AN ASSESSMENT OF JAMAICAN CIVIL SOCIETY (2006) Two Centuries of Volunteerism Impacted by the Tribal Nature of Jamaica’s Political Culture CIVICUS Civil Society Index Report for Jamaica Conducted by Association of Development Agencies (ADA) Kingston, Jamaica CIVICUS Civil Society Index An international action-research project coordinated by CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation FOREWORD The Association of Development Agencies (ADA) is one of Jamaica’s oldest development agencies. The primary objectives of ADA, when formed in 1985, was to promote sustainable development and social change, creating a framework for debate, policy, advocacy, analysis and systematic study of global and macro issues that build the capacity of the collective to undertake development, education and research. A further objective was to assist in information exchange and coordination of efforts among the NGO community. In accepting the challenge to undertake the CIVICUS Civil Society Index project, it was with the knowledge that the role of the Civil Society in Jamaica was little understood and that it was only in recent times that more emphasis was being given to civil society’s participation in development activities. It should be noted that apart from support from CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, ADA single-handedly undertook the CSI study, and this was done against the background of great financial constraints. Additionally, the study was delayed on numerous occasions, primarily due to the severe impact of Hurricane Ivan in September 2004, which left a number of stakeholders involved in the project unable to fully participate due to damage suffered as a result of the hurricane. In fact, Hurricane Ivan devastated the island and killed 17 people, incurred losses of US$595 million or half a billion US dollars, representing 8% of Jamaica’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). With our 20-odd years experience in conducting research, including publications in the areas of trade and the environment, it was natural for ADA to undertake the CSI study. The invitation extended to non-governmental organizations to participate was welcomed by all, as it was the first time such a study was being conducted in Jamaica. It should be understood that their participation, which was purely voluntary, was also unprecedented, as most of the stakeholders had to travel long distances to venues at their own expense. The report documented the role of gender in Jamaica’s development and the fact that most civil society organizations are female-headed, that violence has impacted development and the ability of CSOs to function at high levels and that most if not all CSOs are facing financial constraints that inhibits them to meet their objectives. Despite these challenges, Jamaicans still show a sense of social responsibility and maintain strong West African traditions that gave birth to such practices as “day-for-day,” where unpaid labour is given to a neighbour who may or may not return the favour. Volunteer activities of this nature were for many generations a feature of Jamaican community life, and still are. It is our hope that this report will contribute to a better understanding of Jamaica’s rich history of volunteerism, and bring a better perspective that will allow our partners, donors and international development agencies to better understand the underlying approach and reasoning to policy formulation within a small island developing state. Amsale Maryam Chairperson Association of Development Agencies 2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ADA is indebted to several individuals who gave selflessly of their time and resources in making the publication of this report possible. We are grateful to CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation for their financial support, and sincerely thank the team members for their guidance, comments, edits, input and advice in its preparation and finalization, particularly Kumi Naidoo, Volkhart Finn Heinrich, Navin Vasudev, Amaya Algarra, Hannelore Wallner and Janine Schall-Emden. Locally, we recognize the sterling contribution of members of the National Advisory Group (NAG): Barbara McKoy (Combined Disabilities Association), Egeton Newman (National Association of Taxi Operators), Lileth Harris (Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions), Marcia Hextal (Jamaica Cultural Development Corporation), Beverley Lewis (National Registry of Volunteers and CSE), Andre Griffiths (University of Technology and ADA volunteer), Coleen Donaldson-McLean (National Council for Senior Citizens), Hermonie McKenzie (Jamaica Women’s Political Caucus/University of the West Indies, Faculty of Social Sciences), Everald Robinson (Jamaica Constabulary Force/Community Relations Division), Jenifer Willams (Bureau of Women's Affairs) and Paulette Jude (Canadian International Development Agency-CIDA). I would also like to recognize the following individuals, without whose assistance this report would not have been possible: Monique Harper, Claudette Wilmot, Michelle Harris, Michael Thorney, Adrian Vacianna, Myanna Francis, Owen Clarke, Alfoshade, and Christine F. Neves Duncan. Amsale Maryam Chairperson Association of Development Agencies CIVICUS: Civil Society Index Report for Jamaica TABLE OF CONTENTS FOREWORD...................................................................................................................................1 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.............................................................................................................2 TABLE OF CONTENTS.................................................................................................................3 TABLES AND FIGURES ...............................................................................................................5 TABLES .......................................................................................................................................5 FIGURES......................................................................................................................................6 LIST OF ACRONYMS ...................................................................................................................7 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...........................................................................................................10 I INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................12 1 Structure of the Report ....................................................................................................12 2 Project Background & Approach .................................................................................13 3 Conceptual Framework ...................................................................................................15 4 Project Methodology........................................................................................................16 4.1 Data Collection..................................................................................................................16 4.2 Aggregating Data ..............................................................................................................17 5 Linking Research with Action..........................................................................................18 6 Project Outputs......................................................................................................................18 II PUTTING CIVIL SOCIETY IN CONTEXT – CIVIL SOCIETY IN JAMAICA....................19 1 Historical Overview.................................................................................................................19 2 Civil Society Concept in Jamaica............................................................................................23 III MAPPING CIVIL SOCIETY...................................................................................................26 IV ANALYSIS OF CIVIL SOCIETY...........................................................................................31 1 Structure...................................................................................................................................31 1.1 The Breadth of Citizen Participation.................................................................................32 1.2 Depth of Citizen Participation...........................................................................................34 1.3 Diversity of Civil Society Participants..............................................................................35 1.4 Level of Organisation........................................................................................................36 1.5 Inter-Relationships within Civil Society...........................................................................37 1.6 Resources ..........................................................................................................................38 Conclusion...............................................................................................................................38 2 ENVIRONMENT....................................................................................................................40 2.1 Political Context................................................................................................................40 2.2 Basic Freedom and Rights.................................................................................................46 2.3 Socio-Economic Context...................................................................................................47