IMPERIALIST RULE
CONTINUES IN JAMAICA
By BEN MONROE
= After the 6th of August the reigning
British Monarch remains at the head of the Jamaican State, and a British Governor General, who acts under orders of the imperialist Government of Britain, is placed at the head of the Jamaican Parliament to obstruct the democratic will of the Jamaican people-Is this political independence ?
It is true that greater powers of rule have been handed over to the ruling capitalist clique of our country-the 'BustamanteManley clique"—but this is in alliance with the continued rule of imperialism; expressing their partnership in the rule of the country and the plunder of the country's wealth.
Indeed you have been induced by the oppressors of your country-imperialist Britain and the United States and their clique" partners-the native "Bustamante-Manley
—to join them in their celebration of the fake independence of Jamaica.
This celebration, which the oppressors celebration has been an expression of real joy marking the turn in their history of suffering imposed upon them by alien rule.
In our country it is the imperialist rulers and their lackeys—the national traitorswho tell us that they have made us free and bade us to celebrate, while their battle-ships with thousands of troops sailed into our harbours with guns trained towards our shores, and their war-planes, hovering overhead, ready for the mass destruction of our city and towns and the homes of our people if we dared to protest this "fraud". Indeed this was the real characterisation of an oppressors, independence, intimidating the will of our people.
"TREACHERY OF THE BUSTAMANTE-MANLEY CLIQUE " The subjugation of Jamaica's sovereignty and the enslavement of our people, British and United States imperialism in the main, has been prolonged by the very constitutional act which was supposed to made merry from their plunder of the make Jamaica a free nation. The August country's wealth, did not have any real meaning to the solution of your problems— the problems of mass unemployment, houselessness, nakedness, illiteracy and diseasein general, your problems of abject poverty. Of course, it is their rule of the countrydenying you the right to the land and the wealth thereof produced-which have generated these adverse economic and conditions in which you are engulfed, expressed by your backward living standard. That is why their independence celebration was not rightly for you and could not have signified the end to the long years of imperialist subjugation of our country, nor an end to the enslavement of our peopleas in other countries whose independence
• proclamation has, on the contrary established the constitutional rights of imperialism to continued possession of our land and wealth and domination over our people: and, has continued to deny the Jamaican people their right to oppose imperialist oppression and plunder.
Of course, it was not you the Jamaican people who decided that the political status of your country should be after August 6, but imperialist Britain and the treacherous "Bustamante-Manley clique". And despite these constitutional safe-guards to ensure them that the status-quo remains suitable for imperialist plunder, new military subjugation of Jamaica's sovereignty, through
the Organisation of American States, is Cline plotted by the BustamanteManley
, British and United States imperialism.
We earlier warned of their treachery vhich was openly displayed in the signing of the "West Indies-U.S. Base Treaty' by the "Bustamante-Manley clique" and other treacherous West Indians, giving United States imperialism the legal authority for military occupation of our country.
Ihis was shattered by the Jamaican people when they struck the 'Federation" a death blow.
Now, new military agreements with the United States, to be effected through the Organisation of American States, is proposed by the Bustamante-Manley clique-.. also the expressed aim of the Manley clique.
We must again state that any military agreements which permits the United States to free military access of Jamaican soil or to establish a military machine controlled and directed by United States military personnel, will in fact be further subjugation of the country's sovereignty.
The question which may be uppermost in your minds is, "why would the Bustamante-Manley clique be aiming to do this?
But what must be understood is that although this reactionary native capitalist clique is jealous of imperialist plunder and is deeply desirous cf taking over full control of the country, their fear of the oppressed mass is what supersedes their envy of imperialism. They are therefore not willing to part company with imperialism.
More-over, once imperialism had drawn the countries of the world into its function the independence of capitalist nations ceased to be a reality—in truth, all nations of the world entered the stage of inter-dependence, an irreversible fact in the socio-economic development of all nations.
On the other hand, it is said that imperialism has been willingly giving the colonies freedom, but this saying contradicts objective reality—it is the subjugation of
18 nations and the plunder of their wealth by which imperialism maintains its existence. Nay, imperialism will make every effort to maintain its oppression of nations and peoples to satisfy its greed.
