The Man in the Orange Kayak: Resilience, Resistance, and the Real Jamaica
- Sabrina Candelario
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
Title: The Man in the Orange Kayak: Resilience, Resistance, and the Real Jamaica
By Sabrina Candelario
In the turquoise waters off the coast of a well-known resort in Jamaica, a lone figure paddles steadily toward the shoreline. His kayak — bright orange, scratched by coral, weathered by salt and time — slices through the Caribbean with quiet determination. In it is a man the resort staff would prefer you ignore.
To them, he’s a trespasser. A pirate, to me, he’s a symbol of something far deeper: the unspoken strength of Jamaica’s native people and the systems they are forced to navigate to survive.
The Reality Behind the Resort Wall
Jamaica is known for its warmth — not just in temperature, but in spirit. Yet for many Jamaicans, particularly those born and raised near coastal areas, there exists a quiet war between access and exclusion.
Tourism is the island’s largest income earner, yet very little of that income stays within the communities that serve it. Foreign-owned resorts dominate the coastline, and local vendors like the man in the orange kayak are often criminalized for trying to make an honest living. Security guards, policies, and fences keep “locals” out, protecting tourists from the very culture they came to experience.
This man — a father, a hustler, a sailor of survival — takes to the sea daily to feed his children and protect his dignity. With no formal job opportunities, no land access, and no real governmental support, he finds freedom in the water. The sea, unlike the land, doesn’t ask for permits, resumes, or business licenses.
The Weight of Inequality
Jamaicans like him are often left behind due to a web of challenges:
Limited access to quality education. Rural schools are under-resourced and overburdened. Many students are left without internet, textbooks, or consistent teaching staff.
Mental health support is scarce. The trauma of poverty, violence, and neglect is real — but services are minimal and stigmatized.
Few job opportunities exist without emigration. Young people are encouraged to migrate to the U.S., U.K., or Canada for better pay. Those who remain must “tun yuh han mek fashion.”
🇯🇲 “Wi haffi use wi creativity fi survive.”(We have to use our creativity to survive.)
And they do. Just like this man with his orange kayak, turning plastic into possibility.
The Global Grip: China and the New Colonization
In recent years, Jamaica has found itself wrapped in the grip of Chinese state-backed development projects. Roads, hotels, ports, and stadiums have been funded and constructed by Chinese companies — often using Chinese labor. While these projects bring some infrastructure improvement, the long-term cost is steep:
Land ownership and leases are increasingly falling into foreign hands.
Loan dependency on China has placed Jamaica in a difficult economic position, with fears of sovereignty being compromised.
Small local businesses struggle to compete with foreign-backed megaprojects that don’t reinvest in the community.
This isn’t just a Jamaican issue — it’s a global pattern of neocolonialism. But its impact here is deeply personal.
Locals like the man in the kayak are shut out from the development taking place around them. They see new highways, but no new opportunities. They watch luxury cruise ships dock in ports built with foreign money, while their fishing boats rot from lack of repair.
Resources for Native Jamaicans
While the system is heavy, there are organizations and programs fighting to create change. If you or someone you know is trying to build a life beyond survival, here are some resources that may help:
📘 Education & Youth Empowerment
Jamaica Youth Empowerment through Culture, Arts & Nationalism (JYECAN): Offers mentorship and cultural programs to youth in under-resourced communities.Website: jyecan.org
Edna Manley College of the Visual & Performing Arts: Scholarships and low-cost programs in arts, which can help youth turn talent into income.Website: emc.edu.jm
JAMVAT (Jamaica Values and Attitudes Program for Tertiary Students): Helps cover tuition in exchange for volunteer work.Website: moey.gov.jm
🛠️ Entrepreneurship & Vocational Training
HEART/NSTA Trust: Offers free skills training in everything from carpentry to culinary arts, ideal for those seeking hands-on income.Website: heart-nta.org
JBDC (Jamaica Business Development Corporation): Provides micro-financing, training, and support for small local businesses.Website: jbdc.net
🧠 Mental Health & Social Services
Choose Life International: Offers crisis counseling and suicide prevention services.Website: chooselifeintl.org
Mental Health Unit – Ministry of Health & Wellness: Offers free or low-cost psychiatric services across the island.Website: moh.gov.jm
Final Thoughts: He’s Not a Pirate — He’s a Pillar
The man in the orange kayak isn’t looking for pity. He’s not lazy, illegal, or a threat. He is navigating an ocean far deeper than the water he sails. He’s moving against centuries of colonization, classism, and control — with nothing but paddles made of willpower and tradition.
If you ever find yourself on the shores of Jamaica and see an orange kayak gliding through the surf, take a moment to wave. Better yet, hear his story. Support his hustle.
Because real Jamaica isn’t just in the resorts — it’s in the resilience.
Here's some more photos from the beautiful island 🇯🇲
Comments