Editorial: Breaking the American Fixation: Strengthening Caribbean-Africa Ties

For many in the Caribbean, Africa is rarely a top choice when planning vacations, exploring business opportunities, or considering trade investments. Instead, North America, the UK, and Europe—often glamorised by mass media—seem far more attractive.

The United States, in particular, has replaced the UK as the primary destination for Caribbean migrants seeking better opportunities. It has also become the go-to for shopping, vacations, and education. Whether at home or abroad, Caribbean people are avid consumers of American food, entertainment, news, culture, and even values—sometimes consciously, other times unconsciously.

This deep-rooted American influence has, in some cases, eroded our self-perception and cultural identity. Despite visa restrictions, Caribbean leaders often reinforce America’s appeal with statements like, “America is a friend to the Caribbean,” “We are great trade partners,” and “America is our number one source market for tourism.”

The fear of mass deportations and the potential loss of remittances from the US have also created a sense of dependency. Policies such as Ronald Reagan’s Caribbean Basin Initiative and USAID funding have contributed to the perception of America as the region’s great provider—a protective “big brother” we need.

This fixation on the US is akin to social media addiction—difficult to shift our focus from. But what if we did? What if we redirected our attention to Africa and viewed the continent through a different lens? Many Caribbean people proudly claim African heritage, yet few explore the real opportunities the continent holds for us.

Over decades, Caribbean leaders have signed numerous Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with African counterparts, hosted trade shows, and facilitated cultural exchanges. Yet, there has been little tangible shift toward Africa for trade, tourism, investment, or education.

Ghana’s 2019 Year of Return campaign aimed to attract the African diaspora, offering citizenship and investment opportunities. Hundreds of Black Americans, including celebrities, responded. In the Caribbean, however, only Barbados and Jamaica have made significant moves—exploring direct flights to Ghana and deepening trade ties.

Barbados recently launched a tourism initiative targeting the Ghanaian and broader African market. Jamaica’s stock exchange partnered with Ghana’s, aiming to build stronger economic linkages. In 2023, Jamaica exported $24.2 million in goods—mainly aluminum oxide and fruit juices—to Ghana.

A promising development was the 2023 African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) meeting in The Bahamas, where Caribbean and African heads of state gathered alongside influential Black figures like Viola Davis, Wyclef Jean, Rick Ross, and Boris Kodjoe. The event’s theme—Owning Our Destiny: Economic Prosperity on the Platform of Global Africa—underscored the potential of Caribbean-African collaboration.

Additionally, the Caribbean Export Development Agency signed an MOU with Nigerian private sector organisations, seeking to strengthen trade and investment ties between the Caribbean and West Africa.

The African Union has officially recognised the Caribbean as the sixth region of Africa, signaling immense potential for economic growth, trade expansion, and a much-needed shift in mindset.

However, is this enough to break the illusion that America is the only land of opportunity? Unless the average Caribbean citizen embraces this shift, unless we break free from decades of mental conditioning, and unless there is strong political will, meaningful change will be slow.

Some of the current US administration’s policies—including immigration restrictions, trade tariffs, and cuts to USAID—are forcing the region to reconsider its reliance on America. Yet, many remain fixated on US politics, rather than focusing on how we can build a sustainable future for ourselves.

The Caribbean is more than just sun, sea, and sand. We are rich in oil, gold, diamonds, bauxite, and agriculture. We have GMO-free produce, medicinal plants, vibrant arts, music, and culture. Our greatest resource is our resilience, creativity, and intellectual capital.

Rather than lamenting the loss of US aid, we should view this moment as an opportunity—a chance to reset, rethink, and reimagine our future. How much progress have we truly made in healthcare and education with the ‘crumbs’ we’ve received? How much further could we be if we retained our brightest minds instead of losing them to migration?

We must also question the narratives imposed on us—terms like ‘climate change adaptation’ and ‘resiliency’ often come with donor-imposed conditions that keep us in a cycle of dependency.

Now is the time to dismantle outdated perceptions of Africa as a continent of instability and poverty. Africa has the resources, landscapes, and opportunities that far surpass theme parks and tourist attractions in the West. The continent is ripe for Caribbean partnerships in trade, travel, and economic development. But we must be willing to shift our gaze away from American consumerism and media influence.

Our connection to Africa must go beyond Emancipation Day celebrations, T-shirts with African symbols, or Afrobeat playlists. We owe it to future generations to break mental barriers and push for more. Africa is not just a place of heritage—it is a land of opportunity, and it is time we claim our stake in it.