Jamaica As Caribbean and Global, Cultural Powerhouse.
To be sure, Jamaica is one of the “Capitals of the Caribbean”.
The last Olympics in Paris, was a testament to the progress of Caribbean athletes as athletes from Jamaica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Grenada, St. Lucia, all won medals.
Simply put, the Caribbean definitely showed out at the last Olympic Games.
So much of Caribbean identity is influenced by Jamaican identity and culture. Everything from the way we speak, to our taste in music, to our very views on morality, is influenced by that “little island” called Jamaica.
If we peek behind the curtains of current time though, we will notice that Jamaican excellence in Track and Field first planted the seed and laid the foundation for much of the athletic excellence now evident across the Caribbean.
The main reason Jamaica is one of the “Capitals of the Caribbean” is because Jamaican culture is hands down, the, most powerful culture in the Caribbean. Currently, the two most powerful cultures in the Caribbean is Jamaican culture and Latin Caribbean culture (Panama, Puerto Rico, The Dominican Republic). However, when you factor in Jamaica’s influence and role in Reggaeton, Dembow and Hip Hop.
You soon begin to realise that Jamaica is the one common denominator that shows up across the Worlds of Reggaeton, Dembow and Hip Hop. Based upon this fact, you can see in theory, what we all already know in practice. That Jamaican culture and influence has touched every square inch of the Caribbean and maybe even the globe.
After all, it clearly is Jamaican artists that are the most in demand at The Barclays Center and/or Madison Square Garden. In recent times, we’ve seen RnB legend Usher Raymond show his public support for Caribbean Culture by letting both Joe Dwèt Filé…
and Barington Levy…
..appear on stage during his performances.
However, if we unpack this occurence we notice that Joe got to perform his monster hit, 4 Kampé. Whilst Barington Levy performed a couple of his classics that have long been out. What is the significance of this? Well, the significance is that it remains to be seen if Joe Dwét Filé’s music can stand the test of time, like we already know, Barington Levy’s can.
It’s All About Mia, Mia, Mia, Mia, Mia.
On the other hand, in 2025, as the World has seen, Latin Caribbean culture is probably the most powerful category of Caribbean culture right now. However, if you consider Mia (the song that Bad Bunny has with Drake), not to be confused with the lovely Mya Harrison (who also has some Jamaican roots by the way).
You’ll notice that again, the common denominator or bridge that joins the World’s of Hip Hop and Latin Caribbean culture is: Jamaica. In this sense, that the world and especially the Caribbean, has to watch Jamaica suffer through Hurricane Melissa, is a particularly tough pill to swallow.
Granted, it is difficult to watch anybody have to deal with the likes of a Hurricane Melissa. However, it is particularly difficult to watch a place known for cultural excellence and achievement, that has given the world so much, suffer.
Unfortunately, in addition to Jamaica, Hurricane Melissa has also effected Cuba, The Bahamas, The Dominican Republic, Bermuda and Haiti.
With so much bad news going around, we all have no option but to focus on what we can control. That is, how we respond to the challenge of rebuilding post Hurricane Melissa.
Sean Paul recently has dropped a video stating that he has partnered with Food For The Poor Jamaica and will be aiming to match donations of up to 50K USD. (People of the World, Jamaica definitely needs you to donate whatever you can to help Jamaica recover. As does the rest of the affected Caribbean. If we all do the best we can, those affected can hopefully get back on track as soon as possible.
Sustainable Development Is Key For Jamaica, The Caribbean And The Planet.
However, asides from the current short and mid term help that we can all provide by making financial contributions. Hopefully we can make the hugely important committments to support sustainable development across the globe on a long term basis too.
Late in October 2025, we just saw the worst Hurricane in Jamaica’s recorded history. In 2025 we have had three Category five Hurricanes. That is the most the World has seen since 2005.
The thing with Hurricanes is they are extremely unpredictable and expensive. However, one thing that we know for certain is that climate change, and the warmer Caribbean sea waters is at least partly why Hurricane Melissa intensified into a Category 5 Hurricane.
The cold hard truth staring the Caribbean in the face is that we need Caricom to prioritise fighting climate change to the utmost extent!!!! One thing that Mia Mottley has got one hundred percent right is how important the fight against climate change is. It literally is impossible for the Caribbean (i.e. developing economies) to ever achieve true development, without first achieving major wins in the fight against climate change.
Prioritizing profit, whilst carelessly jeopardzing the planet by conducting our economic endeavours in a way that causes climate change to continue down its current, dangerous trajectory is foolish. Foolish because the very profits earned this way are at risk and the costs of rebuilding, could end up leaving us all in debt.
Sustainable development, is the only viable option that we have. In the same way that wealth without health is useless. So too, is profit earned in a way that is unsustainable. We need our economic development to be green. So that we can be sure to secure both wealth and health. This needs to be a top priority on all of our agendas, world wide. For the good of all of us.
