Post Independence Cross Country Comparisons

[Tropicana]

In Cassidy's thread in the GD, we started to discuss Jamaica's experience and compare it with other nations that had been British colonies. I promised to begin a cross country comparison of 4 countries and I have added a 5th, Barbados:

- Jamaica
- Singapore
- Malaysia
- Sri Lanka (Ceylon)
- Barbados


EDITED TO ADD BOLDING:

This thread is a work in progress. I will add information over the next few days as I have time. Other boardites feel free to add to it. As the information is added. I suggest that we focus these areas:

- Country Snapshot (population, GDP, main industries, etc.)
- Key Success Indicators (literacy, employment, education, etc.)
- Growing Pains (challnges)
- Economic Development
- Political Considerations
- Family Structure
- Population/ Family Planing Strategies
- Race Relations
- Social Problems
- Crime Statistics

Let's discuss and compare Jamaica's experiences with those of other nations.

What challenges have these former British colonies faced?

What strategies have they used to resolve them?

What lessons can we learn from other countries?

What areas have we as Jamaicans mastered well compared to other countries?

Please feel free to add other questions.

I will begin by giving a brief snapshot of each Barbados, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Singapore. I will leave it to someone else to volunteer to do Jamaica's profile.

Save For Tropicana for Later:

http://unstats.un.org/unsd/

[Tropicana]

Re: Post Independence Cross Country Comparisons

INDEPENDENCE FROM GREAT BRITAIN


Jamaica

August 6, 1962

Barbados

Nov. 30, 1966

Sri Lanka (Ceylon)

December 19, 1947

Malaysia

Malaya August 31, 1957 Gained independence from Britain

Malaysia was formed on 16 September 1963, and consisted of the Federation of Malaya, Singapore, Sarawak and North Borneo (now Sabah).


Singapore

Singapore was separated from the rest of Malaysia on August 9 1965, and became a sovereign, democratic and independent nation.

POINTS OF COMPARISON

Human development index (HDI) value

A composite index measuring average achievement in three basic dimensions of human development—a long and healthy life, knowledge and a decent standard of living.

http://www.undp.org/hdr2003/indicator/indic_8_1_1.html

1990-2000 HDI Rank Country *

1 Norway
2 Sweden
25 Singapore
31 Barbados
59 Malaysia
86 Jamaica
89 Sri Lanka
172 Niger
173 Sierra Leone

* = PLEASE NOTE: This is a ranking of 173 countries. Jamaica is no where NEAR rock bottom.

http://www.undp.org/hdr2002/indicator/indic_383_1_1.html

2001

1 Norway
2 Iceland
27 Barbados
28 Singapore
58 Malaysia
78 Jamaica
99 Sri Lanka
174 Niger
175 Sierra Leone

http://www.undp.org/hdr2003/indicator/indic_8_1_1.html

Jamaica's ranking has improved significantly year over year while Sri Lanka's has fallen significantly.

GDP Per Capita (in PP$)

Norway $29,918
Sweden $24,277
Singapore $23,356
Barbados $15,494
Malaysia $9,068
Jamaica $3,639
Sri Lanka $3,530
Niger $ 746
Sierra Leone $ 490

http://www.undp.org/hdr2002/indicator/indic_279_1_1.html

Adult Literacy Rate Ages 15 and over)

Norway 99.0%
Sweden 99.0%
Barbados 98.0%
Singapore 92.3%
Sri Lanka 91.6%
Malaysia 87.5%
Jamaica 86.9%
Sierra Leone 36.0%
Niger 15.9%

http://www.undp.org/hdr2002/indicator/indic_277_1_1.html

Life Expectancy at Birth, 2000

The number of years a newborn infant born in 2002 would live if prevailing patterns of age-specific mortality rates at the time of birth were to stay the same throughout the child's life.

Singapore 79.7
Norway 78.5
Barbados 76.8
Jamaica 75.3
Malaysia 72.5
Sri Lanka 72.1
Niger 45.2
Sierra Leone 38.9

http://www.undp.org/hdr2002/indicator/indic_276_1_1.html

Murder Rate

2002

Murders Per 100,000 (Actual Number)

Jamaica 33.69 (887)
Barbados 7.5


Source: Amnesty International

http://web.amnesty.org

Total recorded crime per 100,000 population

1995 (last year for which comparative data available for most countries from this source)

Sri Lanka 293
Malaysia 499
Singapore 2,045 (this surprises me)
Jamaica 2,114
Barbados – No data

http://www.uncjin.org/Statistics/WCTS/trc000927.pdf

Fertility Rate Per Woman (1995 - 2000)

Norway 1.8
Singapore 1.6
Sweden 1.5
Barbados 1.5
Sri Lanka 2.1
Jamaica 2.5
Malaysia 3.3
Sierra Leone 6.5
Niger 8.0

http://www.undp.org/hdr2002/indicator/indic_323_1_1.html

Historical Fertility Rate Per Woman (1970 - 1975)

Sweden 1.9
Norway 2.2
Singapore 2.6
Barbados 2.7
Sri Lanka 4.1
Jamaica 5.0
Malaysia 5.2
Niger 8.1
Sierra Leone 6.5

http://www.undp.org/hdr2002/indicator/indic_322_1_1.html

Country R&D Expenditures (as % of GNP)

Sweden 3.8
Norway 1.7
Singapore 1.1
Barbados ..
Malaysia 0.4
Jamaica ..
Sri Lanka ..

http://www.undp.org/hdr2002/indicator/indic_383_1_1.html

[Tropicana]

Re: Post Independence Cross Country Comparisons

I will edit this post and add basics such as population, ethnic make up, GNP, etc.

SINGAPORE



Country Snapshot:

Population: 4.2 million (UN, 2003)

Average annual income: US $21,500 (World Bank, 2001)

Main exports: Computer equipment, machinery, rubber products, petroleum products


Growing Pains:

1960s

A massive industrialisation programme was launched with the extension of the Jurong industrial estate and the creation of smaller estates in Kallang Park, Tanjong Rhu, Redhill, Tiong Bahru and Tanglin Halt. The Employment Act and the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Act were passed in 1968 to promote industrial peace and discipline among the workforce.

