"Colonial mentality syndrome" A continuation on the blog: Are Caribbean professionals longing for home...?

Exactly 4 years ago I wrote a blog on Caribbean students becoming professionals and their longing to go back home. In that Blog I mentioned this blog (I travel through time). What I indicated then was that the topic is quite complex, that I wanted to dedicate an extra blog on it.

It is August 2014, a new load of Caribbean students are arriving in Europe and probably North and South America as well. The students of 2010 are probably graduating, or already have. We are still in a global recession, jobs are scarce and things have changed compared to 4 years ago.
In said previous blog I mentioned the "colonial mentality syndrome" (CMS). And promised I would refer to this in a future (this) blog. I don't have statistics and other data to give a scientific basis for this topic, but base myself on experiences and chats with fellow Caribs. This is a blog that is open for (constructive) criticism and feedback. You are welcome to share your opinion and views as well.

For a lot of Caribbean Islands Tourism is one of the top economical sectors or industries, and therefore generates many jobs. However, one can argue that the tourism industry generates many low-level (paying) jobs and little high level (paying) jobs. Here is where the CMS comes in. Many times the top jobs are filled by people not native to the Island. I must be honest and admit that I have experienced many locals (on various Islands) being part of top management. Nevertheless, I am still seeing many foreigners in top management. To me it is funny as it is a mirror effect of Western countries complaining that foreigners (incl. Caribs) take their jobs. Therefore I try to take an objective look at things and leave nationalism, pride and personal feelings/opinion aside. The world is becoming more and more a global marketplace. This includes the job market. Is it then such a bad thing that a non-native has a job in a country he/she is originally not from? As I see it now, one should go and work where there is work and you are able to be the best you can be and happy. Are you a European dreaming of working in the tropics? Go for it. Are you a Carib dreaming of a cosmopolitan lifestyle and career in a modern western city? Go for it. At this point we should not let man-made borders stop us achieving our dreams. This sounds nice and reads like an idealistic pamflet, and many might say: yes, but you don't now my situation...

I agree, things are not as black and white, easy and straightforward as we would like them to be. So lets go back to the title of the blog and take a look at developments and opportunities back home. In a modern and ever more globalised world, the chance is big that you end up looking for a job with a large company or corporation. In tourism for example you might end up at one of the large hotel/resort chains, cruise lines, Airlines or operators. "Aha" I hear you say, "they are the ones employing foreign westerners for the top positions", hence the CMS. I used to agree with this quick judgement, but have changed my opinion over time. I personally know a couple of Caribbean natives who worked their way up and now have senior level jobs at these large corporations/organizations. I also know a lot of Caribs who occupy top level jobs locally on the Islands. Should we still point that CMS finger then? maybe yes, maybe no, but in any case, less. It all boils down to what you bring to the table. "Talent does get recognised", I was told long ago, and I believe this. It also depends a lot on your own efforts. We can get comfortable and less hungry and then get stuck into a certain comfort zone. Is there still inequality and do Human Resource depts. still show preference to foreigners? Probably, but don't let that stop you. Opportunity levels can differ per Caribbean Island and I tend to hypothesise that the Spanish Caribbean suffers most of CMS. The limiting factors I encounter when talking to people are: not having acces to travelling documents (Visa) and limited knowledge of International languages (English).

One of the many pitfalls for professional Caribs returning home is getting frustrated, when they are not able to bring change fast, and falling into the conformity trap. In my opinion this trap is biggest when working for the public sector (as a civil servant and/or politician). You need to be aware and accept what you will encounter upon your return. Of course your will to provide a positive contribution should remain top of your agenda, but don't be naive and get burned down to easy and quick.
A fellow blogger recently posted an interesting piece on this topic (in Dutch), urging students to think hard before coming back. Especially when dealing with Student loans ion USD$ and Euros. His advice was to stay abroad first to build up your career and pay off your student loans. And many of his readers (on social media) agreed.

Why did I wrote this blog? As a 37 year old Caribbean native, I hope I can raise awareness on CMS and provide support for the new generations and their knowledge and will to change. If you feel that our generation (35+) can still stir-up a revolution....let me know

Your current Caribbean Island infrastructure is a product of your aspiration

During our latest marketing meetings we have been discussing the current state of our Islands infrastructure and how this affects tourism. More and more we have been getting reactions from tourists that our Island is losing its identity and becoming a destination just like everything else. We have the same architecture, the same franchises etc.

The internationalization (Americanization) of our Island can be considered both a good thing and a bad thing. Some people don’t like to find things they can find back home and others appreciate the comforts provided that are “just like home”. Fact is, we can’t change what we are right now. Problem is that we could end up in a “blame game” pointing fingers at who is at fault for letting our infrastructure develop into what we have now.

English: Logo for Esso (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In my opinion we are all responsible for our Islands infrastructure, design , look, feel and development. As a small Island we have been influenced strongly by neighboring countries and cultures. Especially the U.S.A. This is mainly the result of Aruba housing one of the largest oil refineries in the Region from the 1920’s to the mid 80’s. This refinery was run by Esso, a large US corporation. Esso invested large amounts of money into the Island and trained most of its local workers. They even built a colony for its expats which was a copy of what they had back home. These factors determined the aspirational benchmark for locals. This went on even after the refinery lost its importance and during my youth in the late 80’s through the nineties.

