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 two countries of Guyana and Suriname, located on the north central coast of South America. Many countries in the area 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 countries vary from Haiti in 1804 View website to St. Kitts and Nevis in 1983. The biggest nations in regards to 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. Most of the former 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 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 local economic integration. Some critics argue that it has been sluggish to promote integration, 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 typical 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 been the standard, read more and for the many part have actually 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 anticipated to hold elections in 2005, however substantial issues and political instability resulted in those elections being delayed several times, up until they were ultimately hung on February 7, 2006.

Effective elections eventually were held on August 28, 2006, without the political violence that some observers had prepared for. 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 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 challenged elections; order was restored with the help of security forces from neighboring states.

Previously in the 1980s, the government of Eugenia Charles in Dominica was threatened by a bizarre coup plot involving foreign mercenaries. And obviously, Grenada, under the socialist-oriented 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 advanced federal government. After the violent overthrow and murder of Bishop in 1983, the United States stepped in to restore order and end the Cuban existence on the island. Numerous Caribbean nations experienced a financial slump in 2001-2002 due to recessions in the tourist and farming sectors, although the majority of Caribbean economies have rebounded because 2003.

financial recession and slow healing. The banana and sugar sectors in the Eastern Caribbean were harmed by a hurricane in 2002 and a drought in 2003. Both sectors face uncertain futures in light of the European Union's plan to phase out preferred 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 difficult economic conditions in the hemisphere's poorest nation. The strongest carrying out economies recently have actually been those of the Dominican Republic, sustained by the apparel sector, and Trinidad and Tobago, with considerable energy resources.

In 2004 and 2005, the region's strongest economic entertainers balancing 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 prospering in 2004 since of devastating hurricanes and tropical storms consisted of Haiti, with a 3. 5%% decline in gross domestic product (GDP), and Grenada, with a GDP decrease of 3%. For 2005, however, Grenada's economy rebounded with development over 5%, while Haiti's development was 1. 8%. In Guyana, financial growth has actually been stagnant or minimal over the past numerous years. In 2005, the economy decreased 3% since of high oil costs and floods, which early in the year significantly impacted agriculture and mining activities.

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However, some observers have also been concerned about the area's high level of public financial obligation, with a number of Caribbean countries having financial obligation levels that exceed 100% of their GDP. U.S. interests in the Caribbean are varied, and consist of economic, political, and security issues. During 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 concentrated on concerns about the Soviet and Cuban risk. U.S. policy priorities moved from one emphasizing security issues to a brand-new focus on strengthened economic relations through trade and investment.

interest in the Caribbean. The Administration explains the Caribbean as America's "third border," with events in the region having a direct effect on the homeland security of the United States. It describes Caribbean countries as "important partners on security, trade, health, the environment, education, local democracy, and other hemispheric problems." The United States has close relations with a lot of Caribbean nations, with the exception of Cuba under Fidel Castro. The U.S.-Caribbean relationship is characterized by substantial economic linkages, cooperation on counter-narcotics efforts and security, and a significant U.S. foreign help program supporting a variety of projects to reinforce democracy, promote economic growth and advancement, minimize poverty, and fight the AIDS epidemic in the area. Customs and Border Defense of the Department of Homeland Security. The CSI program assists make sure that high-risk containers are determined and inspected at foreign ports before they are put on vessels for delivery 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. what happens if you stop paying timeshare In the 108th Congress, a legislative initiative required extra foreign support in order to enhance foreign port security worldwide, however no final action was finished prior to the end of the session.

2279 (Hollings), in September 2004, which would have attended to the Administrator of the Maritime Administration, in coordination with the Secretary of State, to determine foreign assistance programs that could assist in implementation 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 assessment of the effectiveness of the procedures utilized to enhanced security at such ports and an assessment of the resources and program modifications needed to take full advantage of security at Caribbean Basin ports. In the 109th Congress, 2 bills would attend to foreign assistance programs for Caribbean Basin ports.

744 (Nelson, Costs), introduced April 11, 2005, would establish a Caribbean Basin Port Assistance Program. Under the legislative initiative, the Administrator of MARAD in the Department of Transport, in coordination with the Secretary of State, would recognize foreign assistance programs that could facilitate implementation of port security antiterrorism steps at Caribbean Basin ports. The Administrator and the Secretary would establish a program for such assistance in consultation 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 (Area 504) that would develop a program to help with application of port security antiterrorism steps in foreign countries, with specific focus on ports in the Caribbean Basin; this bill was introduced May 17, 2005, and reported by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on February 27, 2006 (S.Rept.

2791 (Stevens), introduced May 11, 2006. Rising criminal offense is a significant security challenge throughout the Caribbean. The murder rate in Jamaica continues to skyrocket, with 1,445 individuals eliminated in 2004 and more than 1,600 individuals in 2005. With rate of 60 murders per 100,000 residents in 2005, Jamaica had the greatest murder rate worldwide. In late February 2006, Jamaicans were stunned over the ruthless killings of six household members, consisting of 4 children in the western part of the nation. High levels of violent criminal activity, including murder and kidnaping, likewise have actually afflicted Trinidad and Tobago and Haiti. Even smaller Caribbean countries like St.

On April 22, 2006, Guyana's Farming minister, together with his 2 siblings and a security guard, were shot and eliminated in an apparent burglary. Gangs associated with drug trafficking, extortion, and violence are accountable for much of the criminal offense. Some observers think that lawbreakers deported from the United States have added to the region's surge in violent crime recently, although some keep that there is no recognized link. Jamaica has promoted the advancement of a worldwide protocol relating to the deportation of lawbreakers. A major issue for Caribbean nationsthe bulk of which are net energy importershas been the increasing price of oil and the possible result of such rising rates on economic growth and social stability.

Of these, just Trinidad and Tobago is a major oil and gas producer, representing 60% of tested oil reserves and 91% of gas reserves in the region. The nation is likewise the biggest supplier of liquified gas (LNG) to the United States, representing 75% of all U.S. LNG imports. Apart from Trinidad and Tobago, Cuba also produces oil, however still imports a majority of its consumption needs. Barbados also produces a little amount of oil, which is refined in Trinidad and Tobago, but it imports 90% of its oil usage requirements. Venezuela is now using oil to Caribbean countries on preferential terms in a brand-new program referred to as Petro, Caribe, and there has been some U.S.

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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 actually supplied additional support for Caribbean oil imports under the Caracas Energy Accord. Petro, Caribe, however, would go even more with the goal of putting in location a local supply, refining, and transportation and storage network, and establishing an advancement fund for those countries taking part in the program. How long can i finance a used car. 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 discounted petroleum rates from Trinidad, has decreased to sign the arrangement, and Trinidad, which has its own considerable energy resources, has actually declined to sign. (For additional information, 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 among the greatest beyond sub-Saharan Africa, has already started to have negative consequences for economic and social development in the region. In 2005, an estimated 300,000 adults and children in the Caribbean were reported to be living with HIV, with the epidemic claiming 24,000 lives during the year, making it the leading cause of death among adults aged 15-44 years.