People have to learn to "Read the room".
Jamaica has long had the power and potential to be truly and 100% free and independent.
I remember talking to a Jamaican politician on Facebook about legalizing marijuana and I remember him telling me he was already working on it and I don't know coincidence or no, but soon after it was legal.
And I remember telling him like look... America is already legalizing it so whatever you're afraid they might do in response, they can no longer do it.
Every country has an image. Every country cannot contradict or break that image without serious consequences.
I think Jamaica, before, felt (and I'm talking about government not the people) that it had to depend on foreign aid. I remember when I was there for one of our family reunions and we were driving on roads full of potholes and the driver had comments for why they were never fixed; because Jamaica would show this to foreigners, especially the British, to use the excuse to get more foreign aid.
The problem with Jamaica, being an Island, is that it has to be careful when it comes to TRADE. Jamaica CANNOT produce everything people need. But at this point the same is almost true for every country. China has, for example, become the manufacturers for the world. But if you have a trade deficit... if your income doesn't match the money you have to pay for things... you will go bankrupt.
Whole nations are playing that Monopoly game and rolling the dice to see what resources they need and who owns it.
Jamaica, with its lush perfect tropical climate, can grow and sell things that other countries want and need. When you combine that with reggae and tourism, that's a big deal. But the problem with tourism is who owns all the resorts.
And likewise, Jamaica has lost a lot of talent because if people are looking for opportunities beyond just the things that Jamaica is best known for? They often leave the island. However, as much as agents want us to hate globalization it offers the greatest opportunities for doing business across the world that people living in Jamaica would have had a really hard time getting before. IT companies, video game companies, and tons of other businesses can move to Jamaica because it really doesn't matter where they're physically located.
So the point is... Jamaica doesn't need the queen anymore. Jamaica doesn't need to act like its one of the foster children of great Britain.
HOWEVER...
Like I said... still have to be careful with trade and negotiate good trade deals with other countries. Because, for example, a country like the US, with a higher credit rating and GDP, can afford to SUBSIDIZE the hell out of some of the same products Jamaica produces so that they are cheaper coming from the US. And when farmers can't compete and stop producing, that's when the prices go back up. But like I said... if Jamaica can attract more types of business and industries and have resort-like corporate offices and employee villages... they can tax those companies, visas, etc. and be more competitive in a way that can change the economic trajectory of the island.
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