Its sharing of power with the reactionary colonial capitalist class is on the basis of their established economic relationship. Herein lies the reason of the military pacts between imperialism and the reactionary capitalist Governments of the subjugated countries, spawning the globe, an essential feature of this new phase of imperialistl colonialisation, in which the colonial capitalists willingly act as functionaries of imperialism—monopoly capitalism.
"THE AIMS OF UNITED STATES
IMPERIALISM "
On August 7th, just after the formal independence ceremony ended the Jamaican Parliament, a remarkable event took place-United States Vice-President, Lynden Johnson, drove to our city square and distributed hundreds of United States flags to the Jamaican people, inducing them to raise over their heads the symbol of Yankee rule. This is a true sign of United States intention to gobble up our tiny nation desperately struggling for freedom from long years of servitude.
This reminds us of the close of the 19th century when the people of Puerto-Rico and Cuba, after a bloody war with Spain in their struggle for freedom, were swollowed up by United States imperialism who pretended to be a liberator and defender of freedom.
The difference here in Jamaica is that it is not by the condition of war which imperialist Britain is giving way to the United States, it is by U.S. economic penetration into Jamaica over recent years—a factor evident in all British possessions, arising from the veakening of imperialist Britain by two world wars and its reliance upon United States imperialism to bolster its as a colonial power against the rise in the tempo of the colonial revolution.
Ihe planning to replace British military occupation of Jamaica with United States military occupation is the result of United
blood. of imperialism and world reaction for the
States economic penetration of the territory; characteristic United States military occupation of many countries of the world
The matter of the proposed entry of Jamaica into the Organisation of American States must be fully regarded by the Jamaican people with the seriousness it deserves.
Under the cloak of defence of the territories of America, United States imperialism has been putting millions of dollars of arms at the disposal of the Latin American dictators to suppress the democratic will of the teeming millions of Latin American people.
It is United States arms, directed through the Organisation of American States, which overthrew the democratically elected Governments of Guatamala, Argentina and Peru over the last decade and gave rise to the huge military machines repressing the mass of workers and peasants, students and intellectuals, and all those who stand on the side of democracy for the broad mass of people. And to make special mention it was United States arms, channelled through the Orga. nisation of American States, which bolstered the Trojillo dictatorship in the Dominican Republic for over three decades of barbarous rule, and the Batista dictatorship in Cuba which slaughtered more than twenty thousand Cubans in its last six years of rule, shackling the will of the Cuban people.
It is not only in this part of the world that United States imperialism, through military treaties, has been responsible for the slaughter of millions of men, women and children obstructing the will of the great majority. In Europe, Asia and Africa these monstrous crimes are also being committed by United States imperialism.
On the one hand while the United States talks in the United Nations Organisation of the liberation of the colonial peoples, on the other it is United States arms, channelled through the many military treaties with existing colonial powers, which is bolstering colonial rule. It is United States arms which is slaughtering the peoples of Congo, Angolia and the countries of South East Asia. It was United States arms which bolstered French rule in Algeria in the eight years of liberation war fought by the Algerian people, drenching that country in human
But what more could be expected of imperialist United States—a nation in whose very borders the rights of over thirty million citizens is ruthlessly suppressed because the colour of their skin happens to be black?
The Jamaican people will surely be committed to Yankee barbarism if they permit United States military interference into their country. The United States cunningly refused a base offer on the grounds of world opposition to imperialist military occupation of foreign territories, and for the fact that they calculate that concerning Jamaica, conditions permit the gradual buildup of a massive local force controlled and directed by both United States and British military personnel, aided through the Organisation of American States. By this means, United States imperialism has been able to shield itself of the blame of ruthless suppression of the peoples of many countries—of Latin America in the main— bringing the native army officers under the corrupting influence of the dollar. The status-quo in Jamaica which permits this manoeuvre of United States imperialism is in sharp contrast with objective conditions in other countries, such as the countries of South East Asia, where United States troops are occupying these territories against the will of the people. The treacherous «Bustamante- Manley clique", " In justification of their aim to install Yankee military rule over Jamaica, talks of the defence of the ''Western World" as if threatened by a major invasion. The only threat facing the "Western World" is the threat of social revolution generated by social oppression, the denial of food to the hungry, clothes to the naked, homes to the shelterless, in general, the denial of a civilised existence to the mass people, when civilisation brings plenty to the door of all mankind and this condition is fostered by the reactionary rule of imperialism itself. What must then be said of the treacherous "Bustamante-Manley clique" is that they have aligned themselves on the side
continued oppression of mankind, and that the side of imperialism which provokes war is the position which they seek to defend.
