BY R.D.
Part I- A crucial or strategic marriage:
Modernization is important, but should it look like a country that was ruled by its former colonial power, where only the rich and powerful write the rules?
China’s growing influence around the world has been the subject of many studies and publications in recent years.
According to studies, China may not be the sole source of these new investments, but the number of Chinese base companies in the Caribbean and several African countries is expanding at an alarming rate, and many local moms and pops shops are being displaced by Chinese-based businesses.
Are these supposedly beneficial investments helping those who need it the most, or just those who want to hear about them?
Some residents are concerned that it will become a platform for cheap commodities, thereby keeping billions of people’s economies afloat.
I’d been reading about it but never analyzed it because I’m not a reporter and have to tie in some of the places I’ve visited. Furthermore, it has evolved into a global geopolitical issue.
I spoke with a few specialists and friends to gain a better understanding of the trend, but they cautioned that little can be done in these political systems, particularly in impoverished and developing nations, where the leader frequently retains the final ability to make deals despite citizen complaints.
According to some economists, the main reason certain developed countries are upset is that they lost out on these lucrative investment prospects while others have politicized the issue.
The other side of these debates is that even when industrialized nations have an open disagreement, they frequently maintain a relationship in other key areas.
The same cannot be said if, when they cough, your country gets a cold, or you receive a gift you cannot refuse, it is not a marriage, but an arrangement.
This is a tough balancing act, given how appealing these treats are.
Even though this is a contentious issue around the world, the reality is that, some of these countries have low credit ratings, are rated highly by experts for corruption, and, indeed, have high rates of crime, brain drain, and disinvestment from other businesses.
As I previously stated, the question of “where do you draw the line” will come up again in this opinion as a result of some of these judgments, but at what cost.
It is not anti-Chinese in any way, nor are their investments. Furthermore, they cannot be blamed for a variety of other cultural sandstorms. I’ll go over some of these points later.
They have, however, made significant contributions to the development of several impoverished and developing countries. My primary concentration is on marriages that may need counseling in the future.
This brightly colored hanging package has convinced many political leaders that a strike is inevitable.
These additions are eye-catching, resembling a dangling Pinata of some sort. A Pinata, on the other hand, frequently leaves behind a mess that must be cleaned up by someone else.
The unfortunate reality of poor governance, economic stagnation, persistent crime, increasing inequality, and poverty is that they all frequently open the door to forced marriages in the hope of finding a better life somewhere else.
But, once the honeymoon period is over, what will it take to maintain the community’s socioeconomic and environmental relationship when the marriage’s true purpose is revealed.
Additionally, when the dirty laundry of high debt accumulates, they now hold the key to your main house and can decide who gets in and who gets out.
A close-up look at a few weddings.
Collaboration between these islands remains critical. It makes no difference who received the first slaves to the Caribbean. Slavery, on the other hand, has already resulted in significant psychological harm.
They are, however, inextricably linked, and what happens there may have consequences here.
Furthermore, investments from outside a country can be regarded as a positive indicator if they help to improve public safety, educational attainment, employment opportunities, and the local infrastructure by upgrading technology and removing structural hurdles.
China has a lot of money and power in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). This isn’t a new thing for some of the countries in the region.
We are aware of the United Nations’ role in preventing conflict, assisting parties in conflict to reach an agreement, deploying peacekeepers, and creating the conditions for peace to last and flourish. What is CARICOM’s Role today?
According to reports, a large number of low-interest loans have been made available for medical centers and stadium construction projects in Saint Lucia, Grenada, Dominica, and Jamaica to name a few
One of the first dates
China, for example, began its Caribbean diplomacy in the early 1970s, or what you might term its master plan. It all began with a high-level visit in 1998 by former Prime Minister P. J. Patterson, who opened an embassy in Beijing and forged a Caribbean Economic and Trade Co-operation.
As early as 2005, Jamaica held the inaugural China-Caribbean trade fair, and this pattern continues today, with no input from the people who elected these decision-makers.
Several reports have stated that Jamaica alone owes China $650 million in debt, with the amount escalating by the day. This is not only in Jamaica but throughout the region.