The point I am trying to make is that we were looking at the US as a target. A target for how we wanted to design our world (Island).  Whatever we saw on TV or in the movies, was something to aspire to and all local things became inferior or not worth it (in our minds). I remember when I was a little kid, we would rent videos that were just cartoons that were recorded via Satellite dish TV (by the few people who had one).  These videos included the commercials, mostly of toys. And our desire for these  toys grew and all the American brands such as Mattel, Hot wheels, Tonka and Fisher Price became “wannahaves”.  The same happened to our parents and ourselves when we turned adults. At some point I remember how proud we were to be able to tell a tourist that we have all the popular American fast food chains on the Island. This made us modern, and we felt that we were part of the developed world. We aspired to be like the US, and we made sure that our Island was developed in just that way.  

Currently a trend in tourism is “authenticity” and culture. Tourists want to escape what they have at home and experience new things and exotic cultures and locations. This puts us in a slight disadvantage, as we have been building and designing our Island to be a kind of copy of Miami.

Funny thing is that through social media I am seeing that especially my generation (30 -40 yrs.) is longing for originality, typical Aruban Nature, architecture, products etc. And we are all now complaining about the “Americanization” of our Island. Point is, we al wanted to be like that…..so we have only ourselves to blame. And yes, I mean you, all of my fellow Islanders who used to be brand conscious, and behaved like we were in a perpetual “saved by the bell” kinda world or teens wearing sporting goods of US teams that we have never heard of or seen playing and as if we were walking the streets of New York. Did we not all want to go shopping once a year at all the Malls in Florida? Well, that’s how we ended up with an Americanized Island.

So we should stop complaining and make sure that if we are now into different things, such as local criollo and typical things, we just have to do it. Restore your grandparents cunucu houses instead of building something new, Start making pan bati instead of driving to Wendy’s drive through. Have a beer at your local rum shop instead of going to South Beach. Teach your kids to play marbles (kiniki) instead of taking them to watch  cars, Toy story etc.

We are all responsible for what and where we are now. If we want to change…..we just have to be that change.

Current affaires, business and The Caribbean

The largest Tourism show (ITB Berlin) in Europe just ended. On the second day, we received the sad news about the situations in Japan. However, business went on as usual. I was at the Aruba stand handling a full agenda of meetings and appointments. Things for Aruba are looking good. A small part we play in what is keeping this world go round.

Going into the ITB my head was full of chatter and thoughts. It was a cocktail of recent privatisation/re-organisation, marketing plans, budgets, happy and not so happy people, The Middle-East, local politics, a sick grandmother of 92, contract negotiations, cash-flow problems and my personal stuff.

The world does not show mercy on you, this is life. The Dharma, the one truth, the one and only law if you will. In western terms: These things come with the job. Then watching the images from Japan on the news, puts things back into perspective. Don’t take life and yourself too serious, it is all impermanent.

Nevertheless all these things can get to you and cause some stress. So….how to handle this the Caribbean way?

Currently, the Caribbean has this romantic and exotic image of bei

Image via Wikipedia

ng the most relaxing and fun place on earth. Has it always been like this? I have read and learned a bit about our history. Not so relaxed and fun at all. Slavery, bloodshed, genocide, disease, racism and exploitation. Some of these still go on, however, in comparison, it is much better now.

One of the Caribbean’s greatest heroes, Toussaint l’Ouverture, has been through similar situations as I am encountering now (not that I can compare myself and my situation with him, but at the basis it can be compared a bit).

Toussaint did what he believed in and he was pushed by goodness and love for his people and country (and by people we are talking all races here, he did not discriminate). He came from nothing and grew to become a loved and respected General (also feared by his enemy). It is said that he did sleep only 3 – 4 hours a day while carrying out battles, thinking of strategies, running the country (Haiti and at some point the Dominican Republic as well) and taking are of his family. His life drifted through bloody periods, then prosperity and bloody again. In the end he died alone and forgotten in a dungeon far away from his beloved Caribbean.

Reflecting on this I sometimes think about what I am doing and why I am doing it. The same reasons Toussaint did. Will I gain glory? Will I go down empty handed and be forgotten?

The Caribbean way tells me that the reasons mentioned above should be enough. Glory is secondary and not real. All is impermanent. Surprisingly these things are also taught in Eastern/Asian wisdom. I’ve practiced and learned a bit of Japanese Zen Buddhism for the past years and therefore it helps answer my question:

What is a Caribbean boy into marketing to do amidst all these current affaires, pressures and life? What can I do to help?

Take it day by day, be driven by the love of what it is you are doing and never mind the rest.

It might not be a practical consolation, nevertheless….to all our Japanese brothers and sisters….. you will manage and get out of your current situation.

As Mr Paulo Coelho says: the one who fights a good fight on a daily basis will be redeemed.

Never give up, keep on going, one love …from the Caribbean 2 the World/Japan/New Zealand/Haiti/Libia/Tunisia/Egypt/Zimbabwe…./…./…../…..

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• Op-Ed: Davidson Toussaint on Why Tourism Is Not Unrealistic For Haiti

• A Tsunami Could Hit the Caribbean (repeatingislands.com)