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WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
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Caribbean Islands
Index
Relations with Latin American and Caribbean Countries
Barbados played a leading role in Caribbean affairs both before
and after independence. Grantley Adams was an advocate of regional
federation and served as the prime minister of the short-lived West
Indies Federation. As noted earlier, his successor, Barrow, labored
during the immediate preindependence period to pull together the
Little Eight islands. This effort did not reach the stage of formal
union, however, mainly because of the protracted nature of the
negotiations. By the time Britain agreed to continue grant-in-aid
monies, the momentum toward federation had been lost in acrimony.
Barrow marched out of the last negotiating session in April 1965,
taking with him the viability of potential union. Barbados declared
its independence from Britain the following year.
Barrow did not abandon his belief in Caribbean integration
after the collapse of the Little Eight negotiations. Instead, he
helped to shift the regional approach to the concept. As the
islands moved toward independence as separate entities, the notion
of political association lost much of its appeal. The attraction of
economic cooperation was strong, however, given the precarious
economic status of these new ministates. Recognizing this, Barrow
lobbied for the establishment of Carifta as a means of promoting
regional economic viability and as a way of keeping the integration
movement alive. The principle of foreign policy coordination among
Commonwealth Caribbean countries, as advocated by Barrow, was
achieved in theory with the advent of Caricom. Barbados also
advocated the creation of such other regional institutions as the
UWI, the CDB, and the West Indies Shipping Corporation (WISCO--see
Appendix C).
By the time the BLP returned to power in 1976 under the
leadership of Tom Adams, economic integration was an ongoing
process, albeit not a particularly smooth or dynamic one. Adams
maintained the Barbadian commitment to this process and made some
limited efforts to expand beyond Caricom and establish new economic
links with Latin America. Indeed, from 1976 until 1982 Barbadian
foreign policy seemed to be driven primarily by economic
imperatives, such as the promotion of trade (including tourism),
the attraction of capital, and the expansion of domestic industry.
By 1982, however, it was clear that Adams's thinking on
regional policy had begun to focus more on security concerns and
less on political and economic issues. The motivation for this
change in emphasis was the establishment in Grenada of the People's
Revolutionary Government (PRG). From Adams's perspective, the PRG
was a regional aberration that threatened to destabilize other
island governments by its example and rhetoric if not by possible
active support for subversive groups. Barbados' concern over
Grenada surfaced pointedly in 1982 at the third Caricom heads of
government meeting in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. It was there that Adams,
supported by a number of like-minded leaders, pushed for the
alteration of the Caricom treaty to commit members to the
maintenance of parliamentary democracy and the defense of human
rights. PRG leader Bishop, the target of this effort, argued for
the incorporation of economic rights, such as employment, health
care, and education, under the human rights rubric; he also gave
private assurances to the prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago
that Grenada would hold elections, although not necessarily under
the Westminster system. Adams's amendment eventually was rejected
in favor of a declaration affirming Caricom's support for
ideological pluralism and the right of each state to select its own
pattern of development. Although it appeared at the time to be a
foreign policy victory for the PRG, the conference revealed the
uneasiness and divisions within the Caribbean community over the
course of events in Grenada; it also furthered an attitudinal split
as to how best to deal with the situation. This drift was thrown
into sharp relief by the events of October 1983.
Adams was a prime mover in the events that led up to the United
States-Caribbean intervention in Grenada (see Current Strategic
Considerations, ch. 7). The regional relationship most seriously
affected by adverse reaction to the intervention was that of
Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago. The flare-up between the two was
marked by charges and countercharges over the issue of whether or
not Adams had informed Port-of-Spain of the operation in advance of
its execution. At the height of the dispute, the Trinidad and
Tobago envoy to Barbados, who contradicted Adams's claim of prior
notification, was expelled. In contrast to the debate provoked in
other parts of the world by the intervention, the issue of
notification seemed to be the real crux of the argument between
these two states; disagreement over the inherent merit of the
action in Grenada appeared to be a secondary consideration for both
parties. The diplomatic dispute exacerbated already existing
tensions based on Trinidad and Tobago trade restrictions. This
rift, although not deep or irremediable, was not healed within
Adams's lifetime and was employed as a campaign issue by Barrow and
the DLP in their successful return to power in 1986.
Upon his return to the country's leadership, Barrow signaled
his reservations over the previous government's approach to
regional security issues. Despite some rhetorical salvos against
the RSS, the United States, and some more conservative regional
leaders such as Dominica's Mary Eugenia Charles, Barrow took no
substantive action before his death to withdraw Barbados from the
existing regional agreements. It is significant to note, however,
that Grenadian prime minister Herbert Blaize did not request
Barbados to send forces to Grenada in December 1986 to prevent
possible unrest growing out of the verdict in the Bishop murder
trial (see Grenada, National Security, this ch.).
