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Caribbean Islands
Index
The Commonwealth Caribbean islands make up a large subcomponent
of the hundreds of islands in the Caribbean Sea, forming a wide arc
between Florida in the north and Venezuela in the south, as well as
a barrier between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean (see fig. ___, Regional Map). Varying considerably in size, the islands,
which are the isolated upper parts of a submerged chain of volcanic
mountains, are scattered over thousands of square kilometers of
sea. The entire region lies well within the northern tropics.
The three principal geological formations found throughout the
Caribbean are igneous and metamorphic rocks, limestone hills or
karst, and coastal, sedimentary plains of varying depths, resulting
in three prevailing types of topography, found either separately or
in combination. The first consists of high (over 1,200 meters),
rugged, sharply dissected mountains--such as the Blue Mountains in
eastern Jamaica, the Morne Diablotins in central Dominica, the
Pitons in St. Lucia, and the Northern Range in Trinidad--all
covered with dense, evergreen rain forests and cut by swiftly
flowing rivers. The second typography consists of very hilly
countryside, such as the high plateau of central Jamaica, or the
islands of St. Kitts, Antigua, and Barbados. There the hills seldom
rise above 600 meters and are more gently sloped than the high
mountains, but karst areas are still rugged. Finally, the coastal
plains skirt the hills and mountains, with their greatest
extensions usually on the southern or western sides of the
mountains. Active volcanoes exist in Dominica, St. Vincent, and St.
Lucia, and there are crater lakes formed by older activity in
Grenada. All the islands have rugged coastlines with innumerable
inlets fringed by white or dark sands (depending on the rock substratum ) of varying texture. The beaches of Negril, Jamaica, and
Grand Anse, Grenada, have fine-textured white sands that extend for
nearly eleven kilometers each.
The Caribbean climate is tropical, moderated to a certain
extent by the prevailing northeast trade winds. Individual climatic
conditions are strongly dependent on elevation. At sea level there
is little variation in temperature, regardless of the time of the
day or the season of the year. Temperatures range between 24°C
and
32°C. In Kingston, Jamaica, the mean temperature is 26°C,
whereas
Mandeville, at a little over 600 meters high in the Carpenters
Mountains of Manchester Parish, has recorded temperatures as low as
10°C. Daylight hours tend to be shorter during summer and
slightly
longer during winter than in the higher latitudes. The conventional
division, rather than the four seasons, is between the long rainy
season from May through October and the dry season, corresponding
to winter in the northern hemisphere.
Even during the rainy period, however, the precipitation range
fluctuates greatly. Windward sides of islands with mountains
receive much rain, whereas leeward sides can have very dry
conditions. Flat islands receive slightly less rainfall, but its
pattern is more consistent. For example, the Blue Mountains of
eastern Jamaica record around 558 centimeters of rainfall per year,
whereas Kingston, on the southeastern coast, receives only 399
centimeters. Bridgetown, the capital of Barbados, has an average
annual rainfall of 127 centimeters, while Bathsheba on the central
east coast receives 254 centimeters--despite the fact that
Bathsheba is only about 27 kilometers away by road. Recording
stations in the Northern Range in Trinidad measure some 302
centimeters of rainfall per year, while at Piarco Airport on the
Caroni Plains the measurement is only 140 centimeters. Most of the
rainfall occurs during short heavy outbursts during daylight hours.
In Jamaica, about 80 percent of the rainfall occurs during the day.
The period of heaviest rainfall usually occurs after the sun has
passed directly overhead, which in the Caribbean islands would be
sometime around the middle of May and again in early August. The
rainy season also coincides with the disastrous summer hurricane
season, although Barbados, too far east, and Trinidad and Tobago,
too far south, seldom experience hurricanes.
Hurricanes are a constant feature of most of the Caribbean,
with a "season" of their own lasting from June to November.
Hurricanes develop over the ocean (usually in the eastern
Caribbean) during the summer months when the sea surface
temperature is high (over 27°C) and the air pressure falls
below
950 millibars. These conditions create an "eye" about 20 kilometers
wide, around which a steep pressure gradient forms that generates
wind speeds of 110 to 280 kilometers per hour. The diameter of
hurricanes can extend as far as 500 to 800 kilometers and produce
extremely heavy rainfalls as well as considerable destruction of
property. The recent history of the Caribbean echoes with the names
of destructive hurricanes: Janet (1955), Donna (1960), Hattie
(1961), Flora (1963), Beulah (1967), Celia and Dorothy (1970),
Eloise (1975), David (1979), and Allen (1980).
The natural resources of the Commonwealth Caribbean islands are
extremely limited. Jamaica has extensive deposits of bauxite, some
of which is mined and processed locally into alumina, with the
United States being the largest market for the bauxite and alumina.
In addition, Jamaica has large quantities of gypsum. Trinidad and
Tobago has petroleum, pitch, and natural gas. Small,
noncommercially viable deposits of manganese, lead, copper, and
zinc are found throughout most of the islands. Nevertheless, most
of the territories possess nothing more valuable than beautiful
beaches, marvelously variegated seas, and a pleasant climate
conducive to the promotion of international tourism.
Industrialization varies from territory to territory, but
agriculture is generally declining on all the islands. The sugar
industry, once the mainstay of the Caribbean economies, has
faltered. Although the labor force employed in sugar production
(and in agriculture in general) still forms the major sector of the
employed labor force in Barbados and Jamaica, the contribution that
sugar makes to the gross domestic product (GDP--see Glossary) has
steadily dropped. Barbados has kept its sugar industry going, but
it has steadily reduced dependence on sugar exports and diversified
its economy. For example, in 1946 Barbados had 52 sugar factories
producing nearly 100,000 tons of sugar and employing more than
25,000 persons during crop-time. Although production had increased
by 1980, the number of factories had declined to eight, and the
number employed was slightly less than 9,000. Furthermore, the
proportion of GDP contributed by sugar and sugar products had
declined from 37.8 percent to 10.9 percent over the same period.
Since the 1950s, light manufacturing, mining, and processing of
foods and other commodities have been used to bolster employment
and increase the local economies. Although these sectors have been
important contributors to the GDP of the individual states, in no
case does this contribution exceed 20 percent of the total.
Moreover, industrialization has provided neither sufficient jobs
nor sufficient wealth for the state to offset the decline in
agricultural production and labor absorption.
The Commonwealth Caribbean islands, like the rest of the region
(except Cuba), find themselves in a difficult trading situation
with the United States. From the regional perspective, the United
States accounts for between 20 and 50 percent of all imports and
exports. On the other hand, the Commonwealth states account for
less than 1 percent of all United States imports and exports and
less than 5 percent of the more than US$38 billion of overseas
private investment in the Western hemisphere. But the interest in
the Commonwealth Caribbean islands cannot be measured in economic
terms only. The Caribbean is clearly within the American sphere of
interest for political and strategic considerations that defy
economic valuation.
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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