From the early 1600’s up and until the mid1800’s the Caribbean was known for three things: Sugar, Slavery and Pirates. These three factors were intertwined and set the foundation for the whole Caribbean society and economy. Sugar, Slavery and Piracy influenced the Caribbean economy even as it exists today.

Are Sugar, Slavery and Pirates all connected? Obviously early sugar production used slave labour and pirates were to a large extent predators on the shipping, so all affected the economy. But it is now almost 200 years later, so shouldn’t the economic effects be a thing of the past? However a foundation is what things are built upon and establishes the shape of the future, in this case the “future economy” which is now!

If, as the saying goes, Cotton was King then Sugar was Queen and she ruled the Caribbean like Queen Elizabeth, sweet but demanding. It was hard work to produce sugar from cane, and until 1801 that was the main source available. It was 10 to 12 hours a day, seven days a week and the growing period was over a year, no rest for the weary. Indentured servants died or rapidly found out that it wasn’t worth the wages, so headed back home. The stage was set for slavery.

In the 1600’s Africa was developing a craving for European goods and needing something to trade. Tribal chiefs also had troubles with sons and other men trying to take their place. They went back to the solutions used in Ancient Egypt and Rome, selling off the malcontents into bondage. Many would die or never return. They thought the more successful would escape and return home from foriegn lands, bringing new skills and knowledge but having lost their power base. Returning from the Caribbean over 3000 miles of a rough ocean wasn’t as easy nor was it travelling over land, slavery was born.

Because they were rejected by their own people and slavery was degrading, these poor Africans developed a low self-esteem. They were forced to work hard for little reward. Some owners took proper care, but many were cruel and treated them like animals; use, abuse, and replace when needed. This was a sad situation for human beings, but the economy boomed. Then along came pirates!

The pirates were raiding the shipping, stealing sugar (and gold as much as possible), but losing men. They needed cheap labour as well, so started raiding slave ships and plantations! The pirates would actually “free” the slaves in return for labour and give them a few of the spoils of piracy. In a few cases, some slaves were actually returned to Africa. The pirates gained the Africans’ trust. They gave all crew members certain rights, better food and, most importantly respect.

This is history, but the economy formed as a result of slavery. However, history also determines the shape of the economy. The Caribbean relied solely on sugar and slavery, so developed few other industries. Sugar lost value and slavery collapsed. Europeans basically abandoned the region to the remaining descendents of the slaves. These people had few skills, lwere unorganized and had only learned to trust people that were criminals who deceived them. Not a good foundation for a thriving economy.

Because the only thing the slaves really learned was servitude and there were no real resources in the Caribbean, the economy suffered drastically. Now the Caribbean economy has switched from servitude to service (there is a difference); now selling sand, sun and a history of a turbulent past surrounded by warm waters; tourism is the mainstay of the Caribbean economy. Also many of the local politicians still trust the more “modern Pirates”, so offshore businesses bloom and proliferate throughout the region, but employing few while “preying” on the more prosperous countries.

Will the foundations set by Sugar, Slavery and Pirates ever be destroyed and a new one put in place? If so, the economy may shift and a new one built! Until that happens, the effects of slavery will always be presnt in the Caribbean Economy.