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The area consists of 13 island countries, from the Bahamas in the north to Trinidad and Tobago in the south; Belize, which is geographically situated in Central America; and the two nations of Guyana and Suriname, situated on the north central coast of South America. Many nations in the region share a typical African ethnic and British colonial heritage, while Cuba and the Dominican Republic were Spanish colonies, Haiti was French, and Suriname was Dutch. The dates of independence of these countries range from Haiti in 1804 to St. Kitts and Nevis in 1983. The biggest countries in terms of acreage are Guyana and Suriname, while those with the biggest populations are Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti.
Politically, all Caribbean countries, with the exception of communist Cuba, have actually chosen democratic federal governments. Most of the former British nests have parliamentary types of federal government, with the exception of Guyana, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Suriname, which are republics headed by presidents. In terms of local integration, 14 of the area's independent countries 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 financial combination. Some critics argue that it has been slow to promote integration, compared to other local economic groupings, however development has been made in approaching a single financial market and in establishing a Caribbean Court of Justice.
The six OECS countries likewise share a common currency, the Eastern Caribbean dollar, with financial policy handled by the Eastern Caribbean Reserve Bank. The Caribbean Advancement Bank (CDB), headquartered in Barbados, promotes economic development and local integration. With the exception of Cuba and Haiti, routine elections have actually been the standard, 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, but significant problems and political instability led to those elections being delayed several times, until they were eventually hung on chuck mcdowell nashville February 7, 2006.
Successful elections eventually were held 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 many Caribbean countries have actually preserved 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 contested elections; order was brought back with the support of security forces from neighboring states.
Earlier in the 1980s, the government of Eugenia Charles in Dominica was threatened by a strange coup plot including foreign mercenaries. And of course, Grenada, under the socialist-oriented federal government of Maurice Bishop, experienced a break from the democratic standard after it assumed power in a nearly bloodless coup in 1979 and set up a people's innovative government. After the violent topple and murder of Bishop in 1983, the United States stepped in to restore order and end the Cuban existence on the island. Lots of Caribbean countries experienced an economic slump in 2001-2002 due to declines in the tourist and agriculture sectors, although a lot of Caribbean economies have rebounded considering that 2003.
financial recession and slow healing. The banana and sugar sectors in the Eastern Caribbean were harmed by a hurricane in 2002 and a dry spell in 2003. Both sectors face unsure futures because of the European Union's plan to phase out favored market access from former Caribbean colonies for bananas by 2006 and for sugar by 2009. The Haitian economy experienced decline start in 2001, with political instability exacerbating currently difficult financial conditions in the hemisphere's poorest country. The greatest performing economies in the last few years have actually been those of the Dominican Republic, fueled by the apparel sector, and Trinidad and Tobago, with considerable energy resources.
In 2004 and 2005, the area's strongest economic entertainers averaging growth rates over 5% for those 2 years, were Antigua and Barbuda, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago. Those countries not prospering in 2004 due to the fact that of ravaging cyclones and hurricanes included Haiti, with a 3. 5%% decline in gdp (GDP), and Grenada, with a GDP decrease of 3%. For 2005, nevertheless, Grenada's economy rebounded with development over 5%, while Haiti's development was 1. 8%. In Guyana, economic growth has actually been stagnant or minimal over the previous several years. In 2005, the economy declined 3% due to the fact that of high oil prices and floods, which early in the year badly affected agriculture and mining activities.
However, some observers have also been concerned about the region's high level of public financial obligation, with several Caribbean nations having debt levels that surpass 100% of their GDP. U.S. interests in the Caribbean vary, and include economic, political, and security issues. Throughout the Cold War, security issues tended to eclipse other policy interests. In the aftermath of the Cold War, other U.S. policy interests emerged from the shadow of the East-West dispute in the Caribbean that focused on issues about the Soviet and Cuban risk. U.S. policy concerns moved from one emphasizing security issues to a brand-new focus on strengthened economic relations through trade and financial investment.
interest in the Caribbean. The Administration explains the Caribbean as America's "third border," with occasions in the area having a direct influence on the homeland security of the United States. It describes Caribbean countries as "crucial partners on security, trade, health, the environment, education, local democracy, and other hemispheric issues." The United States has close relations with most 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 help program supporting a variety of tasks to enhance democracy, promote economic growth and advancement, reduce hardship, and fight the AIDS epidemic in the region. Customs and Border Security of the Department of Homeland Security. The CSI program helps ensure that high-risk containers are recognized and checked at foreign ports before they are put on vessels for shipment to the United States. In September 2006, three Caribbean ports became functional 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 legal effort called for extra foreign support in order to improve foreign port security worldwide, however no last action was completed prior to the end of the session.
