The Three Gas Riots In Jamaica

In 1979, 1985 and 1999, Jamaica experienced three protests which would become known as the "Gas Riots" which were triggered by a hike in fuel prices by the respective governments of the time. In 1979, the Micheal Manley led PNP government announced that as of January 10, the price of premium gas will be increased by 20 cents a gallon; from $3.00 to $3.20 and the price of regular gas will move from the present $2.85 to $3.10 an increase of 25 cents. In 1985, the Edward Seaga led JLP government announced that as of 14 January that the price of a gallon of premium gasoline was to increase from J$8.99 to JS10.90 as well other similarly sharp increases in the prices of diesel, kerosene and cooking gas. In 1999, the PJ Patterson led PNP government would announced a $100 million in new taxes, most by a 30% levy in gas that raised prices from $1.55 to $2.00. All three protests, would see Jamaica be brought to its heel but not all three were successful in making the government roll back these new taxes.

Additional Knowledge:

BOOKS

• Demeaned but Empowered: The Social Power of the Urban Poor in Jamaica by Obika Gray

• Edward Seaga: Clash of ideologies 1930-1980 by Edward Seaga

• Edward Seaga: Hard Road to Travel, 1980-2008 by Edward Seaga

• Modern Blackness: Nationalism, Globalization, and The Politics of Culture in Jamaica by Deborah A. Thomas

• Stabilization and Stagnation in the Jamaican Economy 1972-97: George Beckford Lecture Series 4 by Owen Jefferson

• The Politics of Change: A Jamaican Testament by Michael Manley