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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 located in Central America; and the two countries of Guyana and Suriname, situated on the north main coast of South America. Many nations in the area share a common 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 independence of these nations vary from Haiti in 1804 to St. Kitts and Nevis in 1983. The biggest nations in terms of land location are Guyana and Suriname, while those with the largest populations are Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti.

Politically, all Caribbean countries, with the exception of communist Cuba, have elected democratic governments. The majority of the previous British colonies have parliamentary kinds 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 region's independent nations come from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), with the exception of the Dominican Republic (which has observer status) and Cuba. CARICOM was formed in 1973 to stimulate local financial combination. Some critics argue that it has actually been slow to promote integration, compared to other local financial groupings, however development has actually been made in moving toward a single financial market and in establishing a Caribbean Court of Justice.

The six OECS countries also share a typical currency, the Eastern Caribbean dollar, with financial policy handled by the Eastern Caribbean Reserve Bank. The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), headquartered in Barbados, promotes financial 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 complimentary and fair. In 2005, Dominica and Suriname held elections in Might, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines held elections in December. Haiti was anticipated to hold elections in 2005, however significant issues and political instability led to those elections being delayed numerous times, till they were ultimately hung on February 7, 2006.

Effective elections ultimately were held on August 28, 2006, without the political violence that some observers had actually expected. 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 government.) Although many Caribbean countries have 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 demonstrations after contested elections; order was brought back with the help of security forces from surrounding 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 presumed power in a nearly bloodless coup in 1979 and set up a people's advanced government. After the violent topple and murder of Bishop in 1983, wesley financial group llc the United States stepped in to bring back order and end the Cuban presence on the island. Numerous Caribbean nations experienced an economic slump in 2001-2002 due to recessions in the tourism and farming sectors, although most Caribbean economies have actually rebounded considering that 2003.

economic 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 deal with unsure futures because of the European Union's strategy to phase out favored market gain access to from former Caribbean nests for bananas by 2006 and for sugar by 2009. The Haitian economy experienced decrease beginning in 2001, with political instability intensifying currently difficult financial conditions in the hemisphere's poorest nation. The greatest carrying out economies over the last few years have actually been those of the Dominican Republic, sustained by the garments sector, and Trinidad and Tobago, with significant energy resources.

In 2004 and 2005, the region's greatest financial entertainers averaging growth rates over 5% for those two years, were Antigua and Barbuda, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago. Those countries not faring well in 2004 since of ravaging typhoons and tropical storms included Haiti, with a 3. 5%% decline in gross domestic product (GDP), and Grenada, with a GDP decrease of 3%. For 2005, nevertheless, Grenada's economy rebounded with growth over 5%, while Haiti's growth was 1. 8%. In Guyana, financial development has been stagnant or very little over the previous numerous years. In 2005, the economy declined 3% because of high oil rates and floods, which early in the year seriously affected farming and mining activities.

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Nonetheless, some observers have actually likewise been concerned about the area's high level of public debt, with numerous Caribbean countries having debt levels that surpass 100% of their GDP. U.S. interests in the Caribbean are varied, and consist of financial, political, and security issues. During 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 danger. U.S. policy priorities moved from one emphasizing security issues to a brand-new concentrate on strengthened economic relations through trade and investment.

interest in the Caribbean. The Administration explains the Caribbean as America's "3rd border," with occasions in the area having a direct influence on the homeland security of the United States. It describes Caribbean nations as "essential partners on security, trade, health, the environment, education, local democracy, and other hemispheric concerns." The United States has close relations with most Caribbean nations, with the exception of Cuba under Fidel Castro. The U.S.-Caribbean relationship is characterized by comprehensive financial linkages, cooperation on counter-narcotics efforts and security, and a large U.S. foreign assistance program supporting a range of tasks to reinforce democracy, promote economic development and advancement, relieve hardship, and combat the AIDS epidemic in the area. Customs and Border Protection of the Department of Homeland Security. The CSI program helps make sure that high-risk containers are determined and checked at foreign ports before they are put on vessels for delivery to the United States. In September 2006, 3 Caribbean ports ended up being functional CSI ports: Caucedo, Dominican Republic; Kingston, Jamaica; and Freeport, Bahamas. Other Latin American ports in the CSI program are the Central American port of Puerto Cortes, Honduras, and the South American ports of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Santos, Brazil. In the 108th Congress, a legislative initiative called for additional foreign support in https://www.pinterest.com/wesleyfinancialgroup/ order to enhance foreign port security worldwide, but no final action was completed prior to completion of the session.

