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China: Colonisers Or Development Partners?
Published: Sunday | August 22, 20100 Comments and 0 Reactions
Horace Williams, Contributor
Much has been said and written about the Chinese venture into Jamaica. The current point of discussion is whether the Chinese should acquire the Kingston Wharves in addition to the prime Caymanas lands, sugar, coffee and major constructions projects.
Lance Neita, in his article in The Gleaner of August 12, raised some points under the heading 'The Chinese are coming'. He said inter alia:
"The first Chinese immigrants came in the 1850s, and by the year 1930, some 4,000 had immigrated to Jamaica. They came as indentured farmers, and in the early period were deployed to the large cultivations to work in the planting of coconuts, bananas and sugar cane.
"The Chinese genius for trading came with the early immigrants, who started the line of grocery shops that have become their trademarks across the country. Known colloquially as 'Chiney shops' they could be found in almost every village and town and were the forerunners of the grocery and dry-goods business establishments, including the supermarkets, that first opened in Jamaica in the 1950s."
Not the same
Now, Lance's points are valid in relation to the earlier Chinese who, it could be said, were part of Jamaica's nation-building process. But Carol Carter, in a letter to The Gleaner published August 14, countered by stating that the modern Chinese invasion was not the same as the Chinese of the 19th century. Carter pointed out: "The Chinese and, indeed, all Asians, are now economic and political forces to be reckoned with, because they keep their mainland mostly homogeneous still. And they don't overpraise the positives of the West while suppressing, diminishing and decrying the abilities and natural wanting of their own.
"Modern-day Chinese immigrants to Jamaica and Africa are not of the same mindset as the earliest Chinese immigrants. But more important, blacks must come to realise that historically, throughout the world, everyone else was allowed to enter a predominantly black populace - solely to provide inferior goods and services to black people, with the calculated intention to extract and extort the bulk of black people's wealth while keeping an eye on our activities, to curtail and suppress our own unity and growth."
In the June 28 and July 5 editions of Newsweek, Ruchir Sharma high-lighted the following in his article 'The Post-China World', "The end of the boom is now in sight, and the ripple effects of slower growth will span the globe. The way the global economy begins a decade reveals little about how it will end. In 2000, the Anglo-Saxon economic model was ascendant and the tech revolution was sweeping the globe. Emerging nations were a mere sideshow to the great Wall Street carnival, attracting less than five per cent of the money in global [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]stock [COLOR=blue !important]markets
Published: Sunday | August 22, 20100 Comments and 0 Reactions
Williams.
Horace Williams, Contributor
Much has been said and written about the Chinese venture into Jamaica. The current point of discussion is whether the Chinese should acquire the Kingston Wharves in addition to the prime Caymanas lands, sugar, coffee and major constructions projects.
Lance Neita, in his article in The Gleaner of August 12, raised some points under the heading 'The Chinese are coming'. He said inter alia:
"The first Chinese immigrants came in the 1850s, and by the year 1930, some 4,000 had immigrated to Jamaica. They came as indentured farmers, and in the early period were deployed to the large cultivations to work in the planting of coconuts, bananas and sugar cane.
"The Chinese genius for trading came with the early immigrants, who started the line of grocery shops that have become their trademarks across the country. Known colloquially as 'Chiney shops' they could be found in almost every village and town and were the forerunners of the grocery and dry-goods business establishments, including the supermarkets, that first opened in Jamaica in the 1950s."
Not the same
Now, Lance's points are valid in relation to the earlier Chinese who, it could be said, were part of Jamaica's nation-building process. But Carol Carter, in a letter to The Gleaner published August 14, countered by stating that the modern Chinese invasion was not the same as the Chinese of the 19th century. Carter pointed out: "The Chinese and, indeed, all Asians, are now economic and political forces to be reckoned with, because they keep their mainland mostly homogeneous still. And they don't overpraise the positives of the West while suppressing, diminishing and decrying the abilities and natural wanting of their own.
"Modern-day Chinese immigrants to Jamaica and Africa are not of the same mindset as the earliest Chinese immigrants. But more important, blacks must come to realise that historically, throughout the world, everyone else was allowed to enter a predominantly black populace - solely to provide inferior goods and services to black people, with the calculated intention to extract and extort the bulk of black people's wealth while keeping an eye on our activities, to curtail and suppress our own unity and growth."
In the June 28 and July 5 editions of Newsweek, Ruchir Sharma high-lighted the following in his article 'The Post-China World', "The end of the boom is now in sight, and the ripple effects of slower growth will span the globe. The way the global economy begins a decade reveals little about how it will end. In 2000, the Anglo-Saxon economic model was ascendant and the tech revolution was sweeping the globe. Emerging nations were a mere sideshow to the great Wall Street carnival, attracting less than five per cent of the money in global [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]stock [COLOR=blue !important]markets
. A decade earlier, the spotlight was trained on Japan, a star that had redefined the global economic stage in the 1980s. As late as the 1992 US presidential campaign, one candidate reviewed the performance this way: 'The Cold War is over and Japan has won.'[/COLOR]
"Today, Japan is widely viewed as a washout, and all admiring eyes are on the boom in China, a force so powerful it has lifted the performance of many other economies. Resource-rich countries like Brazil and Australia have achieved global economic acclaim, mainly by selling iron ore, copper and other commodities to feed the construction spectacle in China. Many big-name [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]investors[/COLOR] believe the China boom is set to continue, driven by investment spending. Investment now represents 45 per cent of the Chinese economy, a level that is historically unprecedented, both in China and in any major economy. Yet China has been able to maintain this rate of spending for several years in a row, mainly because it has been industrialising a largely rural economy." Sharma is saying that today's world will have to adapt to the Chinese behemoth.[/COLOR]
So where does Jamaica now stand in confronting the Chinese behemoth? Jamaica needs investments, and by extension, jobs. The US economy, our major trading partner, will not be coming out of its economic slump in the next two to three years. If the Republicans make major gains in the November elections, including winning the House and Senate, it is unlikely that President Obama will have a second term. By extension, Jamaica and the Caribbean will be on the Republican back burner, therefore any major investments coming out of that system are unlikely.