United States military operation upon Jamaican soil would also pose a new threat to the Sovereignty of Cuba. United States imperialism have made no secret of its aims of aggression upon Cuba, using foreign territories to carry out intrigues, as in the case of the ill-fated "April invasion".
More-over, Cuban counter-revolutionary bands, supported by the United States, have already been operating in our country and now seek legal status from the present regime-indicated by the "Daily Gleaner" of the 14/8/62. But the Jamaican people must be reminded that those who provoke war will only reap the flames of war.
"Citizens of Jamaica! we must not surrender our sovereignty to United States imperialism, it is we who will suffer the humiliation of Yankee domination and bleed from their bayonets and bullets. Nor must we give access to the United States and its bands of counter-revolutionary Cuban renegades to stay on our soil and carry out aggression against the People's Government of Cuba. We must respect the sovereignty of all nations, just as how we are now struggling that imperialism yield our sovereignty. More-over, the struggle of the Cuban nation means something special to us, it illuminates the path we must take to win
20. and threatens the annihilation of mankind.
What we seek is the conquest of a full and prosperous life, that which civilisation holds in store for us, that which only by owning and controlling the national resources — our resources—-the land, mines, factories and services by which the wealth of the country is created and distributed, but which are now controlled by imperialism and the reactionary "Bustamante-Manley clique" —and by using them to erase our poverty fully satisfying our material needs and aid our cultural advancement, can it be achieved.
This is not only our objective, but also that of our fore-fathers and the people the world over in all phases of their history. And this is by no means an unjust desire but justly based upon the achievement of our social labour.
It is only those who have been serving the cause of reaction in history-those who have been plundering and dispossessing mankind of the products of their social labour-who have been obstructing the desire of humanity for social progress.
Today it is imperialism which exists. as the core of reaction—oppressing and plundering-that is why we seek to uproot imperialism from our country.
"EXTEND THE STRUGGLE FOR our sovereignty.
We must therefore rise up in protest against new military subjugation of our coun- of our country, immediate steps must be try's sovereignty by United States imperialism, aimed at us through the Organisation of American States.
We must demand our democratic right to decide the committal of our country to any international agreement.
We must firmly place ourselves on the side of the people of the world struggling to establish à lasting peace-on the side of the peoples of the continents of Europe, Asia, Africa, America, Australia and particularly the peoples of the Socialist countries who have earnestly demonstrated their desire for a lasting world peace. We cannot for one moment contemplate to be on
A DEMOCRACY FOR THE MASSES"
Concerning the real political independence -taken to re-new our agitation for a new constitution for Jamaica, decided upon by the broad mass of the Jamaican people, which must remove all traits of colonial subjugation vested in the present constitution.
It is the extent of political changes effecting the grip of the broad mass of people upon the rule of the country which will enable the extent of their economic and social advancement, for it is the political power of social classes which reflects their economic and social position.
The present arbitary powers vested in the hands of Britain and the reactionary "Busta-
mante-Manley clique" reflects their present ship of she wand pace.
economic domination of the country-partnership in the ownership of the land, mines, lactories, services and other sources of wealth dispossessing the Jamaican masses. The struggle for economic and social advancement of the Jamaican masses therefore a struggle to strip this reactionary "partnership" of their present economic control of the country, which must be preceded by their gaining of politieal power.
At present in our country 77 percent of the farm population is forced to live from 14 percent of the country's farm lands, while 350 people— 0.8 percent of the total farmers now engaged in farming-owns 45 percent of the country's total farm lands.
