Wore details have bacoma availablo of tho plan by the Jamiiean Labour Party to fingerprint the people of Jamaica which was previously reported in the Bulletins
The Unemployed Yorkers Council, a militant organisation founded in March, 1962, has denounced the fingerprinting and photographing scheme as + the latest example of direct interference by the American imporialists in the political affairs of Jamaica, The government of Jamaica announced thet all voters must be fingerprinted and photographed in order to oxercise their voting rights. Jamaica became indopondent in April, 1962, Since then the government has been in the hands of the so-called Jamaican Latour Party, 5 hoaded by Sir Alexander Bustamente, The Dustanente government, ruling now ’.. without British arms to back it up, has institutud the plan to Image? all * voters as a means of controlling the country's political lifc.
The $400,000 contract for the technical side of the job went to an American company, the Shoup Corporation, The Unemployed Yorkerz; Council has alléged that the Central Intelligence A;ency, well skilled in such matters, will be working with the American firm and that tho information thus gathered will find its way into the U.S. embussy's files, This to be usod to inter'veno in Jamaican politics against those who oppose the increasing Amoricen domination of the countrys Sinec independence, Jamaica's ties with tho U.S, have grown closer, The Jamaican reprosentativeshas voted with the U.S. on all important questions in the UNO. Jamaica has not established diplonativ relations with Cuba, its closest neighbour; and the U.5. has shipped over $1 miilion in arms to the Bustamente rogimos
The Unemployed Yorkers Council which declares itself to be in the tradition of Marcus Garvey and the African freedom movoment as well as being pro-socialist, compared the scheme to South Africa's pasaport syatem and described the dangers inherent in it, "The various youth,-workers, peasants and revolutionary groupings dedicated to the struggle against oppression, will now be brought under close scrutiny and thoir patriotic activities sup e"prossed from tima to time,
"Progressive ond militant workers employed in Government services and big compnies,w. will be easily framed to eet rid of them from their employment. Political victimisation and discrimination would becone ruthless. Civil rights would be seriously ourtailed and thousands more would be added to the list of thoso who are doniol passports for various reasons.
"Above all, an atmosphore of insecurity against our conscience as froe-men would prevail and the adverse psychology to bow to the authority ef the oppressors would be encouraged." The UWC called for an all-out poyeott of the finger-printing-photographing schemes Calling on all citizens to defent their rights, they pointed out that a majority boycott would scotch the whole sj):ome, ' i