In the long run, experts say, with billions of dollars owed by the government, these lenders may decide what is best for these countries.
While loans support development projects and offer a variety of benefits, they must be carefully scrutinized, especially those that may represent a future risk to the environment. As others have noticed in various areas, they may contain risks such as “debt traps” or one-sided diplomacy.
Even a toll they sponsored around 65 km, one-way—collected by the Chinese developer—makes driving the road a costly journey for the majority of Jamaicans, as reported recently.
A recent loan was awarded for border security reasons: One individual contended that “a loan was highlighted for border security, and since when have countries like Jamaica and China had border issues?”
Furthermore, the country is not experiencing a political crisis, and local residents are not migrating to neighboring islands, parishes, or counties.” But you get the point, so let’s move on while there’s still some sand on the ground.
To name a few, other husbands and spouses
Additionally, Forbes noted that China has established itself a prominent role in Africa’s urbanization acceleration, as a sizable portion of the continent’s infrastructure programs is led or financed by Chinese corporations.
China has surpassed the United States as Africa’s largest trading partner, with Sino-African commerce exceeding $200 billion per year.
Even though many African and Asian countries have joined the Polygamist families, many experts believe that China’s “socialist market economy (SOEs), and its interests in Africa are geared toward securing enough energy, resources, and minerals to feed its industrialization program.”
Again, experts will have to decide whether other industrialized countries should make a stronger push for a piece of this pie.
Who is in charge of these marriages or debt diplomacy:
This is a delicate balance because most decisions in impoverished and emerging countries are political, and ruling party leaders have the last say.
Unlike some of our parents, many of us are more curious and educated about the sacrifices they have made. Some have passed on without seeing the fruits of their labor.
Some of us are forever linked by heritage, roots, or pure love and can only see the ocean from a different perspective than the signing ink and red carpet.
While this is not an indictment on any current or previous leadership, many people are wondering who will be responsible for the next generation’s repayment.
Sure, no political system can claim to have the best credit rating in these times of change and need, but some analysts have asked who the long-term investors and beneficiaries will be. The other question is what the end game for opening these marriages
It appears that these agreements merely serve to widen the gap between the wealthiest and the rest of the population.
Simply put, do they have a choice when the milk has already been taken from the cow, and it is ready to graze on a set of green grass without the gates to stop them from entering.
The fate of an outer region can be difficult to predict, but who is on the side of the poor when investment bankers are on the side of the rich, or is it always an economic investment or concealed exploitation?
“You cannot expand trade agreements or make any other progress and then see your international competitiveness erode. ” Where are the long-term economic benefits to indigenous peoples in terms of raising their level of living?”
You can collect your sets of marriage photos, forced or not, in the coming months or prior years from those who signed the certificate for a piece of this global pie. For this point of view, I simply chose to add to a few.
I own your ports, roads, and markets now what?
Those governments may be forced to use their own land as collateral if their investors’ ATMs start ringing for payments and these countries cannot afford to pay them back.
Numerous specialists have observed that poverty rarely transforms. These arrangements frequently bear a striking resemblance to colonialism with a fresh face.
Many view only locally produced products and enterprises confined to tiny niches, such as information carriers covered by foreign news clips, while local customs and cultural identity are pushed to the back rack of these new isles.
While new enterprises have helped to reduce unemployment rates, poverty persists due to underemployment, low-skilled occupations, and little or no employee protection.
Furthermore, when some of these new businesses are created, they frequently bring their employees with them. The few locals who have found work have no career path to management, are underpaid, and have no job security.
Unfortunately, many elected leaders, who frequently appear to benefit from the agreements, fail to maintain environmental deterioration.
These issues, if not addressed holistically, not only result in the loss of the middle class but also in the relocation of people from coastlines, as I have seen the sand being swept from their feet.
Part II- Everything is on the table, including the coasts, oceans, and mountains.
Despite the critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund being awarded for many years with little or no accountability, experts noted that in many of these poor and developing countries; NGOs and other government programs have contributed billions of dollars to climate change programs in the Caribbean and elsewhere.
