Jamaica Leads The Way

Mauritius Times – 70 Years

By Dookhee Rai

With an area of 4,411 square miles and situated in the Caribbean Sea, Jamaica is, like Mauritius, faced with related problems of unemployment, under-employment, and a rapidly increasing population.

This British colony, with a subtropical climate and the largest in the British West Indies, exports sugar, bananas, spices, coffee, cocoa, and citrus. Of these principal agricultural exports, sugar tops the list. Sixty percent of the sugarcane is grown on estates. The balance is produced by farmers whose average yield is about 16 tons per acre. Under the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement of 1951, the UK Government buys about 110,000 tons of raw sugar from Jamaica annually. In 1957, the island produced 352,288 tons of sugar, of which 300,000 tons were exported.

Jamaica’s Coffee Industry. Pic – Perfect Daily Grind

The banana, a quick-growing plant, of which the first bunches may be cut about a year after planting, is harvested all year round. There are about 100,000 acres covered with banana trees. In 1938, the number of stems was estimated at 23,800,000. Besides, citrus, mainly sweet oranges and grapefruit, are grown chiefly on small holdings. Their exports totalled £1.3 million in 1957. Like the banana industry, the UK supports this sector under a price assistance scheme.

In 1956 alone, over 1,300,000 seedlings of coffee were distributed free to farmers by the Department of Agriculture. To improve the finished product, the Government has established pulperias in the main growing areas.

Over 5 million pounds of raw and roasted coffee were exported in 1957. The Government of Jamaica has also taken steps to expand cocoa production. It is doing all within its power to encourage industrial development. Aid is being given for cocoa expansion under the Farm Development Scheme, for plant propagation, and as subsidies for land clearing, soil conservation, and the costs of establishment and maintenance. Livestock production is another important branch of Jamaican agriculture, even contributing to soil fertility. In 1940, a milk condensery was set up.

Jamaica is aiming to reduce dependence on imported fish supplies. Following a visit by a UK Colonial Office fisheries adviser, the Government set up a Fisheries Division. In marine fishing, the main development is the increased use of mechanical vessels. The Loan Scheme, moreover, includes provisions for duty-free fuel and oil. Under it, fishermen can be trained in engine maintenance and minor repairs. In 1950, freshwater fish culture was also initiated.

Every year, there is a steady expansion of forestland. In the programme that began in 1942, the service provided by the Department of Forestry includes advice on afforestation for other official departments and private landowners. Each year, 1½ million timber tree seedlings are produced by the Department’s nurseries. Of these, half are issued free of charge to interested farmers and various official agencies.

Thus, agriculture forms the basis of the island’s economic life. It is the greatest employer of labour, providing livelihoods to the majority of the population. It strives to produce a significant portion of local food supplies, either directly or through manufacturing and processing. In this field, the increase is noticeable. The gross domestic product from agriculture increased from £21.6 million in 1950 to £25.8 million in 1956. This progress is thanks to the Government’s encouragement of maximum land fertilization and improvements in farming practices.

The Mid-Clarendon Development Co-operative Ltd. is an example of the use of co-operative societies for agricultural development. Transport and tillage societies have motor trucks and a variety of farm implements to serve the members’ needs.

There are now several new minor industries. Consumer goods such as beer, mineral water, matches, clothing, shoes, bricks, and furniture are produced. Since World War II, the Government has aimed to encourage new industries and provide additional employment for the growing population. Therefore, in 1952, the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), which offers financial and technical assistance to a wide range of industries, was established. In 1956, incentive legislation was significantly expanded. Manufacturers producing solely for export may import all raw materials and fuel duty-free. Moreover, companies headquartered in Jamaica but conducting all business outside the British Caribbean are relieved of income tax. To attract overseas investment, the IDC has opened offices in New York and London.

The IDC is developing a 300-acre industrial estate on the western foreshore of Kingston Harbour. The capital, with a population of about 158,700, is well served by both road and rail. Power and fuel are available on the estate. Forty factories are already built there, with more under construction. The corporation is also constructing factories in rural and urban areas for lease or sale to investors and is helping market straw goods and other local handicrafts. To enhance industrial training facilities, the Government, IDC, and private industries collaborate. Jamaica has also erected a customs barrier to protect local industries.

Offering scenic beauty and excellent beaches, especially in the north, Jamaica attracts thousands of visitors, mostly from Canada and the USA. Tourism ranks third in terms of overseas earnings, employing a significant number of skilled and unskilled workers. Hotels, either directly or indirectly, employed about 26,000 people by the end of 1957. The Government steadily improves basic facilities such as water supplies and communications. The Hotels Aid Loan provides incentives for hotel development by granting income tax relief for a certain period or remission of customs duties on materials and equipment. The Tourist Board is responsible for developing the tourist trade in Jamaica. It promotes efficiency and aims to double the trade within its five-year operation. Under the current development plan, £3.2 million is allocated to this industry.

The most urgent social problem, one where the effects of overpopulation are acutely felt in Mauritius, is housing. This is also one of Jamaica’s most pressing issues.

Until 1956, there were two official housing agencies in Jamaica. The Central Housing Authority, established in 1937, had built 1,039 houses at a cost of £708,822. Loans advanced to owners constructing their own homes amounted to £108,295 for 1,170 houses between 1945 and April 1956. The Authority is assisted by the UK Colonial Development and Welfare Funds.

After the 1951 hurricane left 70,000 families homeless, the Hurricane Housing Organisation was established. It undertook a £2.25 million rehabilitation scheme financed by a grant and interest-free loan from the UK. By 1956, over 4,000 rural houses and 2,100 units neared completion, and more than 2,800 approved applicants were assisted in obtaining land titles.

Jamaica’s current development plan allocates £4.75 million to housing, half of which will be spent on rural housing through subsidies, prefabrication, and technical assistance. The Minister of Local Government and Housing plans to help 25,000 farmers build homes during a ten-year period.

Formerly, the Government’s housing programme primarily assisted the lowest income groups. However, the needs of the middle-income group have also been recognised. A new Housing Law, enacted in April 1958, facilitates private capital investment in housing schemes for this class.

In 1958, a scheme was approved for over 700 houses to be erected near Kingston for sale on a 20-year mortgage. The UK Colonial Development and Welfare Funds and a UK insurance company jointly provided the £1.5 million capital. The Government, on the other hand, made the land available and guaranteed a portion of industrial mortgages.

7th Year – No 291
Friday 25th March, 1960

Mauritius Times ePaper Friday 25 January 2025