And if these tens of thousands of destitute peasant families must be assured of a civilised means of existence, they can only do so by getting land and the necessary services which they are now deprived of by the reactionary "partnership".
The present unemployment rate in our country is in the region of a third of the country's total labour force. And on the other hand more than half the employed workers are receiving an average wage of £2 weekly, while the minimum rate of earning established by Government to enable a civilised living standard for an individual is fixed at f300 yearly.
And if workers must rid themselves of the menace of unemployment, advance their wage levels and improve their living standard to a civilised status, they can, only do so by their victorious struggles directed to that end against the plunder of the reactionary "partnership". which must in the end culminate in the workers taking out of their control the factories, services and all means of production and distribution of wealth.
But in this struggle to strip the reactionary "partnership" economic power, oppressed mass will first have to contend with their arbitary powers of rule made legal by the present reactionary constitution and must therefore first seek to dispossess them of these powers. For it is precisely in the struggle for economic and social advancement, which strikes at the interests
21 of this reactionary "partnership," whose political powers are used to obstruct this advancement.
"THE ESSENTIAL TASK OF THE TRADE UNIONS IN THIS PERIOD" In this period of struggle the workers Trade Unions have a very special task to perform. It must vigorously advance the struggle of the workers against the exploitation of their labour by monopoly capital and against reactionary Government policies, in defence of their democratic rights. This struggle must be advanced around a labour programme which entails basic. demands of the workers, such as:(a) Higher wages in accordance with the cost of living. (b) A standard work week of forty hours without the reduction of pay. (c) Social securities for all workers (d) Equal wages and social benefits to al!
women workers as to that of men. (e) That Trade Unions have the right to collective bargaining with Govt. concerning all problems affecting workers. (f) Immediately seek to repeal the anti- labour laws which obstruct democratic Trade Union action. (g) Defend the struggle of the unemployed seeking jobs.
Concerning the latter, the need to embrace this great force is made evident from the fact that the unemployed are constantly used to undermine the Trade Union struggle, and in order to strengthen their struggle against monopoly capital the great force of the unemployed must be turned into an ally of the Trade Unions. In the process of this struggle the workers are compelled to rid their Trade Unions of servility imposed by Union Officials, which have been deforming the Trade Unions and aiding monopoly capital in its exploitation of the workers. An essential step to be taken in this direction is the establishing of workers committees in the various places of work, based upon the broadest democratic principles. This will first establish greater unity among workers in their respective places of work,
and enable greater understanding of the many issues around which their struggle will be carried, placing them in a better position to rébuff the treacherous actions of the Union Officials. The Trade Unions, in their struggle for the advancement of the workers and in defence of their democratic rights, is destined to play an essential role in the struggle of the whole mass for economic and social advancement and for a People's Democracy. It must therefore be conditioned for its historical role.
"THE POSITION OF THE MIDDLE
CLASSES" Concerning the middle classes in our coun try, who are constituted in the main of the middle peasants, small factory owners and small merchant class, they too are deeply affected by this reactionary alliance dominating the country, and, must play their part on the side of the oppressed masses to effect genuine political changes in the rule of the country-changes effecting broad democracy.
The middle peasants have long been experiencing the barriers of market and the lack of geuine aid to enable their development of farming on a modern scale. This barrier has been effected by the subjugation of the country's agricultural development to facilitate the marketing of foreign farm products in the country. The, struggle of these middle peasants, carried through existing peasants organisations, to effect changes in political adminis tration and reverse the subjugation policy, comes upon further barriers imposed by the reactionary rule, which tends to muzzle these organisations and render them impotent evidenced by the effecting of Government's dictatorship over these organisations.
And with the rise in the cost of farm labour deepens the contradictions which tends towards the perishing of the middle peasants as a social class.
Threatened with this situation, the middle peasants seek to bolster their position against the further rise in labour costs—as seen in the recent joint declaration of the farmers organisations to fight the effort of Trade Unions to improve wage levels of farm labour —attempting to impose a barrier against the advancement of the very low living standard of these workers, and, going over on the side of imperialism and the "Bustamante-Manley clique" in this instance.