Within the wider Caribbean, Barbados continued to maintain
formal and correct relations with Cuba even after the Grenada
intervention. Barbados, along with Guyana, Jamaica, and Trinidad
and Tobago, had defied both the United States and the Organization
of American States to establish relations with Cuba in 1972 in
keeping with a general commitment to ideological pluralism. The
relationship between Cuba and Barbados since that time, however,
had been decidedly distant, the result perhaps of the competitive
nature of both countries' major export (sugar) and their
incompatible political systems.
Barbadian relations with Latin American countries traditionally
had been limited. Nevertheless, Barbados was one of only two
Commonwealth Caribbean beneficiaries of the 1980 San José Accord
between Mexico and Venezuela (Jamaica being the other), whereby the
two large producers agreed to provide oil at preferential rates to
a number of Caribbean Basin states. Barbados had also benefited
from low-interest loans for infrastructure and housing projects
through another provision of the San José Accord. As of 1986, the
DLP government was reported to be seeking new export markets in
Latin America, particularly in Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela,
apparently perpetuating the efforts of the BLP government.
Along with the other nations of Caricom, Barbados supported the
territorial integrity of Belize in the face of a long-standing
claim by Guatemala. The Barbadian foreign minister held talks with
Guatemala's ambassador to Venezuela in August 1986, presumably on
the subject of Belize as well as the possibility of BarbadianGuatemalan commercial and diplomatic relations. Progress seemed to
be anticipated by both sides after the 1986 assumption of power by
a civilian government in Guatemala.
Data as of November 1987
- Caribbean Islands-Historical Background
- Caribbean Islands-Prosperity and Government Centralization, 1974-81
- Caribbean Islands-Economy
- Caribbean Islands-Agriculture
- Caribbean Islands-Government and Politics
- Caribbean Islands-Tourism
- Caribbean Islands-Political Dynamics
- Caribbean Islands-COUNTRY PROFILE: Turks and Caicos Islands
- Caribbean Islands-Chapter 7 - Strategic and Regional Security Perspectives
- Caribbean Islands-Role of Government
- Caribbean Islands-Labor Force and Industrial Relations
- Caribbean Islands-Role of Government
- Caribbean Islands-Growth and Structure of the Economy
- Caribbean Islands-Political Dynamics
- Caribbean Islands-Economy
- Caribbean Islands-Political Dynamics
- Caribbean Islands-A Regional Security System
- Caribbean Islands-Tourism
- Caribbean Islands-Other Third World Relations
- Caribbean Islands-SOCIAL AND CULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS
- Caribbean Islands-Foreign Relations
- Caribbean Islands-Balance of Payments and Debt
- Caribbean Islands-HEALTH AND WELFARE
- Caribbean Islands-ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
- Caribbean Islands-Role of Government
- Caribbean Islands-FOREIGN RELATIONS
- Caribbean Islands-Education
- Caribbean Islands-Manufacturing
- Caribbean Islands-Relations with the Commonwealth and Others
- Caribbean Islands-Foreign Relations
- Caribbean Islands-COUNTRY PROFILE: St - Christopher and Nevis ST - CHRISTOPHER AND NEVIS
- Caribbean Islands-The Penal System
- Caribbean Islands-The Soviet Presence
- Caribbean Islands-Colonial Heritage HISTORICAL SETTING
- Caribbean Islands-National Security
- Caribbean Islands-COUNTRY PROFILE: Antigua and Barbuda ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
- Caribbean Islands-The Public Security Forces
- Caribbean Islands-Political Systems
- Caribbean Islands-EDUCATION
- Caribbean Islands-Relations with Latin American and Caribbean Countries
- Caribbean Islands-Changes in the Social Base of Political Power POLITICAL INDEPENDENCE
- Caribbean Islands-POPULATION
- Caribbean Islands-Political Dynamics
- Caribbean Islands-Relations with the United States
- Caribbean Islands-Livestock, Fishing, and Forestry
- Caribbean Islands-National Security
- Caribbean Islands-Population
- Caribbean Islands-Education
