Jamaica Swaggers, Barbados Strolls

Yesterday in my Regional Integration and Development class, the professor spoke about how upon landing in Jamaica, one immediately feels in the heart of the Caribbean, a feeling one does not get upon landing in other Caribbean countries.  Based off my few days in Jamaica, I completely agree with this statement.  Jamaicans have a confidence and pride in who they are, their culture, their industry, etc that makes them walk tall.  They are Caribbean and proud of it.  They are loud and extroverted; cultural imperialists yet absorbers of almost every culture on earth.  In short, Jamaica, despite its diversity, seems to be extremely confident of its identity.  In fact, Jamaican identity is so strong that it is an integral part of their development strategy - the question of how to use "brand Jamaica" is discussed in all aspects of their economy. 

Contrast this to Barbados.  If Jamaica walks tall with a swagger, Barbados ambles along quietly.    Whereas Jamaica is confident of its culture and identity, Barbados is unsure of who it is.  Whereas Jamaicans can point to Bob Marley and Reggae, Rastafari, Jerk Chicken, Dancehall, and Usain Bolt as anchors of their identity, Barbadians can point to little other than Rihanna and perhaps, flying fish.  More than once, the question of a "Barbadian Identity" has come up in my classes.  Typically the question is phrased as such: If you had to advertise your country with just a few pictures, what would you choose?  In the case of Jamaica it could choose any of the cultural icons mentioned above.  Barbados....not much.  Banks beer is essentially unknown outside of Barbados.  Bajans eat way more pork and chicken than flying fish.  Half the population finds Rihanna's overt sexuality repulsive.  Even Bajans admit they wouldn't know what to put in the advertisement.  Suggestions of sun, beaches, and babes are valid but not unique - those things could represent any of the Caribbean countries.  Simply put, Barbados lacks a definitive identity beyond being conservative and the most "British" of all the Caribbean countries.

Of course some would argue this is one of the advantages of Barbados.  With no set culture or identity Bajans are free to be themselves more than citizens of other Caribbean islands.  This in turn breeds relative tolerance, diversity, and a pragmatic outlook.  Why is Barbados relatively developed compared to the rest of the Caribbean?  Some would say it is due to this laid back, non-domineering, and insecure society.  Whereas Jamaica feels no need to prove itself, Barbados does.  This need drives Bajans to be productive and down-to-earth, two qualities that have done well for Barbados.