jan 1, 1972 - People's National Party (Jamaica) begins reforms

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From 1972 to 1980 the People National Party instituted a wide range of reforms with the hopes of improving the economic conditions of the masses. They included the following:

- Free education from primary school to university. This led to the creation of a black professional megaclass.

- Upped the taxes on American owned companies that operated in Jamaica.

- National Youth Service: every kid that finished high school should give a year or two to give back to Jamaican society.

- Minimum wage law (this was particularly impactful for women).

- Overhaul of colonial laws (for example they got rid of the bastardly laws).

- Nationalized the bus company and made the sugar land workers co-ops.

- Set up housing trusts; this allowed poor people to build homes.

These reforms oriented Jamaica externally as being independent of the West. It signified a move towards a new economic order, and solidified Jamaica's position in the Third World.

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