Theme 9: Caribbean Society, 1900 - 1985 2017
Subject: Caribbean History
Date: March 30, 2017
Objective one: Describe the social and economic conditions existing in the Caribbean
between 1900 and 1935.
Focus: Housing, cost of living, working conditions, unemployment, health and education.
Housing
o In the town areas, the majority of the housing facilities for the masses could best be
described as overcrowded unhygienic tenement yards. They were poorly constructed
hovels without much inside plumbing. The tenants shared one standpipe in the yard.
From this they collected water for washing and cooking. There was one central bathroom.
It was often divided in two, one part was the shower and the other compartment was the
toilet.
o The roofs were often made from corrugated and even rusty zinc. They leaked when it
rained because the landlord's emphasis was not on repairs but collection of rent. Because
the demand for housing was so high, a number of persons were afraid to complain too
loudly. The landlord's would merely give them notice and rent the place to someone else
forcing them to find another place. This was not an easy task especially if you had
children.
o In the rural areas most of the houses were constructed by the owner with the help of other
villages. A number of persons inherited land from their families who had acquired it
through the free village movement the century before. It would not be uncommon to see
thatch houses, nor outside bathroom and kitchen as described in the health conditions.
Many of the houses were made of bamboo walls and or wattle and daub (mud). They
usually had dirt floors. The houses usually had a large room which was called the hall
(living room). The verandah was a must. It afforded one the pleasure of looking out on
the horizon and calling to one's neighbor.
o In British Guiana and Trinidad a large majority of the population were descendants of
immigrants. They still lived in the long unsanitary barracks that were provided for them
as part of their contract.
Cost of living
Two indicators: inflation and GDP per capita
o The rise in the cost of living contributed to the protests and demonstrations in the 1930s
in the British Caribbean.
o Goods and services were exorbitant - inflation
o Inflation affected poor people more seriously than the rich, because the poor spend a
greater part of their income on necessities, such as food.
o GDP per capita – amount of goods and services produced by a country, divided by the
population.
1
, Theme 9: Caribbean Society, 1900 - 1985 2017
o Shows how wealthy a country is.
o Doesn’t tell how well off people are, since the distribution of wealth might be
skewed
Working conditions
The employers had the upper hand. In some territories unemployment reached a high of 50%!
The demand for work was so high that they felt that they had a right to exploit their workers. To
make matters worse Trade Unions were not legalized before 1938 so the workers were at the
mercy of the employers.
o They worked for long hours, up to ten hours and more for very little pay.
o Some worked from Monday to Saturday. They were not given pay for overtime.
o Those who worked in the factories were exposed to dangerous machines. They were not
compensated if injured in an accident. They were merely sent home. They had to bear
any medical expenses involved in the treatment of the injury that they sustained.
o They were not given any vacation or sick leave.
o Women were not granted maternity leave.
o The employers often dismissed workers unfairly.
o The women suffered from sexual harassment.
o Children were often employed in the factories and fields.
o Those worked in the agricultural industry especially sugar, suffered from seasonal
unemployment. They were employed for only a part of the year and the rest of the year
they were left to starve.
Unemployment
o Major problem in the British Caribbean then and even today
o In Jamaica unemployment averages between 20% and 30% of the workforce – the total
number of people employed or employable.
o In Barbados and in Trinidad and Tobago it is between 17% and 18%
o In smaller islands more than 20% of the workforce is usually unemployed.
o Unemployment was a major concern for women
Health
o Malnutrition was prevalent. This was mainly due to the fact that the masses could not
afford three meals a day or even one well balanced meal for the day. The majority of
them had too many mouths to feed. They had to focus on quantity rather than nutritional
value (quality). Their diet lacked most of the essential nutrients and vitamins required to
build a healthy body. Statistics show that only 45% of the population in Jamaica was
adequately nourished. Needless to say they had very little resistance to diseases.
o Diseases were rampant. The most common diseases were typhoid, yellow fever, malaria,
dysentery, tetanus, hookworm, yaws and tuberculosis. In the 1930's up to 70% of the
poor in the British West Indies suffered from hookworm while tuberculosis was
responsible for 15% of all deaths.
