Caribbean- Global Interactions
To assess the influence of extra-regional
countries on economies, politics and identity
in the Caribbean
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In 1960s and 1970s the Caribbean achieved
independence from Britain
The model of government introduced was
the Westminster System
This is a form of Parliamentary Government
where the Head of Government ( or Prime
Minister) depends on the parliamentary body
for his or her position
Executive
Makes policies
for ministries
Legislature
Judiciary
Ensures that
laws are fairly
applied
Makes the laws
Government
Separation of Power: government where the three arms have different kinds of
authority and power, in order to minimize opportunities for abuse of power.
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This determine the kinds of elections and lays
down rules and procedures
 First Past the Post/Simple Majority: Candidate
who polls most votes wins the seat (therefore
quite possible for party to win majority seats but
not popular vote)
 Proportional Representation: number of seats
gained by a party in a parliament is proportional
to the number of votes polled.
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First Past the Post System
 Held every five years
 Island divided into 41 constituents by Election and
Boundaries Commission
 Each political party will nominate candidates to
contest the various seats
 Candidates usually campaign an hold public meetings.
 After election the candidate who gets the most voted
in each constituency becomes a member of the house
of representatives
 The member who commands the majority
support in House of Representatives becomes
Prime Minister.
 The person who commands the support of the
largest number of members in opposition to the
ruling party becomes Leader of the Opposition.
 The ruling party appoints Ministers to head
various ministries
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A two chamber system which consists of the
House of Representatives(Lower House), the
Senate( Upper House) and the President.
 House of Representative consists of elected
members
 Senate consists of appointed members chosen
from the Ruling party, the Opposition and
independent individuals chosen by the President.
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Proportional Representation and Uni-cameral
legislature i.e only one House in Parliament.
 Entire country considered a single constituency
 It is a democratic system any number of political
parties may contest the election
 After the votes are counted the seats in the
legislative body are distributed in proportion to
the number of votes cast for various parties
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There is no clear Separation of Power
between the
Executive(HOG,Cabinet,Committees) and
the legislature. ( This compromises democracy
because the prime minister becomes all
powerful, and it elevates one political party to
receive all rewards).
Politics developed along Ethnic and Partisan
Lines
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Prime Ministers and political parties holding
on to power for years on end, thus excluding
other groups.
People vote every five years but there are few
opportunities to participate on issues
affecting the country.
True participation of all social classes and
ethnic groups is not encouraged.
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There are numerous calls for constitutional
reform and power sharing
The postcolonial reality is that all groups are
organizing and mobilizing so that they have
voice and representation.
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The understanding that governments and
their agents must act in accordance with the
established legislative framework of a
country. It is meant to:
 curb arbitrary acts,
 enforce equality before the law, and
 preserve law and order.
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Examples where the rule of law was
compromised.
 1970s Black Power and 1990s Black Muslim
Political uprisings in Trinidad and Tobago.
 Take over of Grenada by Maurice Bishop in 1979
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A similar structure with 4 levels of preprimary, primary, secondary and tertiary.
Until recently school leaving certificate based
on British General Certificate of education
Advanced level Subject were based on GCE
exams in Cambridge and London, England.
North American System encroaching- Use of
GPA, Community Colleges concept.
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Caribbean Migrants and their children live and
work in metropolitan countries.
 Remittances constitute a valuable source of foreign
exchange
 Has helped Caribbean countries by lessening the
pressure for jobs an social services.
 Makes the Caribbean more vulnerable to the policies
of extra- regional countries.
 The US forced to take seasonal semi-skilled workers
since their own residents are unwilling to work
The brain drain Effect through the emigration of
skilled people, most of whom were trained in the
Caribbean
 The experience of racism in the metropolitan
country and being treated as second-class
citizens.
 The mindset that better opportunities lie with
extra-regional countries.
 Injustice felt by seasonal worker who are
segregated from resident communities on larger
farms.
 Continues the syndrome of Dependency
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Examples
 Sugarcane fields of Southern Florida
 Orchard of the Niagara Peninsula in Canada.