Foreign [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]direct [COLOR=blue !important]investments[/COLOR][/COLOR] in Jamaica over the last 20 years have not had significant impact in terms of sustained growth on the economy generally, and increased levels of employment. The Spanish hotels have been significant [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]investment[/COLOR][/COLOR], but have provided marginal employment opportunities.[/COLOR]
Lasting monuments
The critical analysis of our experience with the bauxite alumina industry over the long term will definitely show that has not benefited us. Some small sectors of the population have benefited in terms of housing, education and employment. What has been lasting monuments are the huge steel structures at Revere in St Elizabeth, Reynolds mines and piers in St Ann, and possibly Kirkvine in Manchester. We also have the many craters, despoiled landscape, and ruined prime agricultural lands in many parishes in Jamaica. The bauxite/alumina fund, which was to assist in long-term development of the country and its people, has been siphoned into other areas, with very little to show for it.
In the next 20 or so years when the Spaniards will have recouped their investments, the huge monstrosities of hotel buildings will be left to tarnish the beautiful Jamaican landscape. The destroyed [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]beaches[/COLOR] will be gone forever.[/COLOR]
We are paying dearly for Highway 2000 and will be doing so for many years to come. The citizens of Portmore did not bargain for a tax to leave and return to their residences.
Will we have learnt from the many mistakes we have made over the last 50 years in terms of foreign investments? Will we tap into the local negotiating expertise? Will the people have a say so that we negotiate with the Chinese differently for our mutual benefit over the long haul?
Dr Horace Williams is a lecturer and management consultant. He may be contacted at hwilliams @utech.edu.jm. Feedback may also be sent to letters@gleanerjm.com.
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"Today, Japan is widely viewed as a washout, and all admiring eyes are on the boom in China, a force so powerful it has lifted the performance of many other economies. Resource-rich countries like Brazil and Australia have achieved global economic acclaim, mainly by selling iron ore, copper and other commodities to feed the construction spectacle in China. Many big-name [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]investors[/COLOR] believe the China boom is set to continue, driven by investment spending. Investment now represents 45 per cent of the Chinese economy, a level that is historically unprecedented, both in China and in any major economy. Yet China has been able to maintain this rate of spending for several years in a row, mainly because it has been industrialising a largely rural economy." Sharma is saying that today's world will have to adapt to the Chinese behemoth.[/COLOR]
So where does Jamaica now stand in confronting the Chinese behemoth? Jamaica needs investments, and by extension, jobs. The US economy, our major trading partner, will not be coming out of its economic slump in the next two to three years. If the Republicans make major gains in the November elections, including winning the House and Senate, it is unlikely that President Obama will have a second term. By extension, Jamaica and the Caribbean will be on the Republican back burner, therefore any major investments coming out of that system are unlikely.
Foreign [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]direct [COLOR=blue !important]investments[/COLOR][/COLOR] in Jamaica over the last 20 years have not had significant impact in terms of sustained growth on the economy generally, and increased levels of employment. The Spanish hotels have been significant [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]investment[/COLOR][/COLOR], but have provided marginal employment opportunities.[/COLOR]
Lasting monuments
The critical analysis of our experience with the bauxite alumina industry over the long term will definitely show that has not benefited us. Some small sectors of the population have benefited in terms of housing, education and employment. What has been lasting monuments are the huge steel structures at Revere in St Elizabeth, Reynolds mines and piers in St Ann, and possibly Kirkvine in Manchester. We also have the many craters, despoiled landscape, and ruined prime agricultural lands in many parishes in Jamaica. The bauxite/alumina fund, which was to assist in long-term development of the country and its people, has been siphoned into other areas, with very little to show for it.
In the next 20 or so years when the Spaniards will have recouped their investments, the huge monstrosities of hotel buildings will be left to tarnish the beautiful Jamaican landscape. The destroyed [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]beaches[/COLOR] will be gone forever.[/COLOR]
We are paying dearly for Highway 2000 and will be doing so for many years to come. The citizens of Portmore did not bargain for a tax to leave and return to their residences.
Will we have learnt from the many mistakes we have made over the last 50 years in terms of foreign investments? Will we tap into the local negotiating expertise? Will the people have a say so that we negotiate with the Chinese differently for our mutual benefit over the long haul?
Dr Horace Williams is a lecturer and management consultant. He may be contacted at hwilliams @utech.edu.jm. Feedback may also be sent to letters@gleanerjm.com.
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