2279 (Hollings), in September 2004, which would have offered for the Administrator of the Maritime Administration, in coordination with the Secretary of State, to identify foreign help programs that might facilitate application 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, consisting of an assessment of the effectiveness of the procedures used to enhanced security at such ports and an assessment of the resources and program modifications required to maximize security at Caribbean Basin ports. In the 109th Congress, two expenses would offer foreign help programs for Caribbean Basin ports.
744 (Nelson, Expense), presented April 11, 2005, would establish a Caribbean Basin Port Support Program. Under the legislative effort, the Administrator of MARAD in the Department of Transportation, in coordination with the Secretary of State, would identify foreign support programs that might assist in implementation of port security antiterrorism measures at Caribbean Basin ports. The Administrator and the Secretary would develop a program for such help in consultation with the Company of American States. In addition, the Secretary of Homeland Security would be needed to send a report to Congress on status timeshare maintenance fee calculator of port security in Caribbean Basin countries. S. 1052 (Stevens), the Transport Security Enhancement Act of 2005, consists of https://www.chamberofcommerce.com/united-states/tennessee/franklin/resorts-time-share/1340479993-wesley-financial-group a provision (Area 504) that would develop a program to help with implementation of port security antiterrorism procedures in foreign countries, with specific focus on ports in the Caribbean Basin; this expense was presented May 17, 2005, and reported by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transport on February 27, 2006 (S.Rept.
2791 (Stevens), introduced May 11, 2006. Increasing crime is a significant security challenge throughout the Caribbean. The murder rate in Jamaica continues to soar, with 1,445 people eliminated in 2004 and more than 1,600 people 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 surprised over the ruthless killings of six member of the family, consisting of four kids in the western part of the country. High levels of violent criminal activity, consisting of murder and kidnaping, likewise have plagued Trinidad and Tobago and Haiti. Even smaller Caribbean nations like St.
On April 22, 2006, Guyana's Agriculture minister, in addition to his 2 siblings and a guard, were shot and killed in an apparent burglary. Gangs associated with drug trafficking, extortion, and violence are accountable for much of the crime. Some observers believe that bad guys deported from the United States have contributed to the region's rise in violent criminal activity in the last few years, although some maintain that there is no established link. Jamaica has advocated the development of a global protocol regarding the deportation of criminals. A major issue for Caribbean nationsthe bulk of which are net energy importershas been the rising price of oil and the potential effect of such rising prices on financial development and social stability.
Of these, just Trinidad and Tobago is a major oil and gas manufacturer, representing 60% of proven oil reserves and 91% of gas reserves in the area. The country is also the biggest provider of liquified natural gas (LNG) to the United States, accounting for 75% of all U.S. LNG imports. Apart from Trinidad and Tobago, Cuba also produces oil, however still imports a bulk of its intake needs. Barbados also produces a percentage of oil, which is fine-tuned in Trinidad and Tobago, but it imports 90% of its oil intake requirements. Venezuela is now offering oil to Caribbean countries on preferential terms in a new program known as Petro, Caribe, and there has been some U.S.
Because 1980, Caribbean nations have actually taken advantage of preferential oil imports from Venezuela (and Mexico) under the San Jose Pact, and since 2001, Venezuela has offered additional support for Caribbean oil imports under the Caracas Energy Accord. Petro, Caribe, nevertheless, would go even more with the goal of putting in place a regional supply, refining, and transportation and storage network, and establishing an advancement fund for those nations taking part in the program. What does ear stand for in finance. Under the program, Venezuela revealed that it would supply 190,000 barrels each day of oil to the region, with nations paying market rates 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 countries are signatories of Petro, Caribe. Barbados, which already receives discounted petroleum rates from Trinidad, has decreased to sign the agreement, and Trinidad, which has its own substantial energy resources, has actually declined to sign. (For additional information, see CRS Report RL33693, Latin America: Energy Supply, Political Advancements, 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 actually already begun to have negative consequences for financial and social advancement in the region. In 2005, an approximated 300,000 grownups and children in the Caribbean were reported to be dealing with HIV, with the epidemic declaring 24,000 lives during the year, making it the leading cause of death among grownups aged 15-44 years.