponsoring privateers to
capture enemy vessels
raid their settlements and contribute
their plunder to the british crown's
coffers
these buccaneers evolved as a motley
band of seafaring misgrants ex-slaves
air attacks political refugees
and escaped criminals they grew into a
powerful and ruthless force
feared throughout the antilles even by
their english sponsors
initially the new governor of jamaica
sir thomas martiford
joined with the spanish in attempts to
suppress the buccaneers
but the outbreak of the second dutch war
against holland
and spain in march 1664 forced england
to rethink its policy
marty ford arranged for the buccaneers
to defend jamaica
they left the island of tortuga and port
royal became their base
their numbers swelled astronomically and
within a decade poor royale was
jamaica's largest city
and one of the largest british cities in
the new world
second only to boston a place famous for
its gaudy displays of wealth
and lose morals with england at peace
with spain
buccaneers were now regarded merely as
pirates
mother nature lent a hand in their
suppression when a massive earthquake
struck poor royale
on june 7 1692 toppling much of the city
into the sea
more than 2 000 people one-third of the
poor royal population
perished and many survivors fled and
founded kingston
believing the earthquake to be
punishment from god
all the while jamaica's english elite
had grown immensely wealthy from sugar
and from the trade in kidnapped africans
of the estimated 11 million enslaved
people who survived the transatlantic
crossing
around 1.5 million ended up in jamaica
the large part of whom originated in
west africa
the trip was brutal it lasted anywhere
from 6 to 12 weeks
in cramped and festering holds where
many died of disease
those who survived the voyage were made
more presentable in oil to make them
appear healthy
before being auctioned bidders paid
between
25 and 75 pounds for kidnapped africans
perhaps 300 or more for those trained as
carpenters or blacksmiths
and no more than a shilling for the most
wretched
from kingston the kidnapped africans
were re-exported to other caribbean
islands
the slave ships then returned to england
carrying cargoes of sugar
molasses and rum it was cruel and
immensely profitable
but it also meant that there was the
constant risk that enslaved people might
rebel
the first major slave uprising occurred
in 1690
in clarendon parish where many enslaved
people escaped and joined the maroons
who had fought off the british for
decades these groups were concentrated
in the remote blue mountains
and in cockpit country of southern
trelawny from where they raided
plantations and attracted others who
sought freedom
the eastern community became known as
the windward maroons
those further west were called leeward
maroons
in 1729 the british attempted to
eradicate the maroons once and for all
they launched an offensive that came to
be known as the first maroon war
the thickly forested mountains however
were ill-suited to english-style open
warfare
and the maroons had perfected a
bush-style guerrilla fighting
nonetheless after a decade of costly
campaigning the british gained the upper
hand
enough to negotiate a truce on march 1
1739
colonel guthrie and cujo the leader of
the maroons of cockpit country
agreed to a deal where the maroons would
get autonomy and 1500 acres of land
in exchange for helping the british put
down rebellions
and return any enslaved person who might
seek freedom among the maroons
the maroons of the blue mountains under
a leader named cuo
signed a similar treaty one year later
these deals were absolutely crucial for
the british because by the late 18th
century
jamaica had become the largest sugar
producer in the world
the profits of which depended heavily on
enslaved labor
the planters built sturdy great houses
in georgian fashion
high above their cane fields many
planters were absentee landlords who
lived most of the year in england
where they formed a powerful political
lobby in jamaica the planters lived a
life of indolence
with red news of black servants many
over-indulged and drank
and had sexual relations with slaves
some of the mulatto offspring were freed
known as quote unquote free colors they
were accorded special rights and often
sent to study in europe by 1700 there
were perhaps 7
000 englishmen and 40 000 enslaved
people in jamaica
a century later the number of whites had
tripled and they ruled over 300
000 enslaved tens of thousands were
worked to death
many building factories houses and roads
most working on plantations
others were domestic servants some
planters showed kindness and nurtured
their slaves
but most resorted to violence to
terrorize the enslaved population into
obedience
the extreme treatment was eventually
regulated but plantation society
remained tied to the rule of the whip
not surprisingly and even despite the
treaties the british established with
the maroons
there were constant rebellions there was
taki's war in 1760
a rebellion led by a ghanaian man in the
northeastern part of the island
