The region 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 self-reliance of these nations range from Haiti in 1804 to St. Kitts and Nevis in 1983. The largest 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 governments. Many of the previous British nests have parliamentary types 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 belong to the Caribbean Neighborhood (CARICOM), with the exception of the Dominican Republic (which has observer status) and Cuba. CARICOM was formed in 1973 to stimulate regional economic integration. Some critics argue that it has been sluggish to promote combination, compared to other local financial groupings, however development has been made in approaching a single economic market and in establishing a Caribbean Court of Justice.
The six OECS countries likewise share a common currency, the Eastern Caribbean dollar, with monetary policy handled by the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank. The Caribbean Advancement Bank (CDB), headquartered in Barbados, promotes economic development and local integration. With the exception of Cuba and Haiti, regular elections have actually been the standard, and for the a lot of part have actually been complimentary and reasonable. In 2005, Dominica and Suriname held elections in May, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines held elections in December. Haiti was anticipated to hold elections in 2005, however significant problems and political instability led to those elections being delayed numerous times, up until they were ultimately hung on February 7, 2006.
Effective elections eventually were hung 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 federal government.) Although numerous Caribbean nations have actually kept long democratic customs, they are not immune from terrorist and other risks to their political stability. In 1993, stability on St. Kitts was threatened following violent demonstrations after disputed elections; order was brought back with the support of security forces from surrounding states.
Previously in the 1980s, the government of Eugenia Charles in Dominica was threatened by an unusual coup plot involving foreign mercenaries. And of course, Grenada, under the socialist-oriented government of Maurice Bishop, experienced a break from the democratic norm after it presumed power in an almost bloodless coup in 1979 and set up an individuals's revolutionary federal government. After the violent topple and murder of Bishop in 1983, the United States stepped in to bring back order and end the Cuban presence on the island. Lots of Caribbean nations experienced an economic slump in 2001-2002 due to recessions in the tourism and agriculture sectors, although the majority of Caribbean economies have rebounded considering that 2003.
economic recession and sluggish healing. 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 uncertain futures because of the European Union's plan to phase out favored market access from former Caribbean nests for bananas by 2006 and for sugar by 2009. The Haitian economy experienced decline start in 2001, with political instability exacerbating currently hard financial conditions in the hemisphere's poorest nation. The greatest carrying out economies recently have been those of the Dominican Republic, fueled by the apparel sector, and Trinidad and Tobago, with substantial energy resources.
In 2004 and 2005, the area's greatest economic performers 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 Tobago. Those countries not faring well in 2004 since of ravaging cyclones and tropical storms consisted of Haiti, with a 3. 5%% decline in gross domestic item (GDP), and Grenada, with a GDP decline of 3%. For 2005, nevertheless, Grenada's economy rebounded with development over 5%, while Haiti's development was 1. 8%. In Guyana, economic development has been stagnant or minimal over the past a number of years. In 2005, the economy decreased 3% because of high oil rates and floods, which early in the year severely affected farming and mining activities.
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However, some observers have also been concerned about the area's Homepage 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 vary, and include economic, political, and security issues. During the timeshare foreclosure Cold War, security issues tended to eclipse other policy interests. In the consequences of the Cold War, other U.S. policy interests emerged from the shadow of the East-West conflict in the Caribbean that concentrated on issues about the Soviet and Cuban hazard. U.S. policy top priorities moved from one emphasizing security issues to a brand-new concentrate on strengthened economic relations through trade and financial investment.
interest in the Caribbean. The Administration describes the Caribbean as America's "3rd border," with events in the area having a direct effect on the homeland security of the United States. It describes Caribbean countries as "essential partners on security, trade, health, the environment, education, local democracy, and other hemispheric issues." The United States has close relations with many Caribbean nations, with the exception wesley financial group phone number of Cuba under Fidel Castro. The U.S.-Caribbean relationship is identified by comprehensive economic linkages, cooperation on counter-narcotics efforts and security, and a large U.S. foreign help program supporting a range of projects to strengthen democracy, promote financial growth and advancement, minimize hardship, and combat the AIDS epidemic in the region. Custom-mades and Border Protection of the Department of Homeland Security. The CSI program assists guarantee that high-risk containers are recognized and checked at foreign ports prior to they are placed 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 required additional foreign support in order to enhance foreign port security worldwide, however no final action was finished 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 help programs that might facilitate execution of port security antiterrorism measures in foreign countries. The act likewise would have called for a report on the security of ports in the Caribbean Basin, consisting of an evaluation of the efficiency of the steps used to improved security at such ports and an evaluation of the resources and program modifications required to optimize security at Caribbean Basin ports. In the 109th Congress, two bills would offer foreign assistance programs for Caribbean Basin ports.