With the British Government's sudden decision in 1967 to withdraw its armed forces from Singapore by the end of 1971, Singapore set out to build up its own defence forces. The Singapore Armed Forces Training Institute was established in 1966 and compulsory national service was introduced in 1967. A Singapore Air Defence Command and a Singapore Maritime Command were set up in 1969. In August 1967, Singapore joined Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand to form the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
Singapore entered the 1970s as a politically stable state with a high rate of economic growth.

1970s

The Economic Development Board was reorganised in 1968 and the Jurong Town Corporation and the Development Bank of Singapore were set up in the same year. In 1970, the Monetary Authority of Singapore was established to formulate and implement Singapore's monetary policies.
In 1979, after the shock of two oil crises, the Government started a programme of economic restructuring. This was achieved by modifying education policies, expanding technology and computer education, offering financial incentives to industrial enterprises and launching a productivity campaign.

Public housing was given top priority. New towns sprang up and Housing and Development Board apartments were sold at a low cost. To encourage home ownership, Singaporeans were allowed to use their Central Provident Fund savings to pay for these apartments.

http://www.sg/flavour/history_6.asp

Economic Development

The vast majority of the island's population lives in public-housing tower blocks.

Singapore is often referred to a one of Asia's "economic tigers", although it slipped into recession after the 1998 Asian markets crisis.

The country was referred to - less kindly - by the writer William Gibson as "Disneyland with the death penalty".

Political Considerations:

Race Relations:

Chinese make up more than 75% of the community, along with Malays and Indians. Singapore also has a large number of foreign workers.

Crime:

Law Enforcement

The citizens enjoy one of the world's highest standards of living, but also a system of punishments for acts such as busking without a licence or not flushing a public lavatory.

There are stiff penalties for littering and the chewing of gum is against the law. All of this probably accounts for the high number of crime incidents reported earlier in this thread. Interestingly enough, when one is there for a brief period, one does not sense a repressive atmosphere. It is a clean, bright, thriving, modern, and multi-cultural environment.


Freedom of Expression:

Singapore's media environment is highly regulated. Censorship is common, internet access is regulated and private ownership of satellite dishes is not allowed. Singapore Press Holdings, which has close links to the ruling party, has a virtual monopoly of the newspaper industry.

[Tropicana]

Re: Post Independence Cross Country Comparisons

MALAYSIA



Country Snapshot:

Population: 24.4 million (UN, 2003)

Average annual income: US $3,330 (World Bank, 2001)

Main exports: Electronic equipment, petroleum and liquefied natural gas, chemicals, palm oil, wood and wood products, rubber, textiles


More Malaysian Indicators & Stats.


Growing Pains:

Afraid that the union would interfere with his expansionistic plans, Indonesia's president Sukharno launched attacks against Malaysia in Borneo and on the peninsula, all of which were unsuccessful.
Another immediate problem was the determination of a national identity. Malaysia was a mix of people from many races and cultures, and uniting them under a common flag was not an easy enterprise. Because Malays represented the majority, the constitution gave them permanent spots in the government, made Islam the national religion, and made Malay the national language; but the Chinese firmly dominated business and trade, and most Malay were suffering economic hardships. The government, controlled by the United Malay National Organization, passed the New Economic Policy, which attempted to increase economic opportunity for the Malay by establishing various quotas in their favor. Unsurprisingly, many Chinese opposed the new arrangement and formed a significant opposition party. In 1969, after the opposition party won a significant seats, riots swepts through Kuala Lumpur and the country was placed in a state of emergency for two years. It was a painful moment in the young nation's history that most Malaysians prefer to forget.
In the last two decades, Malaysia has undergone tremendous growth and prosperity, and has arguably made significant progress in race relations. Many attribute the country's success to the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohammed, who has led the country since 1981.

http://www.geographia.com/malaysia/history05.htm

Political Considerations:

POLITICAL STABILITY

After the race riot of May 13 ,1969, Malaysia's leader realized that the British style of democracy does not work for the country.[1] With this perception, the government soon injected restrictive reforms into the politics of the country. This was deemed necessary basically to end the conduct of politics along ethnic lines that caused much of the social and political instability in the country. This course of action was consistent with the National Operation Council (NOC)[2], which concluded in the aftermath of May 13 that,"... without national unity there would be no stability , without which there would be no opportunities and resources for national development." Short of a better system to govern the many races of the country , the NOC felt that the alliance, later renamed as Barisan National, still offered the best option. The coalition government was deemed the most appropriate and suitable to a racially integrated government to deal with the difficult tasks ahead. If all parties could be convinded to work together , the coalition leaders were confident that they were still the best choice to solve the country problems, especially after May 13.

Due to the complex nature of Malaysia as a Federation, with administration at the federal and state levels as well as the multiracial, religion and cultural composition of it population , Malaysia was considered fortunate to have a comprehensive constitution. The Malaysia Constitution is supreme, consisting of fundamental laws which describe the manner in which the state (nation) is organized administratively and how justice is administrated. The Constitution includes basic features such as guaranteed fundamental rights, special powers to combat subversion and the ablity to declare states of emergency , special protection of the Bumiputra , the official religion and freedom of communities to practice their own religion in peace and harmony, and the other institutions within the country such as the conference of rulers, among other things. Therefore in Malaysia's case, the constitution can definitely be considered as an instrument in ensuring security, be it from internal threat through defining fundamental values on which the political society is founded thus propagating peace and harmony or from external threat through the function of government. After the event of May 13, RUKUNNEGARA, a form of national ideology was formulated, consisting of five principle that were acceptable to all the communities, and provided the common basis for the aspirations of all Malaysian. It is a further means to promote cohesiveness and a nationalistic spirit among the population.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita...1997/Jambi.htm

1948-1949: The Federation of Malaya is established in 1948 as a concession to UMNO demands and includes all of Malaya except Singapore. It decentralizes authority back to the Malay states and rescinds citizenship rights for non-Malays. Malayan Communists begin an insurgency, and the British declare a state of emergency. In 1949 Chinese business leaders found the Malayan Chinese Association (MCA).

