450. Telegram 4147 From the Embassy in Jamaica to the Department of State1
4147. Subject: Manley Lambasts Capitalism and Reaffirms Socialism for Jamaica.
1. In an emotional speech to a PNP rally yesterday in the Kingston ghetto, P.M. Manley attacked capitalism as the system which brought slavery to Jamaica and under which the country has suffered for 300 years. “No way shall capitalism continue in Jamaica. The day of capitalism is over. We are going to build a socialist system in this country...” He promised that when he has finished the job of Socialist reconstruction, “the little champions of capitalism will run and hide.”
2. Decrying the unemployment and exploitation which was allowed to exist by previous “capitalist” governments of Jamaica, Manley announced that next year a law would be introduced during the 1975 sugar crop that will provide that the 11,000 sugar workers who have no job during the out-of-season period are provided with jobs by the estates. In the absence of this the state will provide them with jobs. Replying to critics of the Special Works Program, which has put many of the unemployed to work cleaning streets, the PM declared that next year government would be finding tasks all over the city and the workers could rest assured that they were “permanent workers in Jamaica. Under the principles of socialism, no way shall the crash program stop in Jamaica.”
3. Referring to his JLP political opponents, Shearer and Seaga as supporters of capitalism, Manley said he was going to “whip” both of them with socialism. He announced that he would spell out from “A to Z” the PNP’s Socialist philosophy at a mass public political education rally to be held at the parade on November 21.
4. Follow-up speakers to the PM went even heavier on the political rhetoric. Minister of State Dudley Thompson labeled capitalism a “cannibalistic organ,” adding that “under this government we are going to bury capitalism in this country.”
[Page 1150]5. Comment: A desultory debate on “socialism” has been going on in the local media for several weeks. Vaguely worded statements by ministers about government intentions have provided a field day for the opposition to interpret “socialism” in terms intended to increase the unease of the business community and have led to demands for clarification of government policy. It looks like PM has now decided to take off the gloves and make “socialism” a major issue. His apparent decision to do so lends greater credence to rumors that the PNP is aiming for a general election in January to be fought on the issue of socialism for Jamaica.
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Summary: The Embassy reported on a speech by Manley in which the Jamaican Prime Minister denounced capitalism and pledged “to build a socialist system in this country.”
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D740334–0198. Limited Official Use. In airgram A–199 from Kingston, November 20, the Embassy reported on the recent reemergence of socialism as a political issue in Jamaica, noting that Manley’s People’s National Party and the opposition Jamaican Labor Party had “debated the evils (JLP) and virtues (PNP) of socialism with varying degrees of intensity for over 30 years.” (Ibid., P740130–0955)
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