Unfortunately, it appears that only a few are doing an excellent job. Some residents argue that little progress has been made and that more should have been done today to address environmental issues.
Despite local government polls consistently showing that these communities want the government to require companies to report climate risks before all projects.
Many argue that specialists and educators who are trained to monitor and manage these long-term consequences are frequently overlooked.
There have been proposals, environmentalist meetings, stream cleaning, and improved trash disposals, but concerns are frequently caught in the political whirlwind.
Unfortunately, as reported, when some of these investors dangle the carrots, treasured areas can be easily uprooted, and while this is a global issue, it all boils down to poor environmental and economic policies. Erosion is unconcerned about which party is in power.
While many of these global investments have improved the financial quality of life in some areas, such as tax revenue to governments and job creation, experts warn that they may have a long-term negative impact on their local environment.
Off-Camera Reality:
According to local reports, leaders are trying to prepare exploration permits and may have already negotiated famed undeveloped mountains that are critical to the ecosystem to be drilled.
Some of these areas should be preserved because of their cultural and historical significance. People also had to deal with the long-term effects of mining operations that left certain areas vacant after the minerals were mined.
Many endeavors, such as planting or harvesting significantly less than what experts propose to reverse direction, have resulted in nothing more than profit or appeasing of specific non-governmental organizations and governments.
Some leaders may plant a few trees in some communities in the run-up to an election, before a trip to global events (Paris Agreement) on climate change, or when international organizations asked for an update, but as environmental experts have stated, it fundamentally requires more work to change course.
It’s not just a problem in Jamaica, but also throughout the Caribbean and Africa, where the poor are frequently abandoned or used like laboratory rats.
as I have noted earlier, unfortunately, because major manufacturers that were once the backbone of these countries, or closed over the last decade, many residents have few options for finding alternative safe and good-paying employment.
Others argue that even after leaders leave office, they will benefit financially from the new arrangements.
In case you forgot, here are the effects.
I’m not an expert on global climate change, but ignoring community concerns and recommendations may lead to more dangerous issues, regardless of the political side, and everyone will suffer.
If these zones are not regenerated with trees or other facilities, runoff from paved surfaces can also be gathered by insufficient drainage or inadequate infrastructure system and discharged into the water, bypassing wastewater treatment plants.
The public must have access to the findings and recommendations of a certified and independent local environmental body, as well as the identities and heads of companies conducting exploration and long-term impact studies.
While some of these new industries are critical, has anyone looked at the impact of the current non-operational mining plants and how they affect the environment?
Several environmental investigations have demonstrated that mining harms the quality and availability of water as well as deforestation and the deterioration of forests.
Furthermore, it can cause erosion in areas many miles away from where it is located. They frequently cause increased pollution, which can lead to additional health problems and reduce local farmers’ crops due to toxicity that contaminated the soil and their crops.
What lies ahead: Seeing the wedding’s impact upfront
As part of Earth’s ecosystem, tropical coral reefs are essential. The island’s beauty and marine life will suffer if the coral reef continues to erode.
Toxic and bacteria-free waterways allow a local fisherman to feed his family while drawing tourists and improving air quality. This is a link where the positive impact helps to keep a local pub or corner store open.
Furthermore, algae-eating parrotfish, play a critical role in coral reef ecosystems by removing algae that compete with corals.
According to the report, intensive fishing has been a major contributor to the decline over the last several decades. However, I’m not sure about the fishing rules on these islands.
Nevertheless, we took a glass-bottom boat tour on a recent trip with a couple of friends and family. Our tour guide tried to persuade us that it was the best coral in the area.
In some areas, it appears that fire was extinguished beneath the sea. Warmer temperatures have also been recorded on these islands.
I wondered if he’d never traveled to other parts of the Caribbean where environmental policies appear to be more progressive to gain a better understanding of what a healthy coral reef should look like, or if he was simply going through the motions.
As with fading plants on land, many coral reefs look like they need new water to survive despite being in the ocean. It appeared like only a couple of the smaller fish remained for the entire 20-minute trek.
