Banana Wars - Caribbean

April 1999
With the future of the banana business in jeopardy, Caribbean farmers are turning to marijuana production.

Nebo was a banana farmer prepared for the WTO's damming decision. "The more the decline in the banana, the more the production of marijuana. Where there is a market I will plant." And at 2000ft up, away from the gaze of police, the holy herb is flourishing. The hardy marijuana rastas, tending these crops earn 10 to 20 times as much as banana farmers. Tipping up a fertilizer bucket of compressed ganja Bungo proudly displays his cannabis castle worth $20,000. It's a risky business though for not only are the US squeezing the banana industry, they are at the forefront of a Caribbean drugs crackdown. Last December US marines descended from the skies in a wave of helicopter attacks on the illegal ganja fields. They say they destroyed over a million plants. The growers though are unrepentant: "We are concerned about drugs like you are. But you can't expect us to be giving everything and getting nothing in return."

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• trade
• war
• us
• uk
• jamaica
• caribbean
• banana
• farmers
• cannabis
• weed
• plant
• news
• documentary
• current affairs
• journeyman
• journeyman pictures

[utubenamex]

Ultimately, it's not really about America as 'bad guy'. To me, it's the 'big money boys'--large corporate, military, finance and foundation entities that dominate the globe, and whose raison d'etre is to expand their respective spheres of power. For decades, they have largely used the USA as their vehicle, but when it breaks down America as bully-boy for the internationalists will be replaced. The men that are in control could care less about Americans, or anyone else for that matter.

[SCSUguy85]

I'm American... and I hate how America has to think they have to try and conquer everyone, WHAT ever happened to ONE LOVE... Jah and his message of peace... America is stupid we need ppl who have a clue how to help ppl in the world in the white house from now on I'm only buying bananas imported from the Caribbean this is horrible what my nation is doing to them garrr it makes me mad, Peace to all One love. I hope the best for the farmers

[rofalmfao]

Well that might explain all the f*ckin banannas

[Rayconi]

What did these people do before they got dependant on international trade? They lived happily of the land. They did not depend on money at all. It is sad but an inevitable fact that money control every aspect of the human world. We need to come back to the old ways and live of the land, not be dependant on money and luxury products, eventualy, people will see. Lets hope not to late

[WSPUNIT]

america dont stand for freedom it stands for gread it funny how they all say we should help poor countiers to get better job, educastion, health and then try to take away all of it. if they had jobs they would have money and then could afford better educastion and helthbut

[bernardmcbride]

I looked up stuff about the banana wars,the police actions from the early part of the 20th centtury,and i get this

[topshotta124]

@mrjusticesoul St. Vincent and the Grenadines

[kamilko9]

My BANANA! lol

[THEPaintballKidd]

@SCSUguy85 we do have to conquer everyone and take thier money crops and women

[paulinaa473]

whats this song called? (:

[mouse2426]

@19931512 this vid is from over 15 yrs ago.. u should see the clips noww haha

[pennyradp]

They been fighting and destroying development of nearly all developing nations. ultimately they want us to depend on them for everything even to eat their highly un-nutritiuos foods which is making our people sick. We got to do what we got to do to survive.