But the present trend of development in which they are engulfed-perishing as a social class—is irreversible; and the step they have taken will only weaken their position in the struggle against the reactionary alliance of imperialism and the "Bustamante-Manley clique; for they are breaking ties with their most able and reliable ally, the workers, to stand isolated and be crushed. For the principled position of imperialism concerning agrarian development within the subjugated countries cannot be altered —imperialism will always endeavour to maintain its subjugation of agrarian development in colonial and semi-colonial countries in the effort to preserve its present sphere of market.
And with Britain's aim to enter the European common market, the peril of further subjugation looms ahead with the penetration of the European States concerned into British Market.
The middle peasants must therefore place themselves on the side of the oppressed masses and enhance the struggle against this reactionary alliance rule in our country. They must aid in the wresting of political power from the hands of the reactionary clique-so that political power an be shared by the broad masses.
The Farmers Organisations, because of their composition of social forces, therefore have within this period an equally special task to perform. They must work towards effecting fundamental changes within the country's economic policy which at present subjugates the country's agrarian develop-
And in doing so, seek to win the support of the mass of peasants by genuinely taking up their problems as an inseparable part of the struggle.
Equally important is that the farmers must make every effort to destroy bureaucratic control exercised over their organisations-
realise order osed
both from within and that being imposed upon them by Government, in order that their fall strength can be realised in the struggle:
It is also important that the struggle of the farmers be carried upon a _ programme entailing basic demands of the farmers, such as follows:(a) Establish full democracy within all farmers organisation and that these organisations act as the co-relating bodies between farmers and Government concerning all agrarian problems. (b) Land to be made available to all those willing to farm. (č) Modern farm tools, tractor service, scientific knowledge, fertilizers seedlings etc., to be made available to all farmers. (d) Adequate water supply, electrification, good roads and a modern transportation system. (e) Guaranteed market and a modern marketing system. (f) Loans and credit to all farmers requiring such to enable them to meet basic domestic requirement during periods between harvest, enabling better conditions of existence for farmers during this period. (g) That all phases of the implementation of such programme be free from the control of private interests.
That modern dwellings be constructed for all farmers thus in need as an inseparable part of the programme for agrarian development. Equally to this must be the modernisation of rural towns equipped with every necessary public service and facilities.
Once the farmers organisation takes up the struggle for the implementation of such a programme involving the. socio-economic problems of the peasantry in general, they will succeed in playing an effective part in the struggle of the whole mass against the reactionary rule of our country to effect a People's Democracy, and" will in"the cod win.
* * The social position of both small native factory owning and merchant classes relatively the same: Concerning the former-no protection is given to the small native owned industries against competitive commodities brought in by imperialist trade. These industries therefore perish, or, in their effort to survive, are swallowed up by monopoly capital, changing their independent national status to that of subsidiaries of imperialist monopoly companies; in - which this small factory owning class, formerly independent, is transformed into functionaries of monopoly capital. And these subsidiary industries are not permanent, they exist on the fluctuating conditions of imperialist market which in periods of crisis leads to their closing down presently evidenced resulting from the "New York Stock Market tumble." The petty industrial class is thus being swept out of existence by the tide of history, and, hopelessly struggling to maintain their independent social status is being drawn over on the side of imperialism and reaction. But they must realise history and support the demand for a reverse of the country's industrialisation policy breaking the economic grip of imperialism upon our country. In which case they too must aid in the wrestling of political power from the hands of the reactionary alliance of imperialism and the "Bustamante-Manley clique" which must be effected in the struggle for a broader democratic rule.
In the case of the small native merchant class, they too will not be permitted by history to exist as an independent social group -they are presently being swept out of existence by the inroads of monopoly capital into the merchandizing of our countryevidenced in the chain of "Supermarkets" and commercial centres being established throughout the country, pushing the small individual retail shops and stores out of existence. This course is irreversibly leading to the withering away of this class to the level of the socially oppressed mass, and is therefore obligated to aid the masses in their struggle for liberation.