744 (Nelson, Bill), introduced April 11, 2005, would establish a Caribbean Basin Port Help Program. Under the legal initiative, the Administrator of MARAD in the Department of Transport, in coordination with the Secretary of State, would recognize foreign support programs that could facilitate application of port security antiterrorism procedures at Caribbean Basin ports. The Administrator and the Secretary would develop a program for such support in assessment with the Organization of American States. In addition, the Secretary of Homeland Security would be required to submit a report to Congress on status of port security in Caribbean Basin nations. S. 1052 (Stevens), the Transport Security Enhancement Act of 2005, includes an arrangement (Section 504) that would establish a program to assist in application of port security antiterrorism procedures in foreign nations, with particular focus on ports in the Caribbean Basin; this bill was introduced May 17, 2005, and reported by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transport on February 27, 2006 (S.Rept.
2791 (Stevens), presented May 11, 2006. Increasing criminal offense is a major security challenge throughout the Caribbean. The murder rate in Jamaica continues to soar, with 1,445 individuals killed in 2004 and more than 1,600 people in 2005. With rate of 60 murders per 100,000 occupants in 2005, Jamaica had the greatest murder rate worldwide. In late February 2006, Jamaicans were surprised over the harsh killings of six family members, consisting of 4 kids in the western part of the nation. High levels of violent criminal offense, consisting of murder and kidnaping, likewise have afflicted Trinidad and Tobago and Haiti. Even smaller Caribbean nations like St.
On April 22, 2006, Guyana's Agriculture minister, together with his two siblings and a security guard, were shot and eliminated in an apparent break-in. Gangs involved in drug trafficking, extortion, and violence are accountable for much of the criminal offense. Some observers believe that criminals deported from the United States have contributed to the region's surge in violent criminal activity in current years, although some keep that there is no established link. Jamaica has advocated the advancement of an international procedure concerning the deportation of lawbreakers. A significant issue for Caribbean nationsthe bulk of which are net energy importershas been the increasing cost of oil and the possible impact of such increasing prices on financial growth and social stability.
Of these, only Trinidad and Tobago is a significant oil and gas producer, accounting for 60% of proven oil reserves and 91% of gas reserves in the area. The country is also the largest 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, but still imports a bulk of its consumption requires. Barbados also produces a percentage of oil, which is fine-tuned in Trinidad and Tobago, however it imports 90% of its oil usage requirements. Venezuela is now offering oil to Caribbean nations on preferential terms in a new program understood as Petro, Caribe, and there has been some U.S.
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Given that 1980, Caribbean countries have benefitted from preferential oil imports from Venezuela (and Mexico) under the San Jose Pact, and given that 2001, Venezuela has offered additional support for Caribbean oil imports under the Caracas Energy Accord. Petro, Caribe, however, would go further with the goal of putting in place a regional supply, refining, and transport and storage network, and developing an advancement fund for those countries taking part in the program. Which of the following was eliminated as a result of 2002 campaign finance reforms?. Under the program, Venezuela revealed that it would supply 190,000 barrels each day 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 gets affordable petroleum rates from Trinidad, has actually declined to sign the contract, and Trinidad, which has its own substantial energy resources, has actually declined to sign. (For additional info, 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 exterior of sub-Saharan Africa, has actually currently started to have negative repercussions for economic and social advancement in the region. In 2005, an estimated 300,000 grownups and kids in the Caribbean were reported to be living with HIV, with the epidemic claiming 24,000 lives throughout the year, making it the leading cause of death amongst grownups aged 15-44 years.