1950-1956: The British begin talks with ethnic leaders, promising them independence. Postwar economic growth begins with increased rubber and timber production. The Chinese dominate commerce, civil service, and education. The UMNO, MCA, and the Malayan Indian Congress unite to form the Alliance Party. Headed by Tunku Abdul Rahman, it wins 51 of 52 seats in the 1955 national legislative elections.

1957-1962: Malaya gains independence in 1957 as a federal, constitutional monarchy with Kuala Lumpur as its capital and Tunku Abdul Rahman its prime minister. The state of emergency ends in 1960 with the defeat of the Communist guerillas. By 1962, proposals to merge with Singapore and the Borneo states of Sabah and Sarawak gain broad support. Raw material exports are Malaya's main source of foreign exchange.

1963-1968: Singapore, Sabah, and Sarawak join the Malayan states to form Malaysia in 1963. Indonesia's President Sukarno launches a "Crush Malaysia" campaign. Tensions arising from Chinese-Malay friction lead Singapore to withdraw from Malaysia in 1965. Confrontation with Indonesia ends in 1966 as Sukarno falls. Singapore and Malaysia help found the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 1967.

1969: The Malay-dominated Alliance loses key seats and significant Chinese support, primarily to the Chinese-dominated opposition parties, in parliamentary elections. Following the outcome, tensions between the Chinese community and the Alliance Malays spark riots in which more than 2,000 people, mostly Chinese, die. The government declares a state of emergency. All parliamentary activities are suspended.

1970-1973: Tunku Abdul Rahman steps down as prime minister in 1970. A joint civilian-military body, the National Operations Council (NOC), governs for 21 months. The 1969 riots force a reappraisal of Malaysian society. The NOC launches the New Economic Policy (NEP), which aims to curb inequalities by favoring Malays in economic and social policy. It combines market policies with social justice programs.

1974-1980: Tun Abdul Razak reorganizes the Alliance Party into the Barisan National (BN). The BN wins 135 of 154 seats in the 1974 parliamentary elections. The NEP revitalizes Malaysia. A boom begins, sustained by high savings, political stability, and a successful economic transformation from raw materials to manufacturing. Tun Hussein Onn becomes prime minister in 1976 after the death of Tun Abdul Razak.

Economic Development:

Once the prime example of a "tiger economy", Malaysia's decade-long economic boom ended with the onset of the Asian financial crisis in 1997.
High government spending and excessive corporate borrowing had contributed to a large domestic debt and a high current account deficit, making it vulnerable to international capital fluctuations and forcing it to adopt austerity measures.

Despite the financial crisis of 1997, Malaysia's economic prospects remain relatively good. It is among the world's biggest producers of computer disk drives, palm oil, rubber and timber. Its "national" car, the Proton, has met with international success and its tourism industry retains considerable room for expansion.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asi...es/1304569.stm

Race Relations:

Malays comprise just under half of the Malaysian population, Chinese constitute one-third, Indians one-tenth and indigenous tribes make up the rest. Although since 1971 Malays have benefited from positive discrimination in business, education and the civil service, ethnic Chinese continue to hold economic power and are the wealthiest community in Malaysia. The Malays remain the dominant group in politics while the Indians are among the poorest.

Freedom of Expression:

The Malaysian authorities exert substantial control over the media. Restrictions may be imposed in the name of national security, and the country has some of the toughest censorship laws in the world.

The government is keen to insulate the largely-Muslim population from what it considers harmful foreign influences on TV. News is subject to censorship, entertainment shows and music videos regularly fall foul of the censors, and scenes featuring swearing and kissing are routinely removed from TV programmes and films.

Family Planning:

1998

Women aged 15-19 giving 2%
live births each year:

Women aged 15-49 using 48%
contraception (all methods):

Women aged 15-49 using 31%
contraception
(modern methods):

At the national level, family planning and population related activities are co-ordinated by the National Population and Family Development Board (NPFDB). The Ministry of Health and the NPFDB provide contraceptives through various outlets and maternal and child health clinics. Private medical practitioners and retail pharmacies also provide contraceptive services. Abortion is allowed if it poses a risk to the life or physical or mental health of the mother.


Poor infrastructure in remote rural areas makes the provision of family planning services expensive, difficult and time-consuming. The interiors of Sabah and Sarawak are mountainous and the effective management of human and material resources is difficult for the FPA clinics serving this widely dispersed area.


There is a continuing belief among some rural Malays that family planning is totally prohibited in Islam. The authority of husbands on childbearing practices influences womens decisions on fertility and reproductive health options. The government's population policy is generally interpreted by the public as being pro-natalist, and incentives provided for family and child welfare are seen as encouragement to have up to five children.

[Dr.Dudd]

Re: Post Independence Cross Country Comparisons

The major difference is facism in Singapore and malasia,and rasism in Barbados.
Barbados also has a situation where a very high percentage of 'home owners' own what is known as chattell homes,(they don't own the land).
TJamaica on the other hand only educated 10% of their population to high school level, restrict the advancement of blacks,it commerce to the lower levels,by way of restricting loans from the banking sector.
That is to say blacks could not get the same level of borrowing as say if you were Chinese,or other controlling classes.
Jamaica did bot gtow as much as it could because it was by desing of the those who really control the conutry,the same group that dictates to the politicians and bring the country to it's knees with the help of thoise countries that suppresses blaks as their policies.
This exercise says a lot,but ir has to been seen as only one aspect pf a whole and a minor aspect at that.

