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WORKING CONDITIONS
Refer to your notes in Theme 8 on the Moyne Commission. In the 1930s the working
conditions were very poor. People worked for low wages. There were no laws against the use of
unsafe machinery, exploitation of women and children. There were no laws to insist on sick
leave, annual holidays and time off, and the rights of trade unions. Most Caribbean countries
now have a legally enforced minimum wage, people work an 8 hour day and 40hour week, and
have weekends and public holidays off. Vacation laws are now written into law or company
regulations. Since the 1980s many governments have also passed laws which prevent child
labour. Maternity leave has also become law. Trade unions are now able to get regular pay
increases for workers every three years or so except in times of economic downturn.
UNEMPLOYMENT
Up until the 1980s, unemployment was a major problem in all the English speaking Caribbean
countries and, despite some improvements, it remains so today.
HEALTH
The ultimate indicator of an improvement in health is whether people are living longer or not. In
the Caribbean, life expectancy has risen significantly since 1900. At the start of the 20th century,
average life expectancy was as low as 50years in the Caribbean. Infectious diseases such as
yellow fever, malaria, dysentery, and tuberculosis shortened life expectancy. By the 1960s, with
improved medical science and availability of health care, average life expectancy had increased
to 60 years. Now the average Caribbean male can expect to live 68 years of age and the average
female is expected to live to 73 years.
TRADE UNION
Barbados
Progressive League
St Vincent
Workingmens Association
Jamaica
Trinidad
GOVERNEMNT POLICIES
Labour laws were developed to protect the rights of the workers. Laws pertaining to
shorter working hours, workers compensation, better working conditions, restrictions on
child labour and social insurance were debated and put into effect.
Universal adult suffrage was introduced so individuals over the age of 18 had the right to
vote.
In some territories primary school education was introduced while in others, secondary
schools were built and more students had an opportunity to complete studies at the
secondary level.
The lager territories such as Jamaica, Trinidad and Barbados started to build hospitals,
highways, roads, housing developments and sport facilities. Welfare schemes such as
free meals in Barbados were also part of improving the socio economic conditions of
Caribbean people.
WOMENS ORGANIZATIONS
Lucy Stroder
Lucy Stroder in Grenada was a driving force behind founding the Commercial and Industrial
Workers Union. It was one of the first unions where women were recognized as equal partners
and eligible for equal pay and benefits. Some unions were formed specifically to address
womens concern like the Women Workers trade Union and the Domestic Workers Trade union
in Trinidad and Tobago.
Elma Francois
Elma Francois was one of the most active trade union supporters. She was born in St Vincent
and migrated to Trinidad in 1919 after she was fired from the Mount Bentinck plantation for
trying to organize a demonstration against low wages and harsh working days. In Trinidad she
joined Ciprians Trinidad Working Mens Association but she soon outgrew what she considered
to be Ciprianis slow paced agenda for political and social change. Along with Jim Headly, she
formed the Negro Welfare Cultural and Social Association (NWSCO). Elma Francois, put the
strength of her organization behind the sugar and oil riots and strikes in 1934 and 1937. By the
time of her death in 1944, she had helped establish three major trade unions in Trinidad: the
Seaman and the Waterfront Workers Union, the National Union of Government and the
Federated Workers Trade Union.
UNITED NEGRO IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION (UNIA)
In 1914 Marcus Garvey founded the UNIA which became an important lobby group. Garvey
pressured the British government over issues such as wages, civil liberties such as the right to
strike, universal adult suffrage and land ownership for people of African descent in the
Caribbean. The UNIA was also committed to the growth of black consciousness; that is, a sense
of racial pride and the establishment of an independent black nation in Africa.
*Research on Marcus Garvey (1887-1940). Use the following headings to guide your
research: Personal life
a.
b.
c.
d.
Education
Political and social/cultural activities
Accomplishments
Impact on Caribbean society
The main festival which defines the Caribbean is carnival. The best known one takes place
in Trinidad and February or March depending on when Ash Wednesday falls. Other carnivals
takes place in other islands such as July sin St Lucia, May in St Vincent and Cropover in July
to August in Barbados. Carnivals are rooted in the salve experience and each festival is an
indigenous celebration created out of each islands historical experience and French, British
and African cultures.