and a second maroon war in 1795 but the
largest of all was the baptist war
an insurrection that lasted 11 days and
began on december 27
1831 led by samuel sharpe it involved
somewhere between
60 and 300 000 enslaved people
at first it was a peaceful general
strike demanding better working
conditions
but once reprices by the plantation
owners occurred the enslave began
burning crops
this in turn led british authorities to
put down the rebellion swiftly and
brutally
hundreds of rebels were killed but even
after the rest surrendered
the plantation owners made sure to make
an example out of them
the cruelty was such however that this
paved the way for the british parliament
to pass the slavery abolition act of
1833
it would still take a while for all
restrictions to be lifted
but finally unconditional emancipation
of chateau slavery
would take place in 1838 abolition
improved a lot of those who had been
enslaved only marginally
for one although now paid wages remain
quite low
for another the british afraid of what
might happen if the former slaves gained
power
introduced hypo taxes to restrict their
voting by 1864
in a population of 436 000
where blacks outnumbered whites 32 to 1
only around 2000 blacks were eligible to
vote
had several floods and a two-year
widespread drought prior to 1865 to the
widespread poverty
and the economic and political
conditions were turning the island into
a powder keg
it finally exploded on october 6th 1865.
once again a process that began
peacefully and was led by a baptist
preacher
this time paul bogle soon turned into a
wider rebellion
bogo had intended to march along with
the crowd to the courthouse in moran bay
to have their grievances heard but after
a government's volunteer militia killed
a few of the protesters
the enraged crowd burned down the
courthouse in several nearby buildings
for the next two days the rebellion grew
and a total of 25 people died
in response governor edward john erie
declared martial law and proceeded to
execute the rebels
and leaders like bogo along with many
innocent people including
women and children one of those who had
nothing to do with the rebellion but was
killed anyway
was wealthy businessman george william
gordon
one of the local representatives some
members of the british government were
so outraged by the governor's actions
that yuri was subsequently stripped of
his post and jamaica was made a crown
colony
that is one directly ruled by the
british parliament
in the following decades jamaica would
see dramatic change one was the transfer
of the capital from spanish town to
kingston in 1872
another was a shift from sugar to banana
production
the banana trade began in earnest in
1866
when an american george bush began
taking bananas to boston for profit
within a decade the trade was booming it
peaked in 1921
when 21 million stems were exported the
banana business also expanded the
tourism business
as banana traders looked to defray the
cost of transport
so they began to promote the purchase of
the island and began to take on
passengers
this however would not become a major
source of gdp for jamaica
until the 1950s in the meantime
jamaica's black and disenfranchised
population
continued to demand changes and began
creating a new social and political
identity
two of the most influential movements
from the early 20th century
were black nationalism and
rastafarianism
the first was best exemplified by marcus
garvey
who believed that black people needed to
secure financial independence from white
people
and founded jamaica's first modern
political party in 1929
the second was an afro-centric abrahamic
variant religion that believed that
haley selassie
the emperor of ethiopia fulfilled a
biblical prophecy
and which promoted the idea of africa as
zion
or the promised land at first mainly
concentrated among the most impoverished
people in jamaica
rastafarianism gained respectability and
visibility in the 1960s and 1970s
because of the popularity of bob marley
and other reggae musicians
it was two particular men however who
would end up having more concrete
political impact on the island
their names were norman manley and
alexander bastamante
a pair of cousins who began their
political ascent in the 1930s
in the wake of the great depression and
who would fight
separately for economic and political
reforms
the watershed moment was the 1938 labor
riots
these were strikes and unrest that
occurred as a result of a lack of steady
jobs
that were also poorly paid in which at
its peak
had the participation of roughly 20 000
people
who paralyzed kingston for several days
bastamante was one of the original
leaders
and was quickly jailed for his trouble
for 17 months
once freed he founded an influential
trade union
known as the bitu or basta union
meanwhile
manly supported the movement and worked
to have universal suffrage and autonomy
granted to the island
the former was finally granted in 1944
and in 1947 virtual autonomy was granted
though jamaica remained a british colony
under the jurisdiction of parliament and
the crown
a prelude to full independence