Unfortunately, there are many other places where the ocean is almost at the front steps of local homes overlooking some of these once-beautiful public beaches, and people may have to risk having the sand-swept away from under their feet because there has been little or no investment to protect these areas.
Who is to blame?
Development or gentrification has overtaken portions of these cultures that appear to be disappearing from the hillside to local shops or a short visit to the fish market, depending on how you see it. It hasn’t just started on these beaches.
The lack of openness, accountability, even corruption, and ignorance that has been documented in many impoverished and developing countries has sparked anger, distrust, and violence.
Unfortunately, no one can tell for certain because of many undisclosed investors, local authorities, or even self-interested individuals who may or may not reside in these communities and are making decisions that only benefit them.
Regardless of how these countries evolve over the next few decades, the balance remains precarious. Democracy appears to be practiced only on election day in some of these countries, and if we are not careful, it will vanish like the beautiful sand.
Undeveloped coasts can be beautiful, but there are also places where you forget your phone number and flight time.
A few once-open valued areas, however, have become an idea for many local residents, who used to enjoy a day at the beach, a weekend getaway with the family, or a short pit stop to cool off after a long drive.
There are fewer places to unwind as a result of development. They are forced to travel long distances to avoid paying hefty fees.
The video camera that records reality
Following the broadcast of Part Unknown, a documentary by the late Anthony Bourdain, on CNN on Sunday, November 17, 2014, some viewers became aware of the hidden stratification challenge.
This poignant story serves as a vivid illustration of the powerful ebb and flow that washed away the soul from those shores and many others.
Many cultural legacies are associated with this beautiful island, but few are willing to sell their souls for money.
Often, it appears, some people with wealth, employ the calm vibrations of one love while subtly threatening the original culture and its surroundings
It appeared impossible for a young police officer, teacher, nurse, or even support staff with a modest salary and a limited budget to buy a home in an area where they would serve to maintain the safety, health, and education of inhabitants or visitors, much like on some of these adjacent beaches.
The voices beneath the fog
If some people feel like they aren’t getting a fair chance in the economy or that their concerns aren’t being taken into account, this can lead to crime, violence, and more division.
A local artist can generate income by selling handmade souvenirs just a few blocks from these new doors. However, if these investments are without a good balance they may also hurt local businesses.
One of the remaining undeveloped beaches was mentioned by a local street seller, and he told about the legal battle he had waged to stay there.
It’s hard to imagine a situation where a public park isn’t accessible.
Underneath the soothing sensations and the wide smile that greets you. It is more difficult for the legislative body to ensure that everyone receives a piece of the pie, according to the street vendor.
Capitalism, on the other hand, comes with personal responsibility. According to one vendor, some of “these now-closed coastlines that became private beaches were the result of self-inflicted injuries by residents.”
The region used to be littered with trash and illegal activities when it was free, but no one seems to care anymore. When others could afford to do so, they built the area, and now some of the once-free access comes at a cost
Economic and environmental policies enacted by the government should benefit everyone, not just wealthy capitalists. A delicate balance must be struck to preserve their natural habitat while also providing them with a chance to live a decent life.
Conflict, violence, and isolation are the inevitable results of policies that further restrict the upward mobility of people and raise the risk of health problems, according to experts.
Tango requires two people to maintain its rich stance, dance, history, and culture.
Yes, these things happen in a capitalist system, but how should they be balanced?”
Nothing will prevent sand from being gently swept beneath their feet unless concerned citizens hold elected officials and even powerful environmental groups accountable.
The quality of life will suffer if there is no leadership to protect the natural beauty of these places
Even though I do not have a vote on any proposed project’s next phase, nor will I have any financial stake in these contracts, I believe that environmental and social policies may coexist in harmony provided they are balanced and beneficial to everybody.
“My island don’t sell out,” said Burning Spear, one of Jamaica’s favorite reggae stars, in a song. I believe the Lyrics traverse many oceans, mountains, rivers, and hills.
I’m still hoping that the sun will shine once the clouds have passed.
See you again soon!
EMPOWERING & INSPIRING CHANGE- GLOBALLY 