CARIBBEAN-GLOBAL INTERACTIONS

LEAVING THE CARIBBEAN

From as early as the 1900 people from the Caribbean were leaving to work on the construction
of the Panama Canal. Caribbean labourers were also leaving to work on banana farms in Costa
Rica and sugar plantations in Cuba. Caribbean people at this time were leaving for better
opportunities in England, USA and Canada.

Even in contemporary Caribbean societies people are desirous of leaving primarily due to
declining economies, growing poverty, widening of the inequality gap, social displacement,
increasing crime, violence and political instability. From 1950 to 1990 the net migration for the
region was approximately 5.6 million. In 2005 according to data provided by the United Nations
Population Division of the 20,274 documented migrant workers to Canada, 8476 were from the
Caribbean; Jamaica accounted for 5916 of the total.

DIASPORIC COMMUNITIES

The presence of Caribbean people is evident in many cities in North America and England:
Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, Maryland, Fort Lauderdale, Toronto, Ottawa, and south London.
Caribbean population in Canada grew by 11% between 2001 and 2006.

INFLUENCES OF EXTRA-REGIONAL SOCIETIES

The Caribbean has been interacting and has been influenced by the wider world since 1492,
when it was forced into colonial arrangements with imperial powers.

Consumption patterns

During colonial times imperial powers created economic policies designed to exploit colonies for
their own benefit and thus encouraged dependency [pg. 203 ‘Mohammed’]. Currently most
goods and services consumed in the Caribbean originate from the USA and locals place more
value on these foreign produced goods. Western patterns [personalities, innovations, fashion,
movies, music etc] are considered to be more ‘modern’ and there is a value in keeping up with
all these Western patterns. Following Western patterns helps to build ‘social capital’; persons
who can afford to be more ‘Western’ are met with approval or envy and those who cannot face
ridicule. More Caribbean people are content to have a USA visa, even if it is a short stay one; to
have a visa to an extra-regional area especially the USA is considered to be a ‘status symbol’.

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Creative Expressions/Artforms

1. Festivals: Western observances continue in the Caribbean for instance Christmas and
Easter; and they are celebrated in the same manner. Other Western influenced
celebrations include: Valentine’s Day, New Year’s Eve, Halloween, Mother’s Day and
Father’s Day.
Many Caribbean celebrate these Western events without knowing the background, for
instance the traditional New Year’s Eve song ‘Auld lang syne’ is actually a Scottish ballad.
The marketing and distribution networks of the West, influence what we purchase and
how we celebrate these events [pgs. 206, 207 & 210 ‘Mohammed’]

2. Music: among the most listened to music in the Caribbean are of Western origins and
these include: rap, hip hop, jazz & blues, R&B and country. Currently the biggest ‘draws’
for many shows are international artistes.

3. Theatre & Arts: these include drama, dance and stagecraft. Pre-independence Caribbean
plays, dramatic performances, pantomime and musical productions were modeled on
British and American versions and they were seen as ‘high culture’. After independence
the theatre became more local, but the West still played a role in its growth and
development. This is because many writers/playwrights studied, lived or worked
overseas; those experiences influence the plays they write to an extent, among these
individuals is Dereck Walcott of St. Lucia.

4. Culinary practices: during slavery saltfish was taken from Canada to feed the enslaved in
the Caribbean and today this item is a significant national staple in some territories:
(i) ackee & saltfish – Jamaica (ii) roast breadfruit & saltfish – St. Vincent (iii) duckanoo &
saltfish – Antigua. The concept of salting/pickling meat continues today.
Also during slavery there was a practice of giving the enslaved the parts of the meat that
was not fit for the whites to consume. Currently this practice continues with Caribbean
people still enjoying: cow skin, cow tongue, fish head, goat belly and oxtail etc.
Fusion is also a huge part of Caribbean culinary practices, and the influences of
particular colonizers is still evident; for instance the French have influenced dishes
among former colonies such as: bouillabaisse [fish stew] and rouille [type of
mayonnaise].
Traditional British culinary practices have not significantly influenced the Caribbean; this
is because Caribbean foods tend to be spicy unlike the British. Also, in England sauces
and gravies are independent of the main dish, and are later poured on, but in the
Caribbean sauces and gravies are incorporated in the dishes. However,
the British have given the Caribbean their habit of drinking hot beverage; which no

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 matter the content, is referred to as ‘tea’ by Caribbean people. The West currently
influences our food with labour saving gadgets, appliances and pre-cooked products.
These have been adopted in the Caribbean and the result is a change in traditional
recipes; currently almost nothing is cooked from scratch. As a result traditional dishes
are reserved for Sundays and special occasions if served at all in most homes. Pre-
cooked and fast foods chains are phenomenons that have taken over the Caribbean.

5. Education: education in the Caribbean is influenced by Europeans and currently the USA,
as a result students do GCE O’ and A’ Levels in Sixth Form and SAT exams etc.

