Background: Post-Emancipation, the colonial government’s focus was on developing essential infrastructure and establishing an administrative system primarily to facilitate colonial economic interests, mainly resource extraction, and to maintain social order, rather than focusing on the welfare and development of the local population for their own sake. Support for the general population was secondary, initially minimal, and confined mainly to the development of an educational system to replace white nationals who were declining in number to maintain economic viability of the colony for Britain. Schools and churches established by religious organizations in Free Villages and subsequent communities of former slaves were the main institutions for assimilation of the Black masses into British culture. Although the colonial government eventually built and assumed control of most schools and established societal institutions such as police stations, post offices and health clinics, the approach was minimalist, with a focus on primary level education only, provision of insufficient numbers of institutions with limited access to necessary facilities and trained professionals, and absence of other resources necessary for the welfare, wholesome development and full assimilation of an uneducated former slave population into British culture.
Deficiency of Government: Although there has been general improvement in these areas since Independence, persistent deficiencies have caused steadily increasing loss of human capacity and societal dysfunction, the scale and magnitude of which require sustained undertaking by the Government of Jamaica that exceeds current political realities, and political cycles. The absence of planning, social structure or significant involvement by the State are hallmarks of Jamaican communities. As the essential social unit through which human development policies and practices can be effectuated, the community must be appropriately structured, organized and resourced, by Government, with the range of institutions that are necessary to alter the current trajectory.
Deficiencies of Jamaican Communities: Emancipated former slaves migrated to tracts of land on hillsides connected by narrow tracks on hilltops, with the eventual development of informal agrarian communities of families within walking distance of each other. In the plains, some were formed around sugar plantations. Later generations, seeking better opportunities, migrated to seaside towns creating informal, under-resourced communities of mostly under-developed Jamaicans on untitled lands. Post-independence, housing schemes have been developed, some by Government, to meet growing population demand. All lack appropriate institutional resources at community level that are necessary to correct the vast, persisting colonial legacy of human under-development. A comprehensive, whole-of-Government reform undertaking will be necessary to meet this challenge.
Constitutional Reforms: New constitutional mandates outlining specific institutional requirements and the organizational framework necessary for effective delivery of resources to mitigate deficiencies in the developmental process of the people of Jamaica, and to ensure accountability of the Government of Jamaica must be introduced and adopted.
See blog posts:
How can Jamaica achieve Optimal Development of every citizen?
and
Changes to Structure and Functions of Government – Parts 1 & 2