Migration

The effect of migration on Jamaica

Migration and the Caribbean has been hand in hand throughout history, as with
the forcible movement of millions of Africans to the western hemisphere as slave,
(Sowell, 1981), it was also evident with the indigenous Indians. The migration process
has affected both positively and negatively. Jamaica first discovered in 1494 by
Christopher Columbus, could be consider as the second migrate to Jamaica following the
Arawrks individuals. But in order to critically understand this, the term migration must
firstly be clearly defined and there must distinction of the types of migration. Migration
according to the John J. Macions and Ken Plummer: Sociology A Global introduction
2002, this is a movement of people in and out of societies and according to Modules in
Social Studies by Rampersad Ramsawak and Ralph R. Umraw 2002-2003 defines
migrations as the permanent movement of person or family from one location to another
in order to settle. Module in Social Studies also examine that there are two type of
migration internal and international. Internal migrations being defined as the
movement of people who change residence within a country and international migration
refers to a person who leaves one country/ state to settle in another.

Migration has poses many problems for the Jamaican societies in the different
way such as: brain drains, crime illegitimate children/barriers babies. Migration also
poses many advantages to the society: economic growth through revenues sent to island,
boarder educational and job opportunities, advancement in technology and a better
standard of living. The major problem faced by a country however is brain drain, this is
seen as a country loosing its skilled labour and other trained personal, which have
matriculate into skilled professionals at the expense of the host country. Another major
problem facing by these countries is crime. This is because people migrate and ship/ sent
back guns and money that is then used to start community wars, thief and other major
criminal activates. Migration not only posses these and other problems / disadvantages,
it also presents a number of advantages such as: economic growth, which is seen through
the introduction of multi-nationals and franchise business to the society. These
companies not only prove economical growth but it also offers employment for all levels
of person (skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled).

Migration in Jamaica is both internal (rural to urban) and internationally.

Internal migration that is the movement from villages to towns/ industrial areas. As
common in Jamaica, the reasons for this migration is to obtain a better standard of living
more efficient educational system and more job opportunities etc. this type of migration
although internal still poses numerous problems for the country such as: street people,
over-crowning, high crime rate, increase traffic and strain on resources. Internal
migration not only affects these urban areas but it also affects the rural areas were
immigrate migrate from like, under-population and under development. International
migration is the most common type of migration for males and youth age 20-34 years
(population census). This type of migration mainly influence by high wages, proper
educational opportunities and employment etc. these are know as pull factor. Although
these migrate type may benefit individuals and families. It however affects the Jamaican
society such as brain drain, crime, and illegitimate/ barriers children.

Karl Marx noted sociologist would consider the migration process as bring
leaded by the economic. This is because the individuals would move from their residence
to settle elsewhere because the individual wants a better standard of living, which would
be achieve through high wages and is the most common amounts Jamaican male, who
wants to ensure a better life for their families and friends. The migration process would
then provide his theory that the economic control, the individual. Karl Marx could also
say that individuals/ Jamaicans are in the state of false conscience, by seeing the host
country as even being better equipped with opportunities which then could be used as a
means of capitalism. Functionalists would consider migration as being functional to the
Jamaican society, this is because it would allow cultural diversity in which would keep
society stable. This would also ensure that culture eraser would not occur, the
functionalist would also see migration as means of selling the country history and culture
to the rest of the world, which also holds considerable economic growth for the country.
But on the flip side the conflict theory looks at migration as the clash of different
individuals, cultures and races.

In the Jamaican society today, Marxist and functionalist views are evidently
seen. Jamaica has established itself as having high levels of net migration. In this small
Caribbean island migration is clearly shown dating back throughout history to the now
present advancement in technology, skilled workers and franchises etc. in fact because of
migration this is the reason why the Jamaican society and economic are in its present
state, it was because of this process Jamaica and Jamaican have both benefited and
loosed.
 Biography

John J. Macions and Ken Plummer Second edition

Sociology
A global introduction
2002

Rampersad Ramswak and Ralph R. Umraw...Modules in Social Studies

2002-2003