2
, Theme 9: Caribbean Society, 1900 - 1985 2017
o There were very few trained doctors in relation to the size of the (ever growing)
population. Many of them were not interested in attending to any member of the lower
class. This was not only because they were prejudiced but also because the poor could not
afford the fees. In addition most of the doctors were located in the towns, far removed
from the deep rural districts and villages.
o A number of them did their own doctoring. They used home remedies passed down from
generation to generations. Here are some interesting examples: comfrey bush/leaf for
headaches, eucalyptus bush or oil for cold, coconut water for hypertension (high blood
pressure) and sage tea for baby gripes.
o Some of the members of the lower class were very superstitious. They believed that
forces of evil were responsible for illnesses. As a result they did not seek medical help
but resorted to ‘bush doctors' and obeahmen.
o There was a high infant mortality rate. 137 out of every 1000 infants did not live to see
age one or two.
o After World War 2 (1939-19450 international agencies such as World Health
Organization (WHO) were formed. They made important advancements in the areas of
eradication and prevention of diseases.
o The establishment of the University Hospital of the West Indies provided an important
training institution for doctors of the region.
Education
The 20th century saw the expansion of those educational services that were begun in the
19th century. The Churches were still pretty much in control. Many of the schools were built and
operated by them. The number of elementary and secondary schools increased.
1. Government built Teachers' Colleges throughout the Caribbean:
a. Jamaica – 4
b. Trinidad – 3
c. Antigua – 1
d. Barbados – 1
e. Guyana - 1
2. Teachers' salaries were increased
Departments of Education were created in addition to the inspectors who were also known as
education officers. With the introduction of internal self government the Departments evolved
into Ministries.
A more realistic curriculum was introduced. The students still did Latin in school but there was
also general science, commercial subjects and domestic science.
In 1948, higher education was available in the region with the establishment of the University
College of the West Indies in Jamaica. It operated at first as an arm of the University of London.
It became an independent University in 1962. Soon after Barbados and Trinidad had their own
campuses: Cave Hill and St. Augustine respectively. The University of Guyana was also founded
that year as an independent University.
3
Subject: Caribbean History
Date: March 30, 2017
Objective one: Describe the social and economic conditions existing in the Caribbean
between 1900 and 1935.
Focus: Housing, cost of living, working conditions, unemployment, health and education.
Housing
o In the town areas, the majority of the housing facilities for the masses could best be
described as overcrowded unhygienic tenement yards. They were poorly constructed
hovels without much inside plumbing. The tenants shared one standpipe in the yard.
From this they collected water for washing and cooking. There was one central bathroom.
It was often divided in two, one part was the shower and the other compartment was the
toilet.
o The roofs were often made from corrugated and even rusty zinc. They leaked when it
rained because the landlord's emphasis was not on repairs but collection of rent. Because
the demand for housing was so high, a number of persons were afraid to complain too
loudly. The landlord's would merely give them notice and rent the place to someone else
forcing them to find another place. This was not an easy task especially if you had
children.
o In the rural areas most of the houses were constructed by the owner with the help of other
villages. A number of persons inherited land from their families who had acquired it
through the free village movement the century before. It would not be uncommon to see
thatch houses, nor outside bathroom and kitchen as described in the health conditions.
Many of the houses were made of bamboo walls and or wattle and daub (mud). They
usually had dirt floors. The houses usually had a large room which was called the hall
(living room). The verandah was a must. It afforded one the pleasure of looking out on
the horizon and calling to one's neighbor.
o In British Guiana and Trinidad a large majority of the population were descendants of
immigrants. They still lived in the long unsanitary barracks that were provided for them
as part of their contract.
Cost of living
Two indicators: inflation and GDP per capita
o The rise in the cost of living contributed to the protests and demonstrations in the 1930s
in the British Caribbean.
o Goods and services were exorbitant - inflation
o Inflation affected poor people more seriously than the rich, because the poor spend a
greater part of their income on necessities, such as food.
o GDP per capita – amount of goods and services produced by a country, divided by the
population.