- Caribbean Islands-ECONOMY
- Caribbean Islands-Banking and Finance
- Caribbean Islands-Foreign Relations
- Caribbean Islands-Health and Welfare
- Caribbean Islands-Geography
- Caribbean Islands-Population
- Caribbean Islands-NATIONAL SECURITY
- Caribbean Islands-Agricultural Sector
- Caribbean Islands-The Barbados Defence Force
- Caribbean Islands-Government and Politics
- Caribbean Islands-Geography
- Caribbean Islands-Economy
- Caribbean Islands-The Police
- Caribbean Islands-The Robinson Government
- Caribbean Islands-United States Preeminence
- Caribbean Islands-External Sector
- Caribbean Islands-Energy
- Caribbean Islands-Education
- Caribbean Islands-POLITICAL TRADITIONS
- Caribbean Islands-THE STRATEGIC SETTING
- Caribbean Islands-Education
- Caribbean Islands-Role of Government
- Caribbean Islands-Foreign Trade and Balance of Payments
- Caribbean Islands-Geography
- Caribbean Islands-Foreign Trade and Balance of Payments
- Caribbean Islands-Government and Politics
- Caribbean Islands-Livestock, Fishing, and Forestry
- Caribbean Islands-Industrial Sector
- Caribbean Islands-Relations with the Commonwealth and Others
- Caribbean Islands-THE COLONIAL PERIOD
- Caribbean Islands-Political Dynamics
- Caribbean Islands-Relations with Communist Countries
- Caribbean Islands-Role of Government
- Caribbean Islands-GEOGRAPHIC SETTING
- Caribbean Islands-Government and Politics
- Caribbean Islands-Macroeconomic Overview
- Caribbean Islands-Sectoral Performance
- Caribbean Islands-National Security
- Caribbean Islands-Natural Gas
- Caribbean Islands-Geography
- Caribbean Islands-Incidence of Crime
- Caribbean Islands-Economy
- Caribbean Islands-COUNTRY PROFILE: Barbados BARBADOS
- Caribbean Islands-The Road to Independence
- Caribbean Islands-PREFACE
- Caribbean Islands -CHAPTER 3 - TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
- Caribbean Islands-Services
- Caribbean Islands-National Security
- Caribbean Islands-Foreign Trade and Balance of Payments
- Caribbean Islands-World War II
- Caribbean Islands-External Sector
- Caribbean Islands-EDUCATION
- Caribbean Islands-Foreword
- Caribbean Islands-Health and Welfare
- Caribbean Islands-The Postwar Strategic Vacuum
- Caribbean Islands-Education
- Caribbean Islands-Regional Security Threats, 1970-81
- Caribbean Islands-Controversial Security Issues
- Caribbean Islands-HEALTH AND WELFARE
- Caribbean Islands-Foreign Assistance
- Caribbean Islands-Chapter 4 - The Windward Islands and Barbados
- Caribbean Islands-ECONOMY
- Caribbean Islands-Population
- Caribbean Islands-Political Dynamics
- Caribbean Islands-Foreign Relations
- Caribbean Islands-Foreign Relations
- Caribbean Islands-Banking, Financial Services, and Currency
- Caribbean Islands-HISTORICAL SETTING
- Caribbean Islands-Education SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS, 1800-1960
- Caribbean Islands-The Post-Williams Era, 1981-86
- Caribbean Islands-The Armed Forces
- Caribbean Islands-Chapter 6 - The Northern Islands
- Caribbean Islands-Relations with the United States
- Caribbean Islands-Sectoral Performance
- Caribbean Islands-Population
- Caribbean Islands-Finance and Banking
- Caribbean Islands-COUNTRY PROFILE: CAYMAN ISLANDS BRITISH DEPENDENCIES: THE CAYMAN ISLANDS AND THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS
- Caribbean Islands-Political Dynamics
- Caribbean Islands-Services
- Caribbean Islands-Political Dynamics
- Caribbean Islands-Education
- Caribbean Islands-Land Tenure and Use
- Caribbean Islands-COUNTRY PROFILE: MONTSERRAT
- Caribbean Islands-Growth and Structure of the Economy
- Caribbean Islands-Population
- Caribbean Islands-Transportation, Communications, and Electricity
- Caribbean Islands-Health and Welfare
- Caribbean Islands-Government and Politics
- Caribbean Islands-Petroleum and Asphalt
- Caribbean Islands-Economy
- Caribbean Islands-Foreign Relations
- Caribbean Islands-Macroeconomic Overview
- Caribbean Islands-The Pre-European Population HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL SETTING
- Caribbean Islands-Macroeconomic Overview
- Caribbean Islands-National Security