6. Political influences: when the British Caribbean territories acquired independence they
all adopted the Westminster System and thus became part of the British
Commonwealth. Many Caribbean countries are constitutional monarchs with the
exception of Trinidad & Tobago, Guyana and Dominica; these are republics. They have a
president as ‘head of state’, but that position just like that of the governor-general is a
ceremonial position. Two types of electoral processes practiced in the Caribbean
include: first-past-the post and proportional representation. Representatives in
government earn their positions by following the ‘rule of law’.
The process of the ‘rule of law’ is rarely compromised in the Caribbean electoral process
except: (i) accusation of election fraud during the Burnham years in Guyana [1960’s to
early 1980’s]; opponents of the government were crudely beaten by thugs, hounded out
of the country, or, as in the case of Walter Rodney, the leader of the Working People's
Alliance, boldly assassinated (ii) Black Power [1970’s] and Black Muslim [1990’s]
uprisings in Trinidad (iii) Maurice Bishop and the revolution in Grenada in the 1980’s.
Apart from these cases the British territories were able to smoothly transition from
colonial politics to the ‘rule of law’.

Despite this, the presence of the USA in Caribbean politics is evident; this is because the
USA is always on the look-out for anti-US sentiments or communist influences. The USA
always wants the territories to follow their ‘rule of law’ and she ensures this by giving
aide, loans and favourable trade agreements, and by invading [directly or indirectly]
communist influenced areas such as Cuba [1960’s] and Grenada [1980’s]

7. Labour: Caribbean people migrate to the West for better opportunities, but this practice
continues the syndrome of dependency on extra-regional countries. Migrant workers
create ‘brain drain’ due the preference of the West for highly educated and skilled
people. However, these migrants face racism, and are often treated like second class

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 citizens in terms of wages, benefits and grievances. Unskilled workers are accepted, but
they are only accepted to menial jobs that Americans will not do, such as seasonal work
on farms. However, they are segregated from the residents and the farm work process is
exploitive to the workers [pg. 220 ‘Mohammed’]

8. Sport:
(i) Cricket – this is a major sport that was influenced by the British. It was
considered to be a ‘gentleman’s game’, where players were men of honour; in
the 19th century the game was played by whites in elite clubs. Now the game is
more commercialized and teams do not only wear white, but other colours
inclusive of sponsor logos and the ideals of good sportsmanship is diminishing.
(ii) Soccer – this was imported from Britain and the World Cup is look forward to by
many, but unlike cricket the Caribbean has not created a successful soccer team.
However, a few teams have made it to the World Cup including: Reggae Boyz
[1998] and Soca Warriors [2006]. Secondary football competitions are very
popular; however, talented players dream of being recruited for international
clubs.
(iii) Basketball – American mass media has led to the popularity of this sport in the
Caribbean.
(iv) Baseball – this is another American sport that has been adopted in the Caribbean
in particular Cuba.

9. Mass media: European and American mass media dominate the Caribbean with
Facebook, Myspace etc.

10. Tourism: tourism is impacted by booms or recession in the extra-regional areas. Most
hotels are multi-national owned by foreigners or funded by them; also most air carriers
are internationally owned. The tastes and interests of tourists dictate which product will
be promoted. Tourists have become more varied and they demand different
experiences, allowing for the development of different products:
(i) Ecotourism – rainforest of Dominica, Belize, Guyana and Suriname

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 (ii) Adventure tourism – white water rafting in Guyana especially at Kaieteur Falls;
along with hunting in Dominica and mountain climbing in St. Lucia
(iii) Sports tourism – Grenada Yacht Club Race, Spring Regatta [ St. Maarten] Blue
Marlin Competition [Curacao]

CARIBBEAN INFLUENCES ON EXTRA-REGIONAL COUNTRIES

Political

Cubans in Florida form associations such as Cuban American Foundation and they lobby US
politicians and policy makers to maintain a ‘hard line’ attitude on Cuba and enforce embargos to
help overthrow Castro. The US yields to their influence because they have the same goal.
Presence of other Caribbean nationals has influenced immigration policies in these territories;
in addition they have increased and diversified the voting population. Many Caribbean migrants
have made significant contribution to the advancement of minority groups in extra-regional
territories; they have also influenced and impacted on policies and leadership. Among these
individuals are:

1. Colin Powell [USA] – his parents are Jamaican and he was Secretary of State from 2001
to 2004
2. Roger Toussaint [USA] – he was born in Trinidad and he became President of the
Transport Workers Union and in 2005 he led the Metropolitan Transport Authority NYC
strike.
3. Diane Abbot [UK] – her parents are Jamaican and she was the first black woman to be
elected to the House of Commons [1987].
4. Valerie Amos [UK] - she was born in Guyana and he was the first black woman to sit in
the British Cabinet; in 2010 she became the UN Under-Secretary General for
Humanitarian and Emergency Relief.
5. Zanana Akande [Canada] – her parents are from St. Lucia and Trinidad and in 1991 she
became the first black woman Cabinet Minister in Canada.

