Unit VI: Jamaican Moderation & the Beginning of Cuba's 'Special Period' (6/2)

Corresponding text found on p332-333 and p249-253of Brief History of the Caribbean.

Jamaica 

Seaga victory in 1980 saw reversal of many of the policies of 'democratic socialism'
Increased aid from the US with the Reagan Administration

Edward Seaga with Ronald Reagan

Jamaican budget crisis stabilized
JLP govt cut spending on many social programs
Many govt industries de-nationalized
Fall in oil prices in 1986 helped cut Jamaica fuel import bill
By 1987-88, economy grew significantly

Despite improvements, many Jamaicans upset with large cuts in education, health, housing
By late-1980's, Manley speaking of restoring some PNP policies but not returning to democratic socialism
Feb 1989 - PNP wins elections; Manley wins 3rd term as PM; appointed Cabinet from PNP moderates
Continued policies of de-nationalization; declared Jamaica too dependent on foreign investment to create a socialist state
Combating drug trafficking became major problem for Jamaica during 1980s and 1990s
March 1992 - Manley retired due to health; succeeded by PJ Patterson as PM/ head of PNP


Cuba

1989 - Eastern bloc collapses
1991 - Soviet Union dissolved
Trade with Soviet bloc dissolves ($9 billion in 1991 -- $750 million in 1993)
Oil shipments from Soviet Union (13 million tons -- 1.8 million)
Without raw materials from trade and oil from Soviet Union, numerous factories closed and transportation across Cuba almost ceased
Early 90s - dramatic reductions in govt spending on education and health; food shortages
Beginning of the "Special Period"
  - Fuel allotments cut
  - Electricity rationed
  - Farmers return to using oxen
  - urban dwellers sent to work fields
  - Govt distributed bicycles for transport

Trailer for Documentary on the 'Special Period'

In addition to societal reforms, economic reforms needed
  - legalized US dollar
  - eliminated subsidies on many goods and services
  - restored farmer's markets
  - opened up to joint ventures with foreign capital (mostly tourism)
  - no longer financed military support abroad

Castro determined to hold onto power; Socialismo o Muerte (Socialism or Death)

Underground markets thrived
Infrastructure crumbled; govt services barely functioned
Govt repression of dissidents grew more strident

Decaying Havana infrastructure

United States government saw Special Period as opportunity to crush Castro govt
  - Torricelli Act -- 1992 ; strengthened economic embargo on Cuba
  - Helms-Burton Act -- 1996 ; codified embargo, allowed lawsuits for use of expropriated property

1994 saw increase in Cuban refugees arriving in US via rafts

Conditions were so bad that many attempted to leave Cuba any way that they could

Aug 1994 - Castro declares govt will no longer attempt to prevent Cubans fleeing
US adopted new 'wet foot/dry foot' policy
Two notable incidents
  - Cuban fighter jets shot down two small civilian US aircraft over intl waters searching for rafters
  - Elian Gonzalez

The Elian Gonzalez story simply highlighted the problems of the US-Cuba relationship