[Tropicana]

Re: Post Independence Cross Country Comparisons

Yes Dr. Dudd. You raise an important point. There are many dynamics at play here that account for the differences in performance between the countries. Malaysia and Singapore have STRICT drug laws. When you land, it's right on your immigration card that drug trafficking is an offense punishable by death at the firing squad. I know that Malaysia canes people for simple possession of marijuana. There was a controversial case just about 3 - 4 years ago involving a White American teenager that was to be caned. There was an international outcry. He was still caned. Curious as to why there wasn't an outcry when it wasn't a White American being caned. Maybe there was and I wasn't in tune to the region at that time, but I don't recall it. I think I will add Social Problems and Crime rates as dimensions to be compared.

I will continue to add some of the high level overviews about the countries so that we have a backdrop for what should be a fruitful discussion.

I will eventually add the stats for the country that is in last place so and also the top two countries so that we can compare Jamaica with the full spectrum

[mountaingal]

Re: Post Independence Cross Country Comparisons

Originally posted by Dr.Dudd:
[qb] The major difference is facism in Singapore and malasia,and rasism in Barbados.
Barbados also has a situation where a very high percentage of 'home owners' own what is known as chattell homes,(they don't own the land).
TJamaica on the other hand only educated 10% of their population to high school level, restrict the advancement of blacks,it commerce to the lower levels,by way of restricting loans from the banking sector.
That is to say blacks could not get the same level of borrowing as say if you were Chinese,or other controlling classes.
Jamaica did bot gtow as much as it could because it was by desing of the those who really control the conutry,the same group that dictates to the politicians and bring the country to it's knees with the help of thoise countries that suppresses blaks as their policies.
This exercise says a lot,but ir has to been seen as only one aspect pf a whole and a minor aspect at that. [/qb]

remember, dear Dr. D, the first and last letters have to be the same as the original word...you're allowed to mix up the letters in between... [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

i agree with your analysis. a black businessman in jamaica went on teevee one time and talked about the obstacles put in his way by the "establishment" who objected to him trying to break the unofficial colour bar in the business community.

[Tropicana]

Re: Post Independence Cross Country Comparisons

BARBADOS



Country Snapshot:

Population: 270,000 (UN, 2003)

Main exports: Sugar and molasses, rum, other foods and beverages, chemicals, electrical components, clothing

Average annual growth rate (1996): 0.4%

Average annual income: US$9,750 (World Bank, 2001)

Ethnic groups:

- African 80%
- Mixed 16%
- European 4%

Religions:

Anglican 70%

Roman Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, and Moravian.

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2334.htm

Economic Considerations

Features of the 1960-1980 Period

The principles of the educational program for the early 1960s are stated in the 1960-1965 Development Plan, namely:

i) general education for all children (5-14 years),

ii) the reorganization of education for children between 11 and 14 years of age with a focus on the provision of an increased number of places in secondary modern schools,

iii) the provision of free grammar (secondary) school education for all those who qualify,

iv) the development of technical education to contribute to the industrial needs of the country, and

v) the improvement in the quality and expansion in the quantity of teaching professionals.

These principles governed the specific actions taken by the government in its drive for educational development in Barbados.

Since independence, Barbados has transformed itself from a low-income economy dependent upon sugar production to a middle-income economy based on tourism. The economy went into a deep recession in 1990 after 3 years of steady decline brought on by fundamental macroeconomic imbalances. After a painful readjustment process, the economy began to grow again in 1993. Growth rates averaged between 3%-5% since then until 2001, when the economy contracted 2.8%.

The main factors responsible for the decline in economic activity include a decrease in the number of tourist arrivals following September 11 events, the general global economic downturn, the impact of a depreciated Euro on sugar exports. Offshore banking and financial services have become an increasingly important source of foreign exchange and economic growth.

By year-end 2001, the recession led to a rise in unemployment, led by net decreases in employment in the tourism sector, as well as in construction and manufacturing sectors. The public service remains Barbados' largest-single employer. The employed labor force totaled 128,600 persons at the end of 2001, and the unemployed labor force expanded from 13,000 in 2000 to 14,000 in 2001. At the end of 2001, 62,900 persons were economically inactive. Unemployment rose in 2001 to 9.9%, but is still significantly lower than the 20% levels of the early 1990s.

Educational Systems

In 1962, fees for government secondary schools were abolished. This policy measure opened up secondary education to a large number of individuals and has had a significant impact on human resource development and social mobility in Barbados. This single policy measure is widely regarded as creating a watershed in the Barbarian educational system and heralding the future development of a middle income professional and technical class. The secondary school curriculum was also expanded to incorporate industrial arts (metal wood work), home economics and agricultural science. Secondary modern schools were renamed “comprehensive” schools (to distinguish them from older secondary/grammar schools). The curricula of these comprehensive schools were designed to reflect the requirements of an expanding economy, especially in the areas of agricultural and industrial development. The early 1960s saw economic development policy focusing on manufacturing development propelled by fiscal incentives, the building of industrial parks and the training of persons in industrial techniques of production. Government’s economic policy was designed to diversify the economy and reduce the heavy dependence on sugar cane production. Technical training was consolidated in the Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic. In addition, tertiary education was expanded via the opening of the Community College and the Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies.

Social support schemes for the educational system were established during the period: the School Meals Service in 1963, the Textbook Loan Scheme in 1975 and the School Uniform Grant Scheme in 1980. In addition, the vestry system which existed under local government and later the welfare department with central government provided social welfare benefits for needy children.

Expansion of the school plant continued during the period, but the Government was still unable to provide enough places for those seeking secondary level education in Barbados. A scheme was therefore devised to assist private secondary schools through bursaries to students and the partial payment of the salaries of teachers. The 1960s and 1970s saw an expansion of private secondary schools in Barbados. Facilities were also expanded for teacher training, hotel training and adult education. A program of co-education was devised by amalgamating some primary and secondary schools and incorporating students of the opposite sex into “mixed-sex” schools. With the advent of “free” education at all levels, educational planning was social demand driven, with the government seeking to provide places to meet demand. The institution of compulsory education up to secondary level (16 years of age) resulted in a situation where Barbados had the highest percentage of unemployed (and employed) persons with at least secondary school education in the Caribbean.