24
THE TASK OF STUDENTS AND INTELLECTUALS OF THE MIDDLE
CLASS The Students and intellectuals-representatives of particularly the middle layer of : society—on account of their privilege to an intellectual up-bringing are called upon to play their special part as an able ally of the oppressed masses, aiding in the struggle for the final liberation of the nation from imperialist subjugation and in the cultural advancement of the masses.
They must contend with the fact that on the side of imperialism-maintaining culture which is based upon oppression, plunder and war—is to be on the course of reaction in history.
They must be fully aware that particularly within their social layer is concentrated the scientific and technical knowledge for the advancement of the nation.
They must know that it is the service of their class, with all its assets which imperialism has acquired enabling it to oppress millions of human beings and obstruct the general progress of mankind. They too have been made hirelings of imperialism to maintain its existence-the existence of the main force of reaction the world over.
But they must also know and accept that the course of history compels them along the path leading to the advance of civilisation--the inevitable defeat of imperialism and world reaction.
The immediate need to oppose the reactionary alliance of imperialism and the "Bustamante-Manley clique" by all political forces genuinely struggling for national liberation, is made evident by the present bare-faced and wanton abuse of power by this regime disregarding the will of the Jamaican people.
Above all actions, the willingness of Bustamante to commit Jamaica to military agreements with foreign countries even without a parliamentary sitting on the matter demonstrates his preparedness to go outside the bounds of the very parliamentary democracy upon which their rule is based.
And with existing laws giving Ministers of Government arbitary powers to arrest and imprison citizens without trial and to muzzle opposition from the people, one can see that it takes little on the part of reaction to transform the present rule of Jamaica to the status of a Latin American dictatorship—in truth this trend of development is towards such an end.
The constitutional powers retained By Britain in the rule of jamaica must not be expected to block this course of development but on the contrary aids it.
It is imperialism which has been fostering the growth of dictatorships within the subjugated countries by its aid to the most reactionary element among the native capitalist class, for the fact that the establishment of this reactionary alliance- manifested as fascist dictatorships—is in the interests of imperialism, and its only hope of holding down the democratic struggle of the masses in these territories, which, is directed towards the end of imperialist subjugation and plunder.
This very fact has already been experienced over recent years in Jamaica. The ruthless suppression of strikes and other democratic forms of agitation among the masses, and the imposition of reactionary laws upon the country as a step to halt the mass struggle, have all taken place under the guardianship of imperialism; for the reason that the democratic struggle of the Jamaican masses to improve their living standards struck at the very base of imperialist plunder of our cogne of which the "Bustamante-Manley have been sharing.
It is therefore evident that the struggle against the rise of a fascist dictatorship in the rule of Jamaica, which looms ahead, can only have the reliance of the social forces earnestly seeking a people's democracy. And it is these forces which must now toss themselves into the battle against the reactionary alliance of imperialism and the "Bustamante-Manley clique."
On the part of the middle classes, because of their social status, they are now hesitant to take this road, being led to believe the sayings of the reactionaries that things will soon be better: But existing economic conditions within Jamaica, generated by imperialist subjugation, indicates greater
25 economic oppression in the very near future, against which the masses will certainly rise up to struggle; a condition which will finally rue earlie tear down the facade of "bourgeois" parliamentary democracy, unleashing barbarous features of their rule. And hesitancy on the part of the middle classes will undoubtedly greatly aid their rule.
It is therefore the task of the intellectual representitives of this social strata, seeing he need for great unity of all social forces sincerely seeking a broader democratic rule, immediately aid in arousing the consciousness of their class to such an end.
And thus, the cardinal factor of the mass struggle in this particular period, is that it must clearly assume the form of a struggle for democracy of the broad mass of the Jamaican people. "BREAK THE OLD ECONOMIC TIES WITH THE IMPERIALIST NATIONS"
We cannot leave alone the need to break the country's old economic ties with the imperialist nations by which our country is subjugatea,. and seek to establish new economic relation with all countries wishing to do so for reciprocal benefits.
These economic ties have been in the form of loans and grants, investments and trade.
Concerning the former there could not have been a greater fiasco.
