Higglering: The backbone of Jamaica’s internal market system
 Higglering is by no means a new phenomenon in Jamaica. This occupation dates back to the time of slavery. During this time, slaves, mostly those from the rural areas, were allowed to have their own provision grounds so that they could grow their own food. They often planted more than what was needed by their families and so were given allowance to sell their surplus produce. As a result, it was customary for the male slaves to cultivate and maintain the farms while the female slaves took the surplus produce to the market to sell or trade on Sundays which was their only day off from work.
The first markets in Jamaica were established on larger sugar plantations or at prominent road junctions. Here, slaves from various plantations gathered to sell their produce. Each vendor, exclusive of those who walked around the market to sell their produce, had a ‘special’ spot in the market form which they sold each week. This allowed their customers to find them easily each week. In addition to being their place of work, markets also served as social centres for the slaves. They used this opportunity to communicate freely with each other, a privilege that would have been otherwise denied by their owners.
Slave owners sometimes used their slaves, especially those who were unskilled, as part-time higglers for themselves or for other traders who sought to hire additional help. However, despite the fact that they were slaves, higglers enjoyed some freedom of movement at the market. They were relatively independent at this time, being given control over the sale of the provisions and all cash or kind dealings. Consequently, these higglers, who were predominantly women, attained some amount of status within the local community. They were recognized for their contributions to the internal marketing system.
There were two main categories of higglers: town or urban higglers and country or rural higglers. The urban higgler usually bought produce from the rural higglers or traded their manufactured goods for the latter’s fresh produce. The rural higgler would bring produce from the country to be sold in the urban markets.
Traditional market garb included a bandana head tie and an apron with two large pockets to the front where receipts from the day’s sale were usually kept. No higgler would also be complete without her large market basket, also called bankra, which was used to transport and display the goods. Market scenes often showed market women balancing baskets on their heads as this was a popular sight. Others carried trays instead of baskets whilst others made makeshift stalls to display and sell their goods.
Over the years, the higglering trade expanded. No longer did higglers remain in one place to peddle their goods, but they also traveled to other places in Jamaica, via land or sea, to sell their goods. This proved to be more profitable to the slave higgler, however, it proved to be a threat to the established white tradesmen as the slave higglers provided much competition for them. So, in order to curtail this expansion, several pieces of legislation were passed which restricted the sale of goods by slave higglers. Some laws restricted the hours of trading in the established market; others dictated that higglers obtain licenses for trading. One piece of legislation was passed by the St. Catherine Vestry which prohibited slave higglers from selling or retailing plantation provisions, poultry, fruit, vegetables, grass and corn within that area. As time passed the measures became more rigid which climaxed in the passing of legislation in 1834 which banned the selling of goods on Sundays which resulted in the discontinuation of Sunday Markets.
During the post-emancipation period, there seemed to have been an increase in the number of higglers in the island. This was mainly due to the fact that it was one of the few jobs the newly-freed slaves knew how to do, outside of farming. The freed slaves then had total control over their trade. They could plant what they wanted, sell what they wanted, for how much they wanted and to whom they wanted. Having been given their freedom, some slaves also became owners of plots of land and were then referred to as peasants. They also began to form links with other black traders.
Higglering is still a thriving business in Jamaica and it still maintains some of the characteristics of the trade from the time of slavery. The trade still is a very important component in Jamaica’s economy; it is still dominated by women and there are still common spaces in which the trade is carried out. However, several changes have also occurred over the years. Higglers now do not only sell agricultural produce, but a whole range of products including clothing, accessories and household items. Those that travel overseas to procure these items are referred to as Informal Commercial Importers (ICIs). Though some may argue otherwise, there has been some improvement in the status of the ICIs also. Several of them have managed to work their way into communities which were traditionally occupied by middle and upper class persons. They drive expensive vehicles and live a life that is superior to many.
Whatever your views may be, it can not be denied that higglers provide a very essential service and so should be shown appreciation for their contributions.
References
1. Brodber, Erna. Making a living in Jamaica 1923-1980. Institute of Social and Economic Research. U.W.I., Mona: Kingston
2. Durant-Gonzales, Victoria. The Occupation of Higglering. In Jamaica Journal, Vol. 16
No. 3. Institute of Jamaica Publications: Kingston, Aug. 1983.
3. Maxwell, John. The Higgler. In A Tapestry of Jamaica: the Best of Skywritings 1972-2002. Creative Communications Inc. Ltd.: Kingston, 2003.
4. Simmonds, Lorna. Slave Higglering in Jamaica 1780-1834. In Jamaica Journal, Vol. 20 No. 1. Institute of Jamaica Publications: Kingston, Feb.-Apr. 1987.
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