While educational policy in the pre-independence period focused on the development of primary and secondary levels of education, the post-independence period (1966-1980) saw a widening of the educational policy from nursery to tertiary levels. Although some emphasis was placed on meeting the human resources requirements of economic development—tourism, agriculture and manufacturing—a more holistic approach to education was adopted during the period. Human resources development via education was viewed both as a means to meet the demands of economic activity and an end to improve the knowledge base of the society. Education was also viewed as a means of assisting individuals in their social and moral responsibilities. Issues relating to sustainable development were not high on the education agenda. Environmental issues were discussed within the narrow confines of geography and biology syllabuses within schools, for example, soil erosion conservation in the Scotland district and water pollution. Little attempt was made to examine the socio-economic dimension of environmental problems. The 4H movement which addressed issues of agricultural development and conservation began to decline during the period as the youth expressed little interest in agricultural production.

http://www.iacd.oas.org/La%20Educa%20120/downes.htm

Race Relations:

A former British colony and a member of the Commonwealth, Barbados is an island with a dual heritage: English, as is evident from its stone Anglican churches and horse races on Saturdays, and African, as manifested in its music and dance.

At times these overlap harmoniously, as in the Barbadian appropriation of the English game of cricket.

But at other times they brim with latent tension - between the affluent white community, which owns and controls the economy, funds political parties and exercises an indirect influence on government policy, and the majority black Barbadians.

To meet these challenges, the Barbadian government has sought to boost the country's offshore banking services and encourage investment in information technology.

Crime:

Like its Caribbean neighbours, Barbados suffers from drug-related and other violent crime.

Family Planning:

1995
The government programme and the expansion of the adolescent peer counselling programme run by BFPA has led to a decline in adolescent pregnancy from 23% in 1977 to 13.9% of all births in 1995. Abortion is available under certain medical regulations within the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act.

1998

Women aged 15-19 giving 6%
live births each year:

Women aged 15-49 using 55%
contraception
(all methods):

Women aged 15-49 using 53%
contraception
(modern methods):

The BFPA was founded in 1954 and provides a comprehensive family planning programme, working closely with the Ministry of Health. It offers counselling, information and modern contraceptive methods, including voluntary sterilisation and abortion, from its headquarters.

In addition to clinical services, BFPA has 81 community delivery centres around the country to increase access to family planning. This community outreach effort has greatly increased contraceptive use in Barbados, which is currently 55% among women.


BFPA runs a Public Awareness Campaign Series. This programme goes into the community and provides information and discussion opportunities for community groups of all ages on a number of different issues to promote an improved quality of life in the country.


Strong emphasis is directed to adolescents on education and counselling in order to stem the prevalence of adolescent and unwanted pregnancy. A programme to provide education in schools is flourishing, and personal ‘youth encounters’ feature strongly in this campaign. BFPA also has an ongoing programme to provide contraceptive services and education to workers at industrial work sites.

Abortion laws are more liberal in Barbados than Jamaica. Abortions are permitted on socio-economic grounds.

http://ippfnet.ippf.org/pub/IPPF_Regions/IPPF_CountryProfile.asp?ISOCode=BB

[Tropicana]

Re: Post Independence Cross Country Comparisons

SRI LANKA (Formerly Ceylon)



Country Snapshot:

http://www.slcgsyd.com/interest.htm

Official Name: The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.

Capital: Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte

Population: 19 million (UN, 2003)

Average annual income: US $880 (World Bank, 2001)

Main exports: Clothing and textiles, tea, gems, rubber, coconuts

Ethnicity:

Sinhalese 74 %

Sri Lankan Tamils 13 %

Indian Tamils 5 %

Muslims 7 %
Others 1 % (Burghers, Malays, Parsis & Veddhas)

Economic Development

Despite abundant natural resources, Sri Lanka remains a poor country with a per capita income of about $690. While poverty has fallen somewhat since Independence in 1948, 22% of households are still below the poverty line. With its resources, both natural and human, Sri Lanka could have achieved far higher growth than it has, were it not for social and ethnic conflict, political unrest and poor economic management.

Since 1960, Sri Lanka has seen per capita growth of around 2.5% a year, better than many African nations, but not comparable to the Asian tigers. Poor policies have led to inflation, a poor trade policy and high unemployment. Inefficient state enterprises have also continued to drain the state purse.

Since 1977, Sri Lanka has been trying to open up its economy and aid the development of the private sector. But the process of reform has been undermined by the civil war that began in the early 1980s and continues to the present day. Sri Lanka's main exports are tea, clothing, rubber, industrial products and coconut products.

Tourism was a major source of revenue but also has been hit by the unrest. Unemployment has been a persistent problem in the country leading to a postal-order economy in some respects. Thousands of Sri Lankan housemaids work in the Gulf to subsidise their families at home.

Race Relations:

for nearly two decades, the island was scarred by a bitter civil war arising out of ethnic tensions.

The island has a long-established Tamil minority in the north and east. The British also brought in Tamil labourers to work the coffee and tea plantations in the central highlands, making the island a major tea producer.

But the majority Buddhist Sinhalese community resented what they saw as favouritism towards the mainly-Hindu Tamils under British administration.

The growth of a more assertive Sinhala nationalism after independence fanned the flames of ethnic division until civil war erupted in the 1980s between Tamils pressing for self-rule and the government.

Most of the fighting took place in the north. But the conflict also penetrated the heart of Sri Lankan society with Tamil Tiger rebels carrying out devastating suicide bombings in Colombo in the 1990s.

The violence has damaged the economy and harmed tourism in what is one of South Asia's more advanced and potentially prosperous societies.