2279 (Hollings), in September 2004, which would have offered the Administrator of the Maritime Administration, in coordination with the Secretary of State, to recognize foreign assistance programs that might facilitate execution of port security antiterrorism steps in foreign nations. The act also would have required a report on the security of ports in the Caribbean Basin, including an evaluation of the efficiency of the measures used to better security at such ports and an evaluation of the resources and program modifications needed to maximize security at Caribbean Basin ports. In the 109th Congress, 2 costs would offer foreign help programs for Caribbean Basin ports.

744 (Nelson, Expense), introduced April 11, wesley mortgage 2005, would develop a Caribbean Basin Port Support Program. Under the legal effort, the Administrator of MARAD in the Department of Transport, in coordination with the Secretary of State, would recognize foreign support programs that might assist in application of port security antiterrorism procedures at Caribbean Basin ports. The Administrator and the Secretary would develop a program for such assistance in consultation with the Organization 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 nations. S. 1052 (Stevens), the Transportation Security Enhancement Act of 2005, includes a provision (Area 504) that would establish a program to assist in implementation of port security antiterrorism procedures in foreign nations, with specific focus on ports in the Caribbean Basin; this costs 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 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 surprised over the brutal killings of 6 household members, consisting of 4 young kids in the western part of the nation. High levels of violent criminal offense, consisting of murder and kidnaping, also have afflicted Trinidad and Tobago and Haiti. Even smaller Caribbean countries like St.

On April 22, 2006, Guyana's Farming minister, in addition to his 2 brother or sisters and a security guard, were shot and eliminated in an obvious robbery. Gangs associated with drug trafficking, extortion, and violence are responsible for much of the criminal offense. Some observers think that wrongdoers deported from the United States have contributed to the region's surge in violent criminal activity in the last few years, although some keep that there is no established link. Jamaica has actually promoted the advancement of an international protocol relating to the deportation of criminals. A significant issue for Caribbean nationsthe majority of which are net energy importershas been the increasing price of oil and the possible effect of such increasing costs on economic growth and social stability.

Of these, only Trinidad and Tobago is a major oil and gas producer, accounting for 60% of proven oil reserves and 91% of natural gas reserves in the area. The nation is likewise the largest provider of liquified natural gas (LNG) to the United States, representing 75% of all U.S. LNG imports. Apart from Trinidad and Tobago, Cuba also produces oil, but still imports a majority of its usage needs. Barbados also produces a small quantity of oil, which is improved in Trinidad and Tobago, however it imports 90% of its oil usage requirements. Venezuela is now using oil to Caribbean countries on preferential terms in a new program referred to as Petro, Caribe, and there has actually been some U.S.

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Since 1980, Caribbean countries have actually gained from preferential oil imports from Venezuela (and Mexico) under the San Jose Pact, and considering that 2001, Venezuela has actually supplied extra assistance for Caribbean oil imports under the Caracas Energy Accord. Petro, Caribe, nevertheless, would go even more with the goal of putting in place a local supply, refining, and transport and storage network, and developing an advancement fund for those countries getting involved in the program. How to finance an engagement ring. Under the program, Venezuela announced that it would provide 190,000 barrels daily of oil to the area, with nations paying market value for 50% of the oil within 90 days, and the balance paid over 25 years at an annual rate of 2%.

To date, 14 Caribbean nations are signatories of Petro, Caribe. Barbados, which already receives reduced petroleum rates from Trinidad, has declined to sign the contract, and Trinidad, which has its own considerable energy resources, has declined to sign. (For additional info, 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 unfavorable consequences for financial and social development in the area. In 2005, an approximated 300,000 grownups and children 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 adults aged 15-44 years.