Jamaica celebrates 50 years but can consumers celebrate?

On August 6, 1962, Jamaica celebrated a momentous occasion as they stepped away from the shadow of the British regime and established an independent nation.

There was a heightened sense of liberation and hope for the future of this new nation. There were ideals that highlighted the innovative and creative spirit of a strong people.

Let’s fast forward to fifty years later and certainly there is a lot of skepticism that those lofty goals were achieved. Consumers, fifty years ago had difficulty attaining certain food items. Senior citizens remark that they had limited choices in comparison to consumers today.

On the other hand, that diversity has come with a price. Importing products from various countries has diminished demand for locally grown products.

Recently, the government was urging local manufacturers to purchase local fish instead of importing their product from overseas. Their pleas were met with some resistance as the manufacturer explained that the local fish needed additional processing while the imported fish had already been processed and therefore was less of a strain on their resources.

Consumers now have to struggle between loyalty to their local manufactures and paying a lower price for goods. This is because the goods that are produced locally are often more expensive than that of their foreign counterparts.

Prices have also increased on basic food items which are the mainstay of the poor.

So in reviewing the past fifty years since independence should consumers celebrate? The answer to that question is a matter of opinion as progress is not always profitable.

What do you think? Let me hear your views,

Tags: consumer, economy, Jamaica