friendly bajan civil society

while on vacation, i came across an interesting story of fraternal organizations for poor bajans, typically former slaves – friendly societies and the barbados landships. both served a valuable function in the lives of poor bajans.

friendly societies began as church-sponsored underground alternatives to traditional banking. members avoided the political and monetary structures controlled by middle and upper class collusion with government. the societies flourished, and by the early 1920s there were over 260 separate groups on the tiny island. not only serving as co-operative banks, the societies provided a safety net, entitling their working class members to a kind of insurance and even occasionally annual bonuses.

barbados landships emerged similarly in the late 1800s as a strong civil society group as an alternative to - and some say as resistance against - the church-run friendly societies. landships provided a safety net like their competing friendly societies. the landship founder was a member of the royal navy and used its uniforms and rituals as a model for the group.

although for a time forced to go underground because the government disliked the similarities to their navy, the landship still survives. it even has served as an alternate court for its members by settling disputes before bringing them to criminal court.

friendly societies did not survive government intervention as well, and few exist today. in an attempt of the ruling class, mainly plantation owners, to curb friendly societies' voting rights, which were tied to land ownership, legislation soon prohibited these friendly societies from owning more than an acre of land. even the few that still exist are heavily regulated (PDF).

the story of these groups is both heartening and frustrating. one cannot underestimate the ability of individuals to group together and form societies for mutual benefit and provide for each other during times of need. the desire of a ruling class to thwart such efforts, when given the ability through weak or nonexistent barriers between special interests and government, can’t be underestimated either.

Labels: political