The economic aid required by any country has always been determined on the state of backward socio-economic conditions—relative to the growth of its population and the rate of its economic growth based upon a world standard of social existence. And that this aid is bound to be channelled into a specific type of development.
Under the present condition of a modern. world, there can be no real industrialisation without primarily the establishment of basic industries—for example iron and steel, electricity, chemicals, automobile-mainly for duty purposes-and cement, these laying the base upon which other industries -will be built without being faced with a • bottle neck position.
Concerning electricity, because of its source of power, it assumes major importance in regards to its greater and greater demand with the process of development of industrialisation. And its production, in accordance with given conditions of its generation in different countries-whether by the flow of rivers, or by the use of coal or oil—may require the aid of other industries.
Along side of this is the need for greater scientific and technical skill which must spring from greater educational facilities.
Because of the need to follow this basic pattern in every under-developed country, it follows that expenditure in this direction is bound to out-weigh that which is directed towards other avenues once real development must take place.
In Jamaica this fact is not shown from a ministratf th in which great acclaim have seventeen years of adbeen made of the aid of imperialism in this respect.
Whatever basic industries established into Jamaica have been foreign owned, ana tunction not to aid the further industrialisation of the country, but to assist in the plunder of the country's wealth in the form of profits to the imperialist monopoly companies. While the loans and grants directed to Government have only been used to pave the way for such plunderous investments.
Thus, instead of economic aid, what really takes place is the continuous draining of the country's wealth leaving our people destitute
It is therefore significant that the growth of Jamaica's economic and social problems have exceeded the rate of its economic growth, a development towards chaos..
Beside the standing figures of unemployment, the rate in the rise of unemployment over the last four years have been an average of 16 thousand yearly.
The infant mortality rate in our country now stands at 472 deaths of every thousand live births in last year.
The present need for new houses stands to feed our hungry, clothe our naked, shelter at 300,000 families requirement. And although it was stated by an American housing expert, attached to Government housing programme, that at least twenty thousand new houses must be built each year if this problem must be seriously tackled, Government housing programme have not provided twenty thousand new houses over the last ten years.
Concerning education-according to Government's educational programme over the last seven years, there have been no places provided in elementary schools for an average of over six thousand children each year. And for whatever limited higher educational facilities made available, this have been of no real advantage for thousands whose advanced education and technical training remains latent, with them perishing in the chronic unemployment situation within the country.
And with the lack of other social services within the country, together provides the striking evidence of bankruptcy generated from existing economic ties with the imperialist nations.
The present willingness of the United States to channel aid to Jamaica through the Organisation of American States, to be spent on housing, education and rural water-supply, is also not without This aid is based, as in the case of imperialist Britain, on the condition of surrendering the country's economy to United States imperialism.
More-over, are those in need of houses able to purchase them without first getting jobs and good pay? And are children able to go to school without food and clothing their parents are not able to buy?
We say, if imperialism is earnestly desirous of aiding our development to overcome poverty and backwardness, then release your grip upon our country and cease your plunder of our wealth, for it is by this means which you have made us poor and held down in a primitive stage of existence-give up our land, surrender the factories and services which were built from the plunder of our wealth, and, now using them to the end of more plunder, so that we will be able
26 our shelterless and enhance social progress.
We are not fooled by the gifts you are now offering for we know that in truth it is only part of the wealth-the crumbs-of what you have stolen from our shores, and continue to steal daily. We say liberate us if you are so desirous that we should stand as a sovereign nation beside you.
But we are fully aware of your deceptions and know that this you will not do of your own accord, that is why we are prepared to drive you away from our shores.
* *
On the matter of our trade relation with the imperialist nations, we have been forced, due to their investments in our country manipulating our economy at their will, to buy what they choose to sell us at prices they desire. Yet we cannot sell them what they do not want to buy, and for what they buy they fix the prices.
One of the most glaring examples of subjugation by trade is our bauxite barter deal with the United States.
United States, through this trade agreement, have been dumping on us millions of dollars of their surplus agricultural products yearly, undermining our agricultural development. And on the other hand they have been draining the Bauxite resources of our country at the rate of some 8 million tons yearly over the last four years.
