By PYV Contributor

The transcript from the above video illustrates the calculated efforts of the CIA to destabilize Jamaica during Michael Manley’s tenure as Prime Minister from 1976 to 1980. These tactics closely mirrored strategies employed in other nations, such as Chile under Salvador Allende, including economic sabotage, media propaganda, and paramilitary actions, all aimed at undermining socialist leadership and promoting pro-capitalist figures. The efforts described included a deliberate attempt to “make the economy scream,” showcasing economic warfare intended to weaken Manley’s administration and foster dissatisfaction among the populace.

The culmination of these destabilization efforts coincided with the rise to power of Edward Seaga, whose policies aligned with U.S. capitalist and anti-communist interests. While there is no explicit evidence of Seaga being directly planted by the CIA, the transcript strongly suggests that his political ascent was facilitated by these covert operations. The account portrays a calculated campaign to remove Manley without the overt use of scandal or assassination, characteristic of the CIA’s historical preference for subtle influence over direct intervention.

Additionally, the introduction of militancy and violence into Jamaica’s political culture during this period marked a significant shift, indicative of external interference aimed at deepening divisions and weakening Manley’s leadership. These disruptions ultimately bolstered opposition movements, paving the way for Seaga’s rise.

The transcript provides a compelling narrative of U.S. involvement in the political destabilization of Jamaica. While it stops short of definitively proving Seaga’s direct collaboration with the CIA, the alignment of his ascendancy with U.S. objectives, coupled with the documented destabilization tactics, strongly points to American influence in shaping the nation’s political landscape during this era.

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