1
, Theme 9: Caribbean Society, 1900 - 1985 2017
o Shows how wealthy a country is.
o Doesn’t tell how well off people are, since the distribution of wealth might be
skewed
Working conditions
The employers had the upper hand. In some territories unemployment reached a high of 50%!
The demand for work was so high that they felt that they had a right to exploit their workers. To
make matters worse Trade Unions were not legalized before 1938 so the workers were at the
mercy of the employers.
o They worked for long hours, up to ten hours and more for very little pay.
o Some worked from Monday to Saturday. They were not given pay for overtime.
o Those who worked in the factories were exposed to dangerous machines. They were not
compensated if injured in an accident. They were merely sent home. They had to bear
any medical expenses involved in the treatment of the injury that they sustained.
o They were not given any vacation or sick leave.
o Women were not granted maternity leave.
o The employers often dismissed workers unfairly.
o The women suffered from sexual harassment.
o Children were often employed in the factories and fields.
o Those worked in the agricultural industry especially sugar, suffered from seasonal
unemployment. They were employed for only a part of the year and the rest of the year
they were left to starve.
Unemployment
o Major problem in the British Caribbean then and even today
o In Jamaica unemployment averages between 20% and 30% of the workforce – the total
number of people employed or employable.
o In Barbados and in Trinidad and Tobago it is between 17% and 18%
o In smaller islands more than 20% of the workforce is usually unemployed.
o Unemployment was a major concern for women
Health
o Malnutrition was prevalent. This was mainly due to the fact that the masses could not
afford three meals a day or even one well balanced meal for the day. The majority of
them had too many mouths to feed. They had to focus on quantity rather than nutritional
value (quality). Their diet lacked most of the essential nutrients and vitamins required to
build a healthy body. Statistics show that only 45% of the population in Jamaica was
adequately nourished. Needless to say they had very little resistance to diseases.
o Diseases were rampant. The most common diseases were typhoid, yellow fever, malaria,
dysentery, tetanus, hookworm, yaws and tuberculosis. In the 1930's up to 70% of the
poor in the British West Indies suffered from hookworm while tuberculosis was
responsible for 15% of all deaths.
2
, Theme 9: Caribbean Society, 1900 - 1985 2017
o There were very few trained doctors in relation to the size of the (ever growing)
population. Many of them were not interested in attending to any member of the lower
class. This was not only because they were prejudiced but also because the poor could not
afford the fees. In addition most of the doctors were located in the towns, far removed
from the deep rural districts and villages.
o A number of them did their own doctoring. They used home remedies passed down from
generation to generations. Here are some interesting examples: comfrey bush/leaf for
headaches, eucalyptus bush or oil for cold, coconut water for hypertension (high blood
pressure) and sage tea for baby gripes.
o Some of the members of the lower class were very superstitious. They believed that
forces of evil were responsible for illnesses. As a result they did not seek medical help
but resorted to ‘bush doctors' and obeahmen.
o There was a high infant mortality rate. 137 out of every 1000 infants did not live to see
age one or two.
o After World War 2 (1939-19450 international agencies such as World Health
Organization (WHO) were formed. They made important advancements in the areas of
eradication and prevention of diseases.
o The establishment of the University Hospital of the West Indies provided an important
training institution for doctors of the region.
Education
The 20th century saw the expansion of those educational services that were begun in the
19th century. The Churches were still pretty much in control. Many of the schools were built and
operated by them. The number of elementary and secondary schools increased.
1. Government built Teachers' Colleges throughout the Caribbean:
a. Jamaica – 4
b. Trinidad – 3
c. Antigua – 1
d. Barbados – 1
e. Guyana - 1
2. Teachers' salaries were increased
Departments of Education were created in addition to the inspectors who were also known as
education officers. With the introduction of internal self government the Departments evolved
into Ministries.
A more realistic curriculum was introduced. The students still did Latin in school but there was
also general science, commercial subjects and domestic science.
In 1948, higher education was available in the region with the establishment of the University
College of the West Indies in Jamaica. It operated at first as an arm of the University of London.
It became an independent University in 1962. Soon after Barbados and Trinidad had their own
campuses: Cave Hill and St. Augustine respectively. The University of Guyana was also founded
that year as an independent University.
3