Trade

The Caribbean is the 10th largest importer of US goods and services in the world; therefore any
threat to the economic stability of the Caribbean is a matter of concern. Despite this the US is
still a superpower and the Caribbean does not have room to bargain with the US or its policies,
as was evident in the Shiprider Agreement. The US has the power to enforce embargos or
withdraw aide if she feels ‘slighted’.

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Festival

Caribbean carnivals and festivals have become part of society and culture in extra-regional
countries; Caribbean people facilitate the development of carnivals wherever they settle, which
enhance the culture and contribute to the economy as patrons to these events spend millions
of dollars.

The festivals help to strengthen relationships and encourage cooperation among the diaspora
and the Caribbean. Festivals allow people of the diaspora to give back, reinvest and connect
with ‘home’. The events also facilitate networking among different interest groups and political
leaders. Caribbean leaders and other personalities travel to these events to do public relations
on behalf of the region and or home territory.

People of the diaspora are considered important assets to the region, because they help the
economies and encourage interest in key issues. Some festivals are used as platforms to raise
money for different charities, causes and or institutions; sometimes part proceeds are donated
to the Caribbean. Examples of these festivals are:

(i) The Notting Hill Carnival - is the largest open air festival in Europe, and it has been an
annual event in London for 40 years. The festival was started by Trinidadian Claudia
Jones as a celebration of Caribbean talent. Over 2 million people attend the carnival
each year and an estimated 93 million pounds is made. The festival has all the
features of a carnival: waving flags, banners, Caribbean food, art, craft and music.

(ii) Caribana - is held in Toronto Canada since 1967; it is a 2 week festival that expands
over the entire city, culminating in a massive weekend long party. At the event is
music from across the Caribbean; at the event are large floats, African drumming and
steel bands. The celebration concludes on parade day along Lakeshore Boulevard
with a colourful array of art, costumes, music, ‘mas’ band and Caribbean cuisine.
Approximately CAN$ 200 million is made annually from the event.

(iii) A small Caribbean community in Australia organize the annual Sydney Bacchanal

(iv) The West Indian Labour Day Parade – it is the largest West Indian street festival in
the USA; it is held annually in Brooklyn and it is celebrated on USA Labour Day, which
is usually a Monday. Up to US$86 million is made on that day from the sale of
paraphernalia, food, art and craft.

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 (v) Beauty Pageants- there are a number of these held across extra-regional territories;
among them is the Miss Belize California Beauty Pageant, which provides an
opportunity for women of Belizean descent to promote their cultural heritage; the
winner is expected to highlight Belize’s culture throughout California. Other pageants
with goals are: Miss Caribbean Commonwealth [UK], Miss Jamaica Florida [USA] and
Miss Canada Caribbean.

Music

Reggae more than any other Caribbean music has entered the mainstream of extra-regional
countries; artistes such as Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff and Prince Buster are most responsible for
the presence of reggae on the world stage. In 1999 Bob Marley’s ‘One Love’ was chosen by BBC
as the song of the millennium and in the same year Time magazine recognized the album
‘Exodus’ as the album of the century.

Harry Belafonte was born in the USA of Jamaican and Martiniquan parents and he brought
calypso to international fame in the 1950’s with his ‘Banana Boat Song’. His language allowed
Americans to identify with his desire to present his heritage globally. The Mighty Sparrow and
Lord Kitchener developed on Belafonte’s work and made the genre more commercial.

Salsa music emerged among enslaved people in the Spanish Caribbean and Cuban born Xiever
Cugat is credited with making the music mainstream in the USA. There are many salsa clubs
internationally especially in southern sections of Florida and salsa is the main music expressed
at the Puerto Rican Day Parade in NYC.

However, other music such as: soca, punta and zouk are evident in larger cities where people of
the diaspora settle. Micheal Montana and Alison Hinds are popular soca artistes, Pen Cayetana
and Banda Blanca are popular punta artistes and Kassav and Ophelia Marie are popular zouk
artistes.

Rastafarianism

The dreadlocks and the colours of the Ethiopian flag are the most distinctive symbols of this
group. Their beliefs and lifestyle have penetrated urban cultures, but not among the ‘elite’.

Creative Expressions

Creole is spoken by all Caribbean nationals; however, the language of the European colonizer is
considered to be the main language. However, the vernacular of the region is evident in

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mainstream communication through art forms such as literary works and the performing arts
and the music. Creole echoed in art forms are increasingly becoming part of street talk. Creole
has even found its way into USA produced films and sitcoms.

Education

CSEC and CAPE are accepted by schools in the USA and UK.

Culinary practices

Caribbean food is popular among people of the diaspora, for instance patty, curry, jerk chicken,
manish water and salt fish. Sometimes foods that are similar based on the cultural background
are given different names such as Jamaican rice and peas, which is called the reverse by people
from the Eastern Caribbean. However citizens in Western areas are aware of it, but they seem
to prefer other foods such as: French, Italian and Chinese etc.

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