A better strategy? : the evolving livelihood strategies of Caribbean banana and sugar workers in a globalised economy

Abstract

Across the developing world, globalisation is forcing tremendous change on the economies and societies that it encounters; the small agricultural economies of the Caribbean are no exception. The globalisation of governance and the rapid liberalisation of trade has systematically worked against the previously protected sugar and banana industries in Trinidad, St. Kitts and St. Vincent. This devastating trend has resulted in the sugar industry closures in Trinidad and St. Kitts while orchestrating serious declines in banana revenue for St. Vincent. This study uses an actor-oriented framework of analysis to examine and understand the types of coping strategies being used by rural folk in times of economic crisis. The findings from this study suggest that all groups of rural workers have been affected by the fate of the agro-industries, but some more so than others. The findings further suggests that although a plethora of coping strategies are being deployed to protect the integrity of the household and its members there are structural and institutional factors that enable or prevent the creation of meaningful sustainable livelihoods.