Labour Shortage

Labour shortage

After emancipation, the British planters suffered a labour shortage.

The Islands that suffered most were Jamaica and Guyana, these islands

Had Land that was not in use by the estate, islands that suffered least

Were St Kitts and Antigua because these islands were flat and had

Many Plantations. Reason why they had a labour problem is women

Preferred to stay at home to be house wives, many ex-slaves preferred

To work on their own little farms and only returned to work when they

Ran out of capital and ex-slaves worked for fewer hours. Natural disasters

Natural disasters such as hurricane, floods and drought was also a

Problem on the plantation. Hurricane up root plants and destroys carts,

Mills and lots more. Floods causes' soil erosion it also made roads

Impassable. Droughts on the other hand decrease yield from sugar

Cane, killed animals and decrease manure production. Introduction

When emancipation was fully complete the chains of slavery was

Over. The ex-slaves were rejoicing but it was horror for the British

Caribbean planters.

Since emancipation was introduce the slaves knew it

was freedom for them to choose either to leave the plantation or to

Remain and work for the planters, but obviously most ex-slaves

Required freedom and to have they own business in having a

Agricultural estate. What problems were faced by the British Caribbean

Planter's between 1838-1876? Emancipation led planters to have

Difficulties on the sugar plantation Such as labour shortages, lack of

Capital and more.