The region includes 13 island countries, from the Bahamas in the north to Trinidad and Tobago in the south; Belize, which is geographically located in Central America; and the 2 nations of Guyana and Suriname, located on the north main coast of South America. Many countries in the region share a typical African ethnic and British colonial heritage, while Cuba and the Dominican Republic were Spanish nests, Haiti was French, and Suriname was Dutch. The dates of self-reliance of these nations range from Haiti in 1804 to St. Kitts and Nevis in 1983. The biggest countries in regards to land location are Guyana and Suriname, while those with the biggest populations are Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti.
Politically, all Caribbean nations, with the exception of communist Cuba, have chosen democratic federal governments. The majority of the previous British nests have parliamentary forms of government, with the exception of Guyana, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Suriname, which are republics headed by presidents. In regards to regional combination, 14 of the area's independent nations come from the Caribbean Neighborhood (CARICOM), with the exception of the Dominican Republic (which has observer status) and Cuba. CARICOM was formed in 1973 to spur regional economic integration. Some critics argue that it has actually been sluggish to promote combination, compared to other local financial groupings, but development has actually been made in approaching a single financial market and in establishing a Caribbean Court of Justice.
The 6 OECS countries also share a common currency, the Eastern Caribbean dollar, with monetary policy managed by the Eastern Caribbean Reserve Bank. The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), headquartered in Barbados, promotes financial development and regional combination. With the exception of Cuba and Haiti, regular elections have been the norm, and for the most part have been free and fair. In 2005, Dominica and Suriname held elections in Might, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines held elections in December. Haiti was expected to hold elections in 2005, however significant issues and political instability resulted in those elections being postponed several times, up until they were eventually held on February 7, 2006.
Successful elections ultimately were hung on August 28, 2006, without the political violence that some observers had anticipated. Looking ahead, parliamentary elections are due in St. Lucia by December 2006, while elections in the Bahamas, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago are due in 2007. (See for a listing of leaders and elections for head of federal government.) Although lots of alternative to timeshare Caribbean nations have actually kept long democratic traditions, they are not immune from terrorist and other dangers to their political stability. In 1993, stability on St. Kitts was threatened following violent protests after challenged elections; order was brought back with the help of security forces from neighboring states.
Earlier in the 1980s, the federal government of Eugenia Charles in Dominica was threatened by a bizarre coup plot involving foreign mercenaries. And naturally, Grenada, under the socialist-oriented federal government of Maurice Bishop, experienced a break from the democratic norm after it presumed power in an almost bloodless coup in 1979 and installed an individuals's revolutionary federal government. After the violent overthrow and murder of Bishop in 1983, the United States intervened to bring back order and end the Cuban existence on the island. Lots of Caribbean countries experienced a financial slump in 2001-2002 due to downturns in the tourist and farming sectors, although the majority of Caribbean economies have rebounded considering that 2003.
economic recession and slow recovery. The banana and sugar sectors in the Eastern Caribbean were damaged by a tropical storm in 2002 and a drought in 2003. Both sectors deal with unsure futures because of the European Union's strategy to phase out favored market access from previous Caribbean nests for bananas by 2006 and for sugar by 2009. The Haitian economy experienced decline beginning in 2001, with political instability intensifying already difficult financial conditions in the hemisphere's poorest country. The greatest performing economies in current years have actually been those of the Dominican Republic, sustained by the garments sector, and Trinidad and Tobago, with substantial energy resources.
In 2004 and 2005, the region's greatest economic entertainers averaging development rates over 5% for those two years, were Antigua and Barbuda, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, Suriname, and Trinidad and https://www.bintelligence.com/blog/2020/2/17/34-companies-named-2020-best-places-to-work Tobago. Those nations not faring well in 2004 since of devastating cyclones and tropical storms included Haiti, with a 3. 5%% decrease in gross domestic item (GDP), and Grenada, with a GDP decline of 3%. For 2005, however, Grenada's economy rebounded with development over 5%, while Haiti's growth was 1. 8%. In Guyana, economic growth has actually been stagnant or very little over the previous numerous years. In 2005, the economy decreased 3% since of high oil prices and floods, which early in the year significantly affected agriculture and mining activities.
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Nevertheless, some observers have also been worried about the region's high level of public financial obligation, with several Caribbean nations having financial obligation levels that exceed 100% of their GDP. U.S. interests in the Caribbean are diverse, and include financial, political, and security concerns. Throughout the Cold War, security issues tended to eclipse other policy interests. In the after-effects of the Cold War, other U.S. policy interests emerged from the shadow of the East-West dispute in the Caribbean that focused on concerns about the Soviet and Cuban risk. U.S. policy concerns shifted from one stressing security concerns to a new focus on strengthened financial relations through trade and financial investment.
interest in the Caribbean. The Administration explains the Caribbean as America's "3rd border," with occasions in the region having a direct effect on the homeland security of the United States. It explains Caribbean nations as "crucial partners on security, trade, health, the environment, education, regional democracy, and other hemispheric issues." The United States has close relations with many Caribbean countries, with the exception of Cuba under Fidel Castro. The U.S.-Caribbean relationship is identified by substantial economic linkages, cooperation on counter-narcotics efforts and security, and a large U.S. foreign support program supporting a range of projects to reinforce democracy, promote economic development and advancement, minimize hardship, and fight the AIDS epidemic in the area. Customs and Border Defense of the Department of Homeland Security. The CSI program helps make sure that high-risk containers are determined and examined at foreign ports prior to they are put on vessels for shipment to the United States. In September 2006, three Caribbean ports ended up being operational CSI ports: Caucedo, Dominican Republic; Kingston, Jamaica; and Freeport, Bahamas. Other Latin American ports in the CSI program are the Main American port of Puerto Cortes, Honduras, and the South American ports of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Santos, Brazil. In the 108th Congress, a legislative effort called for extra foreign support in order to enhance foreign port security worldwide, however no last action was finished prior to the end of the session.