this process known as constitutional
decolonization
finally culminated in august 6 1962
when jamaica became fully independent
the new flag was about to be hoisted
over the stadium the higher rank in
accord with the new status of jamaica
as full member of the commonwealth
period bastamante and manly founded the
two political parties that have gone
on to dominate jamaican politics since
then these are
the jamaican labour party or jlp founded
by bastamante
and the people's national party founded
by manly
every single prime minister in jamaican
history has been a member of one or the
other
three for the pnp six for the jlp
the jamaican labor party although with
vast historical ties to labor
is the most conservative of the two and
is currently ruling jamaica under the
leadership of its premier
andrew wholeness but that was still in
the future political competition right
before
and right after jamaica's independence
was a direct contest between bustamante
and manly
with manly becoming the first premier in
1959
and bustamante the first prime minister
after independence in 1962 but
bastamante had a stroke in 1965 and
retired from active public life
and norman manley died in 1969 and thus
from that time on
the debate has been shaped by their
legacies but no longer directly between
the two men
manly's son michael led the pnp towards
democratic socialism in the mid 70s
his policy of taxation to fund social
services deterred foreign investment and
caused capital flight
at a time when jamaica could afford it
bitterly opposed factions engaged in
open urban warfare before the 1976
election
a controversial state of emergency was
declared and the nation seemed poised on
the edge of a civil war
but the pnp won the election by a wide
margin
and manly continued with his socialist
agenda unsurprisingly the u.s government
was hostile to jamaica's socialist
turn and when manly began to develop
close ties with cuba
the cia purportedly planned to topple
the jamaican government
businesses pulled out the economy went
into sharp decline
and the country was under virtual siege
almost 800 people were killed in the
lead up to the 1980 elections
which were won by the jlp's edward sega
sega restored jamaica's economic fortune
somewhat
severe ties with cuba and became a
staunch ally of the reagan
administration
relatively peaceful elections in 1989
returned a reinvented manly to power
he retired in 1992 handing the reins to
his deputy
percival james patterson jamaica's first
black prime minister
the patterson-led pnp triumphed in the
1993 and 1997 elections
in spring of 1999 the country erupted in
nationwide riots after the government
announced
a 30 increase in attacks on gasoline
kingston and montego bay or sugar canes
were set ablaze
were particularly badly hit after three
days of arson and looting the government
resigned the attacks
in the lead-up to the 2002 elections
violence in west kingston soared to new
heights
as criminal policies battled to control
electoral turf
and profit from the largest that victor
at the polls in jamaica brings
rival political gangs turned the area
into a war zone
forcing residents to flee and school
businesses and even kingston public
hospital to close
in 2004 hurricane ivan bounced off
jamaica and route to the cayman islands
causing widespread damage and edward
sega still representing the jlp as
opposition leader
retired after over three decades of life
in politics
two years later prime minister patterson
resigned
giving way to portia simpson-miller
jamaica's first female prime minister
and michael manley's protege mama p
was initially popular with the masses
but 18 years of pnp rule brett voted his
illusion
with the party in the 2007 elections
bruce golding of the jlp carried the day
inheriting high rates of crime and
illiteracy as well as threats to the
environment through deforestation and
over development
problems with criminal organizations
have continued one of the most infamous
events was when jamaica tried to
extradite christopher dudas coke
the most powerful gangster and drug
trafficker in jamaica in 2010.
between may 24th and 27 of that year
heavy fighting broke out between dudes
gunmen and the joint police military
force
leaving 67 dead dudas himself remained
on the road for a month before being
apprehended
disguised as a woman on a roadblock he
was eventually convicted in the district
of new york and sentenced to 23 years in
prison
since then the homicide rate has gone
down but still remains
one of the highest in the world
meanwhile jamaica's economy had been
growing in the 1990s and 2000s
it slowed down in the 2010s and has
remained nearly flat
in the last few years before covet the
pandemic hit the island particularly
hard
especially the slowdown in tourism in a
country whose poverty
rate was already high thus as jamaica
approaches its 60th year of independence
it faces massive challenges with regard
to crime
and lifting its people out of poverty
whether the island will be able to do
much about it remains to be seen
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