A ceasefire in early 2002 and a political agreement reached between the government and rebels in late 2002 raised hopes for a lasting peace.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/sou...es/1168427.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/special_report/1998/sri_lanka/49418.stm

Family Planning History:

Women aged 15-19 giving 3%
live births each year:

Women aged 15-49 using 66%
contraception (all methods):

Women aged 15-49 using 44%
contraception
(modern methods):

Abortion is illegal except to save a woman's life although the high rate of dependence on traditional methods of contraception means the potential for unwanted pregnancy is considerable. The Family Planning Association of Sri Lanka (FPASL) is advocating for liberalization of the law to include cases of rape, incest, and congenital abnormality.


Oral contraceptives are available without prescription from community nurses, trained midwives and pharmacists and condoms are widely available through retail outlets. Availability of contraception in the north and east of the country is severely hampered by political unrest. Although the contraceptive prevalence rate is quite high, few couples use modern spacing methods.


The Government views population growth as too high, mainly because the island has such a high population density. The aim is to have zero population growth by the year 2000 so that efforts to alleviate poverty and improve quality of life will be more effective.

http://ippfnet.ippf.org/pub/IPPF_Reg...asp?ISOCode=LK

[Tropicana]

Re: Post Independence Cross Country Comparisons

JAMAICA



It is interesting to see the impression that country profiles of Jamaica convey. It's an opportunity to see how other see us. This information is from the BBC web site:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/country_profiles/1190968.stm

Country Snapshot:

Capital: Kingston

Population: 2.6 million (UN, 2003)

Average annual income: US $2,800 (World Bank, 2001)


Main exports: Bauxite, aluminium, sugar, bananas, rum


Growing Pains:

A lush and beautiful island, Jamaica is struggling to overcome growing lawlessness which has given it one of the world's highest murder rates and threatens to jeopardise its tourism industry, the source of nearly half of its foreign exchange earnings.

Economic Development:

Jamaica's political stability, plentiful bauxite deposits, attractive scenery and rich culture - best known for its reggae music - contrasts with abject poverty, decaying infrastructure and increasing crime.

Adding to Jamaica's woes have been plummeting commodity prices, which have hit its bauxite industry and forced the government to raise fuel prices, sparking widespread Protests in 1999.

On August 7, 2002, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation with Jamaica.1

Background

Following the financial crisis in 1995/96, the Jamaican government adopted stabilization policies aimed at reducing inflation through a broadly stable nominal exchange rate. While the government has succeeded in bringing inflation down (the inflation has been kept in single digits since 1997/98), tight monetary policy, coupled with high fiscal deficits, led to high real interest rates and an erosion in competitiveness. The public sector debt increased sharply during the period to over 130 percent of GDP, reflecting in part the costs of the financial sector rescue. Economic recovery has been slow. In June 2000, the Jamaican authorities undertook a Staff-Monitored Program (SMP) for FY 2000/01-2001/02 designed to tackle the heavy public sector burden and restore economic growth.

Over the past fiscal year (2001/02), Jamaica's economy was hit by a series of shocks including the outbreak of violence in July, the impact of the terrorist attacks of September 11 on tourism, and heavy floods in late November. The government responded to these shocks through steps to cushion the impact on the economy. However, partly as a result, public finances worsened significantly and the reduction in the public sector debt was much less than anticipated. Jamaica has again been hit by heavy flooding in May 2002.

After growing strongly in the first half of the fiscal year (at estimated 3 percent annual rate), the economy grew by about 1 percent in FY 2001/02 following the shocks. Inflation was around 7½ percent, and the real exchange rate appreciated by 4 percent. Despite a weaker external current account, Net International Reserves increased by about US$650 million boosted by strong remittances and proceeds from international bond issues. Domestic interest rates generally trended downwards, although with a hiccup in the third quarter of the fiscal year.

Public finances deteriorated with revenues declining sharply, reflecting weaker economic activities. Expenditures for tourist promotion, flood relief, and wages-resulting from earlier than expected wage settlements-were higher but offset by savings elsewhere. The cash government budget deficit increased to 5.7 percent of GDP relative to the revised SMP target of 4.1 percent of GDP, and the central government primary surplus contracted by nearly 3 percentage points of GDP to 8 percent of GDP. Public debt declined modestly to 129 percent of GDP.

http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/pn/2002/pn0298.htm


Political Considerations:

Since independence in 1962, power in Jamaica has alternated between the social-democratic People's National Party and the conservative Jamaica Labour Party. While elections have often been marred by violence, their results have always been accepted and, on the whole, political institutions have managed to retain their legitimacy.

But political stability has not turned into social and economic harmony.

Freedom of Expression:

Jamaica enjoys a free and independent press, and newspapers frequently criticise the establishment. Nonetheless, journalists are occasionally intimidated during election campaigns.

The broadcast media are predominantly commercial and are open to diverse news and comment.

Well, we have our problems that's for sure but we also have many blessings for which we need to give God thanks when we compare ourselves to some other countries. I am going to include Sierra Leone's profile because I think we need to remember that we are FAR from the bottom of the barrel.

Family Planning History

The Jamaican government is strongly committed to family planning. Family planning services are provided by the National Family Planning Board, the first in the Caribbean. Its programme includes clinical services, research, a national information, education and communication campaign, evaluation and training. Most people receive family planning services from government clinics. In 1995, 40, 000 clients were recruited into the government programme, which was 21% below the target of 51,000. Most women chose the pill (47.8%), followed by condoms (28.8%), and injectables (21.7%) Female sterilization was available in all hospitals and several clinics by 1994, and 3,830 women were sterilized in 1994. Vasectomy is not popular , and no Jamaican men were reported to have been sterilized in 1993. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/704555_dwl.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/graemlins/704555_dwl.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/graemlins/704555_dwl.gif[/img]


Almost everyone in Jamaica knows of at least two family planning methods and more than 90% of all women in union did not wish to become pregnant when questioned for a 1993 survey. The same survey showed that 75% of all births were unwanted or mistimed.

Abortion is available on medical grounds, but it is often performed under unsanitary conditions by untrained personnel. The resultant infections and complications are a leading cause of maternal mortality.

