Social Unrest in the Bahamas Essay Example for Free

Social Unrest in the Bahamas Essay The principal causes of working class unrest and increasing dissatisfaction were the same throughout the British Caribbean Region colonies: low wages; high unemployment and under-employment; arrogant racist attitudes of the colonial administrators and employers in their relations with black labourers; lack of adequate and proper, in most cases, any representation; and no established structure for the resolution of industrial disputes by collective bargaining. Furthermore the unfairness shown towards black labourers would later result too many complaints and little or no positive response. Black labourers continued to seek some kind of equality due to the fact that most of their work at the same performance level as those who were white. ? Political Struggles: The Bahamas, like many other countries that are apart of the Commonwealth, had representative assemblies based on the bicameral system of the mother country. Each colony had a governor who represented the monarch, an appointed upper house, and an elected lower house. The electoral franchise, however, was extremely restricted, being vested in a few wealthy male property holders. Colonial acquisition and administration were not neatly and easily accomplished. The Burma Road riot, however, was more than an isolated act of venting. Although a powerful symbol of black agency that has been referenced again and again in the political struggles of Bahamian blacks, the riot was more than a symbol. The riot also kindled the development of a pro-black consciousness in the country, a necessary precursor to black rule and independence. The majority black population in the Bahamas could literally dismantle the edifices of minority white rule, if sufficiently provoked. The fissure that was created in 1942 would widen over the next few decades and within a quarter of a century it became a gapping hole that the majority black Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) walked through to victory. ? ? High unemployment and under-employment: By the early nineteenth century, blacks constituted at least 80 percent of the population in the Bahamas. Majority falling in the unemployment or the under-employment category. Around this time whites were considered more qualified leaving most blacks with little work options. For example, middle class blacks had a better chance to receive a well paying job than any equally qualified ‘grass root’ Bahamians. ? Racism: Even after emancipation, Caribbean societies inherited a rigid racial stratification that was reinforced by the unequal distribution of wealth and power. The three-tier race structure, which existed well into the 1940s and in some societies beyond, upheld the belief of European racial superiority, although most West Indians are of African descent. Racial discrimination was prevalent throughout the Bahamas in the 1930s and the 1940s. Black Bahamians were treated as subhuman in this country. It appears as if the suffering of the black masses, which were mostly living in abject poverty. For example, in the general strike in 1958, white taxi drivers were granted license to transport tourist from the newly opened airport located on Windsor Field. This started began the ‘Quiet Revolution’ which was gave the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) a chance bring the issues of the nation in the presence of the House of Assembly. Low Wages: Black labourers were reluctant to work but were mostly given low wages. Blacks were paid less than white labourers which began uproar in most cases. The government was forced to impose martial law (where the police are given extra powers to arrest) and establish curfew fearing that the black labourers would take out their frustration on local whites. In relation to racism, foreign workers were paid 8 shillings per day versus shillings for local workers (Burma Road riot). Although many have suffered discrimination in many ways, this seems to be the most effective and injustice of them all. Bahamians were willing to work but they were unwilling to remain submissive to the white government or merchant class order. This was because of the difference of wages between black Bahamians and the merchant class order. The white government tried to negotiate the improvement of the wages, however, the Bahamians still suffered from the discrimination. Things such as owning a property was difficult because they never met the outstanding payment due to low wages. Foreign workers were paid more than black locals; overlooking the fact that the some black locals work harder to be paid that the small amount of money. In conclusion, during the nineteenth century, common causes of working class unrest were extremely obvious because of the many riots and the constant discrimination against blacks and whites. The inequality of each factor represented how Bahamians suffered to find a job that would offer them a respectable a wage and to muster their strength to create a political party that can proudly present the frustrations of the black Bahamians in the House of Assembly. Black Bahamians wanted to elevate black people to a position of racial equality and to promote democratic values for all Bahamians. Successfully the Bahamas looked forward to an outstanding future. The black majority party (PLP) won the government making Lynden Pindling the first black Premier of the Bahamas. Sir Milo Butler became the first Governor General of the Bahamas. The Bahamas has greatly improved since the 1930s and the 1940s. The country didn’t face anymore labor discrimination and most importantly racial tension. The Bahamas grew even more and hadn’t faced any more struggles and strife. The 1930s and the 1940s were forever engraved in the Bahamian history because it was a time that the Bahamas had to fight for what was theirs in pride and strength. 1. You are a member of the Taxi Cab Union during the General Strike of 1958. Give an account of your experience. In November 1957 the government had once again betrayed us by granted license to white taxi drivers to transport tourists from the newly opened airport at Windsor Field. As a black Taxi cab driver and a member of the Taxi Cab Union, it wasn’t an unfamiliar feeling to be discriminated public ally by the government. We were not going to tolerate this injustice act us Taxi Cab drivers. So we all came together and planned to use our Taxi cabs as blockade across the road leading to the airport. It seemed risky but it was worth it. The question â€Å"What was I thinking? † lingered in my mind for a couple of days but I had to do it for the sake of my family, my colleagues, my job, and my country. The strike officially began in January of 1958. We formed a blockade with our vehicles across the road lading to the airport exactly like we had planned. Many other workers came outside to support us as well. The leader of the Bahamas Federation of Labor and a known heroic figure, Randol Fawkes, called for all hotel workers, sanitation workers, government workers, teachers and public servants to strike, in order to force the government to address the labor issues of the country. The General Strike was to last sixteen (16) days. Bay Street owned tour companies were given the exclusive right to transport tourists to and from the hotels. Obviously, this move, if allowed to go unchallenged, would have destroyed the livelihoods of hundreds of black Bahamian independent taxi drivers. The General strike was a peaceful, non-violent revolution of the labor laws of this country. The strike had its intended outcome. New labor laws including the Trade Union and Industrial Conciliation Act were passed. A labor department was set up giving ordinary workers more rights. Discriminatory labor practices were also banned. The black majority got a right to vote. In 1959 all Bahamian men over were allowed to vote. In 1961 legislation was passed that allowed women over 21 to vote. As Bahamians we struggle to get what we want but it was a strong fight to what we deserved. Life had changed ever since then all because we didn’t tolerate the racial attitudes and unfairness of the white government.