- Caribbean Islands-COUNTRY PROFILE: The Bahamas THE BAHAMAS
- Caribbean Islands-Health and Welfare
- Caribbean Islands
- Caribbean Islands-Crops
- Caribbean Islands-National Income and Public Finance
- Caribbean Islands-COUNTRY PROFILE: Dominica DOMINICA
- Caribbean Islands-National Security
- Caribbean Islands-Population
- Caribbean Islands-Political Dynamics
- Caribbean Islands-Trade and Finance
- Caribbean Islands-Chapter 1 - Regional Overview
- Caribbean Islands-Economy
- Caribbean Islands-Labor Organizations
- Caribbean Islands-Revenues
- Caribbean Islands-THE REGIONAL SECURITY SETTING
- Caribbean Islands-Construction
- Caribbean Islands-Manufacturing
- Caribbean Islands-Agriculture
- Caribbean Islands
- Caribbean Islands-ISLANDS OF THE COMMONWEALTH CARIBBEAN
- Caribbean Islands-Health and Welfare
- Caribbean Islands-Geography
- Caribbean Islands-Political Dynamics
- Caribbean Islands
- Caribbean Islands-Relations with Latin American and Caribbean Countries
- Caribbean Islands-National Security
- Caribbean Islands
- Caribbean Islands-COUNTRY PROFILE: ANGUILLA
- Caribbean Islands-NATIONAL SECURITY
- Caribbean Islands-Economy
- Caribbean Islands-THE EUROPEAN SETTLEMENTS
- Caribbean Islands-Balance of Payments and Debt
- Caribbean Islands-INTRODUCTION
- Caribbean Islands-Foreign Relations
- Caribbean Islands
- Caribbean Islands-Banking and Finance
- Caribbean Islands-Current Strategic Considerations
- Caribbean Islands
- Caribbean Islands-Narcotics Crime
- Caribbean Islands-Economy
- Caribbean Islands-Petrochemicals
- Caribbean Islands-Sectoral Performance
- Caribbean Islands-POPULATION
- Caribbean Islands
- Caribbean Islands-The Post-Emancipation Societies
- Caribbean Islands-The West Indies Federation, 1957-62
- Caribbean Islands-Relations with the United States, Britain, and Canada FOREIGN RELATIONS
- Caribbean Islands-Sectoral Performance
- Caribbean Islands-Health and Welfare
- Caribbean Islands-Geography
- Caribbean Islands-Crops
- Caribbean Islands-National Income and Public Finance
- Caribbean Islands-Sectoral Performance
- Caribbean Islands-Precursors of Independence
- Caribbean Islands
- Caribbean Islands-Education
- Caribbean Islands-The Criminal Justice System
- Caribbean Islands-GEOGRAPHY
- Caribbean Islands-Role of Government
- Caribbean Islands-Banking and Finance
- Caribbean Islands-Economic Policy and Management
- Caribbean Islands-Foreign Trade and Balance of Payments
- Caribbean Islands-Political Unrest and Economic Troubles, 1970-73
- Caribbean Islands-Education
- Caribbean Islands-Labor Force and Industrial Relations
- Caribbean Islands-Chapter 5 - The Leeward Islands
- Caribbean Islands -Chapter 2 - Jamaica
- Caribbean Islands-Health and Welfare
- Caribbean Islands-The Governmental System GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
- Caribbean Islands-The Sugar Revolutions and Slavery
- Caribbean Islands-Macroeconomic Overview
- Caribbean Islands-The Cuban Presence
- Caribbean Islands-Geography
- Caribbean Islands-Population
- Caribbean Islands-Land Tenure and Use
- Caribbean Islands-Macroeconomic Overview
- Caribbean Islands-Role of Government
- Caribbean Islands
- Caribbean Islands-Government and Politics
- Caribbean Islands-The Governmental System GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
- Caribbean Islands-Economy
- Caribbean Islands-Industry
- Caribbean Islands
- Caribbean Islands-The Increased Role of the United States
- Caribbean Islands-Population
- Caribbean Islands-Health and Welfare
- Caribbean Islands-Transportation and Communications
- Caribbean Islands-Country profile: Grenada GRENADA
- Caribbean Islands-Iron and Steel
- Caribbean Islands-Geography
- Caribbean Islands
- Caribbean Islands-Banking and Finance
- Caribbean Islands-Postwar Federation Efforts
- Caribbean Islands-Health and Welfare
- Caribbean Islands-Government and Politics
- Caribbean Islands
- Caribbean Islands-Population
- Caribbean Islands-GEOGRAPHY
- Caribbean Islands-Industry
- Caribbean Islands-Consolidation and Economic Hardship, 1962-69
- Caribbean Islands-Patterns of Development
- Caribbean Islands-Geography
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