The reactionary "Bustamante-Manley clique" have been saying that if the bauxite barter deal should be annulled, the bauxite industry would go to ruin and so would the country's economy. But could bauxite be sold in other countries of the world? More-over, it would be certainly better for us to mine less bauxite yearly and concentrate upon the large scale processing of the ore and the production of the various by-products thus derived; for this process of development would absorb many times the present labour used, circulate more wealth and more widely among the community and boost the economy of our country many times than at present. Certainly, this is the more logical step to take than allowing the
stock-piling of our bauxite in the United States at the rate at over 50 million tons over the last ten years, for with our total reserves estimated at 200 million metric tons, and with the faster rate at which the United States is now preparing to mine, all our bauxite will shortly be gobbled up by the United States.
Imperialist subjugation of our country and plunder of our wealth by unfair trade transactions is evident in all our export tradesugar, rum, banana, citrus etc.—by their control of the present markets. It is thereore of utmost importance that the present rade ties with the imperialist nations be broken in order to release our country from its present economic bondage, and open new trade ties with countries willing to do so on a mutual basis. "THREE MAJOR ASPECTS OF THE
STRUGGLE"
There are therefore three major aspects of our struggle around which imperialiste promptly engage the reactionary imperialist alliance now dominating our country:—
One-resume agitation for the abolition of this reactionary constitution and for the drafting of a new constitution by the Jamaican people. This will permit the base for a broad struggle against the reactionary alliance rule of imperialism and the "Bustamantethe consciousness of freatly aid in effecting Manley clique"
the Jamaican people towards real political independence.
Two-oppose United States subjugation of Jamaica's sovereignty and all military alignments which threatens the sovereignty of nations, as aimed at through the Organisation of American States, and declare Jamaica on the side of the struggle for peace. This is a direct rebuff of the efforts of imperialism to obstruct the liberation of the Jamaican people and to its aim of war against peace loving peoples.
Three—seek to break Jamaica's old economicties with the imperialist nations, opening new ties with countries willing to do so on a mutual basis, and reverse the country's industrialisation policy to an industrialisation primarily to satisfy the economic needs of the nation. This step is towards the reorientation of the country's economy, without which there can be no solution to Jamaica's economic social problems.
In the effecting of this task it is essential. to draw into the struggle the broadestrepresentation of social forces, in order that the will of the broad masses be expressed and that mass consciousness be arrived at around these vital problems affecting the genuine freedom of the nation.
We must firmly declare by our resolute struggle our uncompromising desire for the complete freedom and sovreignty of our country. What we seek is to provide equal oportunities for all our citizens-the opportunity to jobs, to decent homes and to acquire all the social amenities which constitutes a civilised existence and for our cultural advancement. And all these aims and desires are incompatible with the existence of imperialism and other forces of reaction in our country and are therefore impelled by history to seek our final liberation. "This is our principled position."
(Continued from page 16) themselves in the forefront on the vital plane also of the struggle against bureaucratisation: this can unfortunately not be said about the The idea that certain debates should not be public, could even be admitted, if all the members of the different parties were able to conduct an effective discussion. bureaucrats this means to discuss among themon the level of the leadership and at most of that of the Central Committees. We have, moreover, difficulty in the analysis of the Conference of the 81, published in Fourth International of Apart from the two articles in the F.L, already quoted, viz. the resolution of the 6th World Congress and the resolution of the I.S. after the 22nd Congress (F.I. January 1961 and April 1962). The assertion that capitalism is being re-established in Yugoslavia surd (attempts to pinpointing real phenomena of degeneration which all the same are secondary in the socioeconomic context of the country). the shouts of indignation of the Khrushchevites on this subject should not trouble anybody, for these same gentlemen have used force for many long years and until a very recent date similar formulas and language. it necessary to recall that the chaste EastBerlin bureaucrats who hooted the Chinese one of whom is Wolfgang Harich, condemned to ten years detention? In certain Communist parties there are still "Left-wing Stalinists" who are against Khrushpeaceful road. They forget that Stalin himself took that stand, as Krushchev himself recalled in East-Berlin.
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