Cast & crew

Jamaica for Sale

Video
2006
1h 24m

YOUR RATING

Jamaica for Sale (2009, 84mins) is a powerful award winning documentary about the economic, social and environmental impacts of tourism and unsustainable development in Jamaica.
Jamaica is undergoing large-scale all-inclusive hotel development and the construction of luxury gated residential schemes for non-residents. This type of development is highly destructive of the natural environment, depletes precious resources, creates social dislocation and adds little to the local economy.
The Caribbean is the region most economically dependent on tourism and Jamaica is one of the most indebted country in the world. Tourism is Jamaica's Sacred Cow, heavily promoted since 1891 as the way to modernization and prosperity it has tragically failed in its promises. Jamaica For Sale counters the dominant view that tourism is the savior of the Jamaican people. Lively and hard hitting, with powerful voices, arresting visuals and iconic music, filed with wit, wisdom and penetrating observations from the street wise to highly acclaimed academics.
Jamaica for Sale engages with a cross section of Jamaicans: workers who labour for low wages in the tourist industry; small hoteliers and providers of tourism services concerned about the future of the industry; fishermen affected by the increasing development of the coast; citizens alarmed at their exclusion from the beaches and decision making processes that allow for development in their communities; and environmentalists fighting to have the value of the JamaicaÂ’s natural resources recognized. As Jamaica is irreversibly transformed by massive hotel and luxury condominium development, Jamaica For Sale both documents this transformation and is trying to turn the tide. It is a cautionary tale not just for Jamaica, but all islands in the Caribbean, and all places around the world who are dependent on tourism and/or participating in unsustainable development practices.
www.jamaicaforsale.net

Play trailer1:26

The Caribbean is the region most economically dependent on tourism and Jamaica is the 4th most indebted country in the world. Tourism is Jamaica's Sacred Cow, heavily promoted since 1891 as ... Read allThe Caribbean is the region most economically dependent on tourism and Jamaica is the 4th most indebted country in the world. Tourism is Jamaica's Sacred Cow, heavily promoted since 1891 as the way to modernization and prosperity it has tragically failed in its promises. Jamaica ... Read allThe Caribbean is the region most economically dependent on tourism and Jamaica is the 4th most indebted country in the world. Tourism is Jamaica's Sacred Cow, heavily promoted since 1891 as the way to modernization and prosperity it has tragically failed in its promises. Jamaica For Sale counters the dominant view that tourism is the savior of the Jamaican people. Liv... Read all