2279 (Hollings), in September 2004, which would have supplied for the Administrator of the Maritime Administration, in coordination with the Secretary of State, to identify foreign assistance programs that might assist in execution of port security antiterrorism measures in foreign nations. The act likewise would have required a report on the security of ports in the Caribbean Basin, including an assessment of the efficiency of the steps employed to enhanced security at such ports and an assessment of the resources and program modifications required to optimize security at Caribbean Basin ports. In the 109th Congress, 2 costs would offer foreign support programs for Caribbean Basin ports.
744 (Nelson, Expense), introduced April 11, 2005, would establish a Caribbean Basin Port Assistance Program. Under the legislative effort, the Administrator of MARAD in the Department of Transportation, in coordination with the Secretary of State, would determine foreign help programs that might facilitate implementation of port security antiterrorism measures at Caribbean Basin ports. The Administrator and the Secretary would establish a program for such assistance in assessment with the Company of American States. In addition, the Secretary of Homeland Security would be needed to submit a report to Congress on status of port security in Caribbean Basin countries. S. 1052 (Stevens), the Transportation Security Improvement Act of 2005, includes a provision (Section 504) that would establish a program to assist in implementation of port security antiterrorism steps in foreign nations, with particular focus on ports in the Caribbean Basin; this expense was introduced May 17, 2005, and reported by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on February 27, 2006 (S.Rept.
2791 (Stevens), presented May 11, 2006. Increasing criminal offense is a significant security challenge throughout the Caribbean. The murder rate in Jamaica continues to skyrocket, with 1,445 individuals killed in 2004 and more than 1,600 individuals in 2005. With rate of 60 murders per 100,000 inhabitants in 2005, Jamaica had the highest murder rate in the world. In late February 2006, Jamaicans were stunned over the ruthless killings of six member of the family, including four children in the western part of the country. High levels of violent criminal activity, including murder and kidnaping, also have plagued Trinidad and Tobago and Haiti. Even smaller Caribbean countries like St.
On April 22, 2006, Guyana's Agriculture minister, along with his 2 siblings and a guard, were shot and killed in an evident robbery. Gangs involved in drug trafficking, extortion, and violence are responsible for much of the crime. Some observers believe that crooks deported from the United States have actually contributed to the region's rise in violent criminal offense in current years, although some preserve that there is no established link. Jamaica has promoted the advancement of an international protocol concerning the deportation of wrongdoers. A significant issue for Caribbean nationsthe majority of which are net energy importershas been the rising rate of oil and the possible effect of such increasing prices on economic growth and social stability.
Of these, only Trinidad and Tobago is a major oil and gas manufacturer, accounting for 60% of proven oil reserves and 91% of gas reserves in the region. The country is likewise the biggest supplier of liquified gas (LNG) to the United States, accounting for 75% of all U.S. LNG imports. Apart from Trinidad and Tobago, Cuba also produces https://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/8/prweb9766140.htm oil, however still imports a majority of its usage needs. Barbados likewise produces a percentage of oil, which is refined in Trinidad and Tobago, however it imports 90% of its oil intake requirements. Venezuela is now using oil to Caribbean countries on preferential terms in a new program called Petro, Caribe, and there has actually been some U.S.
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Considering that 1980, Caribbean nations have benefitted from preferential oil imports from Venezuela (and Mexico) under the San Jose Pact, and considering that 2001, Venezuela has offered additional support for Caribbean oil imports under the Caracas Energy Accord. Petro, Caribe, however, would go even more with the goal of putting in place a regional supply, refining, and transport and storage network, and developing a development fund for those nations getting involved in the program. What does leverage mean in finance. Under the program, Venezuela announced that it would supply 190,000 barrels each day of oil to the region, with nations paying market value for 50% of the oil within 90 days, and the balance paid over 25 years at a yearly rate of 2%.
To date, 14 Caribbean nations are signatories of Petro, Caribe. Barbados, which already gets affordable petroleum rates from Trinidad, has decreased to sign the agreement, and Trinidad, which has its own significant energy resources, has decreased to sign. (For extra details, see CRS Report RL33693, Latin America: Energy Supply, Political Developments, and U.S. Policy Approaches, by [author name scrubbed], [author name scrubbed], and [author name scrubbed]) The AIDS epidemic in the Caribbean, where infection rates are amongst the highest beyond sub-Saharan Africa, has already started to have unfavorable effects for financial and social development in the region. In 2005, an estimated 300,000 adults and kids in the Caribbean were reported to be living with HIV, with the epidemic declaring 24,000 lives throughout the year, making it the leading cause of death amongst grownups aged 15-44 years.