Teenage births have decreased from 31% of total births in 1977 to 23.7% in 1992.

1998

Women aged 15-19 giving 11%
live births each year:

Women aged 15-49 using 66 %
contraception (all methods):

Women aged 15-49 using 60%
contraception
(modern methods):

http://ippfnet.ippf.org/pub/IPPF_Regions/IPPF_CountryProfile.asp?ISOCode=JM

Family planning service providers in Jamaica frequently employ a policy requiring a woman to either produce a negative pregnancy test result or assert that she is currently men-struating before receiving contraceptive services. So-called“menstruation requirements” leave women at risk of unwanted pregnancy while awaiting the onset of menstruation. One study revealed that 92% of clinic workers and supervisors imposed such a requirement on women seeking contraceptive services. Repeat travel to and from clinics can pose a burden that may discourage women from seeking contraception alto-gether.

CONTRACEPTION

Prevalence of contraceptives

Contraceptive use has risen in Jamaica. Fifty percent of all women and 66% of women in unions used a contraceptive method in 1997. Of women in unions, 12% used female sterilization, 21% used oral contraceptives,17% used condoms, 11%used injectibles, and 5% used other methods. In spite of this, only 34% of all pregnancies in 1997 were planned.

I do recall this practice during the 1970s. Often, by the time women returned, they were pregnant.


Freedom of Expression:

Information about book banning is being discussed here:

http://www.jamaicans.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=11&t=001728#000005

Gun Court is discussed later in this thread.

See information about the Rodney Affar under Race Relations.


Race Relations:

As a daughter of Jamaica who was raised overseas, I guess I have a unique POV or bias. I think that I should state this up front before I add information about race relations. My POV will be different from someone who was raised in Jamaica. As a younger Baby Boomer who still remembers when discrimination in North America was more overt, my POV will also be different from some of the younger boardites who don't recall such a time. Here are MY personal biases on the subject and I label them biases. I think it is important for me to state them up front as, without a doubt, my world view will have an impact on what I post in this section. I am counting on Jamaican boardites who have another POV to share it and balance the information that I present.

For as long as I can remember, I have always heard a lot of rhetoric (notice the bias in my choice of words) about Jamaica, "out of many one people" and the fact that people of all races live harmoniously. It continues to fascinate me that many Jamaicans still teach their children that colour does not matter. At one time, I guess I believed this too. However, when as a young woman, I began to encounter discrimination in Canada and learn about some of the inequities in Jamaican society including the fact that the Black majority did not have the same legacy of privilege as some of the other minorities in the society, my POV began to change. Given all the groundwork that Garvey did, I am still puzzled by the fact that the struggle of Black people in Jamaica has not translated into more racial consciousness on the part of the Black majority. I hope that some boardite rased in Jamaica will come on and help shed light on the very complex dynamics of race, shade and class in Jamaica and some of the puzzling disconnects that I perceive.

Dr. Walter Rodney



The Rodney Affair (1960s)

Walter Rodney was born in Guyana on 23 March 1942. He died under questionable circumstances on 13 June 1980 near his birthplace and childhood neighborhood on Bent Street in Georgetown, Guyana.

Dr. Rodney was a teacher, writer and political activist. His first studies were at Queens College. He fulfilled his undergraduate studies at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona campus in Jamaica, where he received his Honors Degree in History in 1963. He had traveled to the Soviet Union and Cuba during this time.

Rodney went on to receive his Ph.D. in History at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), London University, on 7 July 1966 at the age of 24. During his time in London, Rodney was involved with a study group which met with C.L.R. James and his wife Selma.


After his graduation from SOAS, Dr. Rodney taught [1966-1968] in Tanzania, at the University College of Dar-es-Salaam.

In February, 1968 he returned to Jamaica where he lectured on African History at (UWI), Mona, Jamaica. At this time Rodney met with Rastafarians, facilitating the talks which resulted in his book “The Groundings with my Brothers,” published in 1969. Rodney taught in the depressed communities of Jamaica.

According to Sanford in “New Jewel:”

“In October 1968 . . . tensions boiled to the surface when the government of Jamaica [the Hugh Shearer Jamaican Labour Party, JLP] declared Walter Rodney, a left-wing Guyanese lecturer on African history at the University of the West Indies campus there, a prohibited immigrant. Shock waves of anger reverberated throughout the West Indies, particularly on the other campuses, and helped to touch off black power riots and a soldier's mutiny that rocked the government of Trinidad.”

Rodney influenced his followers,according to Tafari:

“In his powerful ‘Black Power’ synthesis, Rodney brought together the Rastafarian and Marxist theses in a new ideological trinity of race, class and culture; i.e., a rejection of white imperialism (race); the assumption of power by the black masses (class); and the redefinition of the society in the image of the blacks (culture).”

What Rodney did was attend a black writers conference in Montreal, Canada. All the while he was being followed by government security in Kingston and outside so that when he went to return on 15 October 1968, his entry to Jamaica was denied.

Reaction to Rodney's banning was explosive and started with the students who used a variety of disruptive tactics. These actions spread to the streets off campus with a series of riots in Kingston city. The University was closed for a couple of weeks and debates raged on in Parliament.

In his determination to struggle against exploitation and oppression Walter Rodney organized among Jamaica’s poorest people. His work was having such a tremendous impact that less than one year later, he was banned from re-entering Jamaica while attending a writer’s conference in Canada. At that time (1968-1969) Liberation Movements were sweeping Africa, Asia and Latin America; the U.S.A. was experiencing opposition to the Vietnam war at home and abroad; and the Civil Rights movement was gaining ground also. Having ‘lost’ Cuba already, the U.S. Administration was not prepared to tolerate any form of liberation in the Caribbean region which it regarded as its backyard, especially at that time when the Cold War was at its peak. Every Caribbean government understood that, and since Walter Rodney was viewed as a revolutionary in Washington, D.C., many other Caribbean governments banned him from their countries before he even expressed an interest in visiting. Realizing the extent of persecution in store for him in his own region, Walter returned to Tanzania to resume teaching at the university there. Fortunately, he had already written "Groundings With My Brothers" which served as an inspiration to those he left behind.

http://www.guyanajournal.com/Rodney_ZB.html


Rodney eventually returned to his native Guyana (I believe it was still called British Guiana at the time). He met with an untimely death.

