Jamaica’s Political Past

With the upcoming general elections upon us, I sat down today to reminisce about Jamaica’s political past. To begin with, anyone who is between 18-28 will have very little recollection of what life in Jamaica was like under a JLP administration. I was 10 years old when the JLP won the 1980 election and if I can recall, it was one of the bloodiest elections of all time. However, what stands out most in my mind of JLP leadership are the following:

1. Only a certain class and hue of people were allowed to be successful

2. Access to foreign exchange being limited and forced people to seek out the black market

3. The inability to purchase a car. I recall going to Stewarts Auto Sales in 1988 to see if I could purchase a car. I stood in a sea of Suzuki Frontes and was told that I wouldn’t be able to get a car for another 4 years.

4. The back tax axe man. If people didn’t pay their taxes, Mr. Seaga was coming for you even though he didn’t manage to catch himself.

 5. The thuggish bus system we had back them with every little man owning a minibus and literally killing people to get in, instead of a civilised public transportation system which every country ought to have.

6. The Spring Plains project (nuff said).

As I remember some more I will add. What do you remember from the 1980s in Jamaica? Maybe you can help me create a list of negative things which occurred and why I am constantly reminded that I could never put my X beside the head….oops the BELL!