DIVALI
In Trinidad and Guyana in particular, the Indians have also brought their own cultural events.
The main Hindu festival is Divali, or the Festival of Lights, which involves lighting wicks in
small clay pots called deeyas and serving Indian food.
EID-UL-FITR
The main Muslim festival is Eid-ul-Fitr which marks the ending of the fast held during the
month of Ramadan. On this day, Muslims give alms to the poor and make special meals such
as sawine.
(iii) RECREATION
Some of the most popular forms of recreation in the Caribbean include:
Sailing regattas (Antigua, Grenada, St Lucia, St Martin)
Music festivals for eg Jamaicas Reggae Sunfest in July
Sports such as cricket and football
(iv) TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION
Most of the territories now have good road networks, and land line telephone as well as
mobile cell networks. In the continental countries such as Guyana and Suriname, vast spaces
of territories remain unreachable except by small aircraft of river boats.
In the Caribbean most of the worlds major religions are represented such as Christianity,
Hinduism and Islam. Christianity in the Caribbean can be divided into its different groups such
as Roman Catholic, Anglican, Methodist and Pentecostal.
There are some religions which have strongly been influenced by African cultural traits for
example Vodun, Santeria, Orisha and Shango.
Apart from the Africanist religions there are revivalist religions. These ae churches absed on
charismatic Protesant movement mostly brought in from the USA. These churches are found
throughout the English speaking Caribbean for example, Pentecostal, Baptist Seventh Day
Adventist.
There are religions which emphasize the magical aspects of religion such as foretelling the
future, healing through herbs and rituals, and divine revelations. Examples of these magical
religions include: myalaism, Native Baptists, Spiritual Baptists.
Redemptionist religions emphasize regaining the African heritage and throwing off colonial
influences for example, Rastafarianism.
The table below lists these religions and their associated groups as well as the countries where
they are practiced.
Type of religion
Christianity
Group
Roman Catholic, Anglican,
Countries
Throughout the Caribbean
Africanist
Methodist, Pentecostal
Vodun, Santeria, Orisha,
Shango
Revivalist
Trinidad
Throughout the English
Baptists, Cohorters
Myalism, Native Baptists,
Spiritual Baptists,
Redemptionist
Espertismo, Karedecismo
Rastafarianism, Nation of
Jamaica
Eastern
Islam
Hinduism, Islam
Trinidad, Guyana
While all the religions draw on roots from other parts of the world, three can be categorized as
native to the Caribbean in that their rituals and beliefs were developed in the region among the
African population. These are Vodun, Santeria, and Orisha. Their development was possibly
mainly through the Maroon who, when they ran away and formed thir own communities, were
able to practice freely the rituals they had brought with them from Africa.
RASTAFARIANISM
The belief in redemption is an integral part of the Rastafarianism movement which emerged
in Jamaica shortly after 1930, when Haile Selassie claimed to be the 225th descendant of the
line of King David and the Queen of Sheba from the Bible. Rastafarianism in the Caribbean
is characterized by:
The colours red, green and gold. Red stands for the blood of the martyrs in the black
struggle for liberation; green symbolizes Ethiopias beauty and lush vegetation; and
ISLAM
The first Muslims to enter the Caribbean came as enslaved Africans. The basic tenets of Islam
are:
Shahadath- the belief that Allah (God) is the only god, and Muhamad is his messenger
Salat- Muslims must pray five times a day
Zakat -Muslims must give to those less fortunate than themselves
Sawm- Muslims must fast during the month of Ramadan. Pregnant women, sick
HINDUISM
The first Hindus started arriving in the Caribbean region as soon as emancipation was
declared in 1838. Some of the concepts which are common to all Hindus include:
SPIRITUAL BAPTISTS
This religion is a syncretism of Christianity and African doctrines, rites and rituals. Spiritual
Baptists are found in large numbers in Trinidad, Barbados, St Vincent and Grenada. It is
characterized as follows:
Baptism
Mourning
Prayer sessions
Pilgrimage