By 1980, the Burnham regime had become so bankrupt and desperate, they plotted the murder of Walter himself. They planted an agent, Gregory Smith, who won his confidence by furnishing communications equipment. These equipment proved useful since the dictatorship had made it difficult and dangerous to travel around the country to organize politically. In the absence of finance, especially foreign currency, and given the fact that it was almost impossible to import anything, it is not difficult to understand how Walter, with so much to deal with, was lured into trusting Smith. Eventually, the PNC planted a bomb in a walkie-talkie given to Walter by Smith resulting in his tragic death on the evening of June 13, 1980 on a street in Georgetown near the jail.

http://www.thegrenadarevolutiononline.com/rodney.html

Remember Linton Kwesi Johnson's poem in tribute to Dr. Walter Rodney:

Lyrics to LKJ's "Reggae fi Rodney"

[Tropicana]

Re: Post Independence Cross Country Comparisons

SIERRA LEONE



((Remember this is where some of our Maroons were relocated.))

Country Snapshot:

Capital: Freetown

Independence: April 27, 1961

Population: 5 million (UN, 2003)

Average annual income: US $140 (World Bank, 2001)

Main exports: Diamonds, rutile, cocoa, coffee, fish

Growing Pains:

The West African state of Sierra Leone emerged from a decade of civil war in early 2002, with the help of Britain, the former colonial power, and a large United Nations peacekeeping mission.
More than 17,000 foreign troops disarmed tens of thousands of rebels and militia fighters in the biggest UN peacekeeping success in Africa for many years after debacles in the 1990s in Angola, Rwanda and Somalia.

A lasting feature of the civil war was the atrocities committed by the rebels, whose trademark was to hack off the hands of their victims.
The country now faces the challenge of reconstruction. The problems of poverty, tribal rivalry and official corruption that caused the war are far from over.

The closely linked civil war in neighbouring Liberia highlights the instability of the region.

Although rich in diamonds, Sierra Leone's development has been blighted by acute political instability, which plagued it soon after independence in 1961.

Freedom of Expression:

Successive regimes in Sierra Leone, both military and democratic, have targeted the media, and the present government of Ahmad Tejan Kabbah is no exception. President Kabbah is on record for admonishing journalists for publishing "scandalous stories about somebody, everyday".

[cassidy72]

Re: Post Independence Cross Country Comparisons

I think that it is excellent that you have been able to obtain such factual data Tropicana.
However I find something disturbing.Why are blacks in Jamaica not having the same kind of financial access that ,e.g.,the chinese have .That is very unfair and creates a "we" versus "them" in the minds of many.It was this kind of imbalance that prompted Idi Amin to evict the Asians in Uganda.I am definitely not saying he was right but for how long will one enjoy being at the bottom in ones own country????????

[Tropicana]

Re: Post Independence Cross Country Comparisons

Well, I am only part way through posting some of the basics facts and already we are seeing that in many of the countries that were once under British jurisdiction, we have a trend of some racial and ethnic groups having more privileges than others.

I am not going to look up any fancy terms or words to describe what took place under British rule (I'll do that later). I'll just say it as it comes to me. From what I understand, wherever the British went, they gave some groups more privileges and acccess to opportunities than others. In Jamaica, it was the Whites, light skinned Blacks, Chinese, Lebanese, etc. In places like Malaysia it was the Chinese. This practice does eventually create deep seated resentment. The inequities have led to race riots and out and out civil war in some of the countries we've looked at so far.

In Jamaica, I think we need to be careful not to view the glass as half empty. There HAS been progress. Up until the early 1960s for sure (later quite likely, Dr. Dudd, Fledgist, Afer and others, please correct me if I am wrong) if you were darker than a certain shade, you would not be able to get certain jobs. One example that comes to mind is bank teller. We've come a long way from those days but we still have a long way to go.

Anyway, that's my take on it. Others will give their POV in due course I am sure.

[Dr.Dudd]

Re: Post Independence Cross Country Comparisons

If you study the 'art of control',why is the way colonialism works. You will see that the main plank,is one based on. Always use a grouo that has the least affinity with the majoroty to create a buffer zone between those whom you wish to exploit.

Is it any accident then that in all thses countries,not just those that are colonies (many are still defacto)of Britain but also the USA as in Latin America,and other colonial powers.
Then you wonder why they created IDI Amin,etc.

yes the wars and constant wars in nost of the world was created,by these powers,but as long as they were there that kept a lid on things,but as soon as thses colonials leave,unless there is a facist dictator,ir usually spiral into chaos.
It is enevitable,until it works itself out,but the problem is that the colonials profit from these wars,by way of supplying arms for the mineral waslth pf thses countries,so they usually keep those rhar atre going and instigate others.

[Dr.Dudd]

Re: Post Independence Cross Country Comparisons

What manysee as progres in the 60's was only 'inertia'. Jamaica did not really progress,but was in the process of laying the ground work for failure.
The failures that we are experiencing at present had it's genesis in the 60's.
Many waht ahd has been successful in crafting an eroneous histry that it was the 70s that started our slide,but ir all started when Jamaica decided to folloe an economic progran that relied on [b]cheap labor]/b] instead of highly trained labor force.
In the 60's we accepted the erroneous idea that if we pay our workers low rnough,our products will be cheaper on the markets.

Others say it is the cost of oil,but it is really the advent of other countries joining the cheap labor band waggon.
Well every country is presently undercutting each other while their population suffers to the point,where don't be surproze if there is a new movement of universal labor unions that decide to call a world wide labor strike (yes you saw it here first,don't forget.