The area 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 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 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 nations, with the exception of communist Cuba, have actually chosen democratic governments. Many of the previous British colonies have parliamentary kinds 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 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 financial combination. Some critics argue that it has been sluggish to promote combination, compared to other regional economic groupings, but progress has actually been made in moving towards a single financial market and in Article source developing a Caribbean Court of Justice. The 6 OECS nations likewise share a common currency, the Eastern Caribbean dollar, with financial policy managed by the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank. The Caribbean Advancement Bank (CDB), headquartered in Barbados, promotes financial advancement and regional combination. With the exception of Cuba and Haiti, routine elections have actually been the norm, 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, but significant issues and political instability resulted in those elections being postponed a number of times, till they were eventually hung on February 7, 2006. Successful elections ultimately 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 government.) Although lots of Caribbean countries have 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 help of security forces from neighboring states. Previously in the 1980s, the government of Eugenia Charles in Dominica was threatened by an unusual coup plot including foreign mercenaries. And obviously, Grenada, under the socialist-oriented federal government of Maurice Bishop, experienced a break from the democratic norm after it presumed power in a nearly bloodless coup in 1979 and installed a people's revolutionary federal government. After the violent topple and murder of Bishop in 1983, the United States intervened to restore order and end the Cuban presence on the island. Numerous Caribbean countries experienced an economic downturn in 2001-2002 due to slumps in the tourist and agriculture sectors, although a lot of Caribbean economies have actually rebounded because 2003. financial recession and slow healing. The banana and sugar sectors in the Eastern Caribbean were damaged by a hurricane 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 gain access to from previous Caribbean colonies for bananas by 2006 and for sugar by 2009. The Haitian economy experienced decrease start in 2001, with political instability worsening currently tough economic conditions in the hemisphere's poorest nation. The greatest performing economies recently have 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 economic 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 nations not prospering in 2004 because of ravaging hurricanes and hurricanes consisted of Haiti, with a 3. 5%% decline in gdp (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 development has actually been stagnant or very little over the past a number of years. In 2005, the economy declined 3% because of high oil rates and floods, which early in the year badly impacted farming and mining activities. Everything about What To Do With A Finance Major
However, some observers have actually likewise been worried about the region's high level of public financial obligation, with a number of Caribbean countries having debt levels that go beyond 100% of their GDP. U.S. interests in the Caribbean are diverse, and include economic, political, and security concerns. During the 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 dispute in the Caribbean that focused on issues about the Soviet and Cuban hazard. U.S. policy top priorities moved from one highlighting security issues to a 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 events in the region having a direct influence on the homeland security of the United States. It describes Caribbean nations as "vital partners on security, trade, health, the environment, education, regional 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 comprehensive economic linkages, cooperation on counter-narcotics efforts and security, and a significant U.S. foreign support program supporting a variety of tasks to reinforce democracy, promote financial development and development, alleviate hardship, and fight the AIDS epidemic in the region. Customs and Border Security of the Department of Homeland Security. The CSI program assists ensure 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 became 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 help in order to enhance foreign port security worldwide, but no final action was completed before 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 identify foreign support programs that might facilitate execution of port security antiterrorism procedures in foreign nations. The act likewise would have called for a report on the security of ports in the Caribbean Basin, including an assessment of the efficiency of the procedures used to enhanced security at such ports and an assessment of the resources and program changes required to take full advantage of security at Caribbean Basin ports. In the 109th Congress, 2 costs would provide for foreign support programs for Caribbean Basin ports. 744 (Nelson, Expense), presented April 11, 2005, would develop a Caribbean Basin Port Support Program. Under the legal initiative, the Administrator of MARAD in the Department of Transportation, in coordination with the Secretary of State, would recognize foreign assistance programs that could assist in application of port security antiterrorism procedures at Caribbean Basin ports. The Administrator https://www.inhersight.com/companies/best/reviews/telecommute?_n=112289508 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 required to send 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 facilitate application of port security antiterrorism steps in foreign countries, with specific emphasis on ports in the Caribbean Basin; this bill was presented 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. Rising criminal offense is a significant security challenge throughout the Caribbean. The murder rate in Jamaica continues to skyrocket, 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 greatest murder rate in the world. In late February 2006, Jamaicans were stunned over the ruthless killings of six member of the family, consisting of four children in the western part of the nation. High levels of violent criminal activity, consisting of murder and kidnaping, likewise have pestered Trinidad and Tobago and Haiti. Even smaller Caribbean countries like St. On April 22, 2006, Guyana's Agriculture minister, in addition to his two siblings and a guard, were shot and killed in an obvious burglary. Gangs associated with drug trafficking, extortion, and violence are accountable for much of the criminal activity. Some observers believe that criminals deported from the United States have added to the area's rise in violent crime over the last few years, although some preserve that there is no established link. Jamaica has promoted the advancement of a worldwide procedure relating to the deportation of lawbreakers. A major issue for Caribbean nationsthe bulk of which are net energy importershas been the rising cost of oil and the prospective result of such rising prices on financial growth and social stability. Of these, just Trinidad and Tobago is a significant oil and gas manufacturer, accounting for 60% of tested oil reserves and 91% of gas reserves in the area. The nation 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, but still imports a majority of its consumption needs. Barbados also produces a small amount of oil, which is improved in Trinidad and Tobago, but it imports 90% of its oil consumption needs. Venezuela is now using oil to Caribbean countries on preferential terms in a new program understood as Petro, Caribe, and there has actually been some U.S. Some Ideas on What Jobs Can I Get With A Finance Degree You Should Know
Considering that 1980, Caribbean countries have actually taken advantage of preferential oil imports from Venezuela (and Mexico) under the San Jose Pact, and because 2001, Venezuela has actually offered additional assistance for Caribbean oil imports under the Caracas Energy Accord. Petro, Caribe, nevertheless, would go further with the goal of putting in location a local supply, refining, and transport and storage network, and establishing an advancement fund for those nations taking part in the program. How to finance an investment property. Under the program, Venezuela announced that it would provide 190,000 barrels per day of oil to the area, with countries 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 countries are signatories of Petro, Caribe. Barbados, which currently gets discounted petroleum rates from Trinidad, has actually declined to sign the contract, and Trinidad, which has its own significant energy resources, has decreased to sign. (For additional information, see CRS Report RL33693, Latin America: Energy Supply, Political Developments, and U.S. Policy Approaches, by wesley timeshare exit [author name scrubbed], [author name scrubbed], and [author name scrubbed]) The AIDS epidemic in the Caribbean, where infection rates are among the highest beyond sub-Saharan Africa, has actually currently begun to have negative repercussions for economic and social development in the region. In 2005, an estimated 300,000 adults and children in the Caribbean were reported to be dealing 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.
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