There is a tragic irony happening in Jamaican politics right now. We have a population of Black Jamaicans, particularly those blindly defending the colonial-minded Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), who are actively fighting to remain economic slaves. Their blind loyalty to a political party has blinded them to the reality on the ground: they are defending “overseer” leaders who maintain one of the worst, most unequal economies in the Caribbean.

Whenever the harsh truth is brought to light, the tribal loyalists resort to lying, deflecting, and making excuses. They are quick to point fingers at the opposition, but let’s be accurate about the history: the PNP was only in power for five consecutive years before this current administration, not a decade. While the PNP’s record is certainly not stellar, they have historically shown far more transparency, a genuine interest in building schools, and an actual commitment to improving public education for the poor.

The real tragedy is how fundamentally inept both parties have proven to be, with the JLP taking corporate subservience to a dangerous level. Prime Minister Andrew Holness behaves as though his only mandate is to protect tourism and push foreign agendas, whether it is forcing NIDS compliance or rushing pharmaceutical mandates during the pandemic. The optics are terrible and revealing. When he addresses U.S. Senator Marco Rubio about crime, or when he openly states his hopes that Hurricane Melissa wouldn’t negatively impact the tourism sector, he sends a clear message to the nation: the lives, safety, and recovery of local Jamaicans are completely secondary to foreign dollars. Yet, a shallow, politically blind voter base continues to deflect these realities, choosing fierce tribal loyalty over the very economic survival of their own people.”

The fact remains: unless your last name is Stewart, Lee-Chin, or Matalon, no regular Jamaican should be content with the current status quo. We have become the South Africa of the Caribbean—a nation where Black people make up over 90% of the population but possess a minuscule fraction of the actual wealth and land ownership. Outside of a handful of politicians and token figures in high places, the masses are left struggling in a rigged system that keeps them systematically disenfranchised.

It is a tragedy because Jamaica is blessed with an abundance of natural resources and a global cultural footprint in music, food, and sports that rivals global superpowers. Look at nations like Singapore or even our neighbors in The Bahamas—countries with far fewer natural resources that have managed to build high-income economies, high wages, and maintain genuine sovereignty for their citizens. Meanwhile, Jamaica is left at the bottom of the barrel where it actually matters: economic power and true independence.

Sovereignty and economic power are closely intertwined. Having a global “vibes” and a rich, influential culture is beautiful, but culture alone doesn’t pay a livable wage. Culture doesn’t fix crumbling infrastructure, and it doesn’t stop our brightest minds from fleeing the country in a massive, heartbreaking brain drain.

Instead of getting emotional, throwing tantrums, and hurling insults to defend your chosen political tribe, ask yourself a serious question: Why are you fighting so hard to defend a system that keeps you, your family, and millions of Jamaicans locked out of your own prosperity—and your own beaches?

You can resort to anger, you can run to the defense of politicians who don’t know your name, but the numbers, the economy, and the reality on the ground don’t lie. Wake up.