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Caribbean Islands
Index
When crown colony rule ended in the mid-1950s, the police were
the sole security and peace-keeping force in the country. Training
was conducted in Barbados and Britain, and until the mid-1960s the
chief of police was British. During the early years of the Leblanc
government, the police functioned primarily as apolitical
protectors of the peace. Nonetheless, with the intensification of
social unrest in the early 1970s, the government perceived a
serious threat to the security of the state. As a result, the
Volunteer Defence Force was established in 1974. This group worked
closely with the police and a unit of special constables to comb
areas of the island suspected to be hideouts for the "dreads," the
term used to describe many of the unemployed youth who had fled to
the hills; several violent and fatal clashes ensued between the
security forces and the youths. In November 1975, a full-time
Defence Force was established by an Act of Parliament. Its role was
"to maintain the integrity of the boundaries of Dominica, to assist
the police force in the maintenance of law and order during civil
disturbance, and to assist with relief at times of natural disaster
as well as to assist with the development of Dominica by productive
means." As prime minister and minister in charge of security, John
assumed direct control over the activities of the Defence Force.
As the months went by, it became clear that John had
personalized his relationship with, and control over, the Defence
Force (he named himself colonel). He also chose to ignore the
deteriorating economic situation of the country, instead
surrounding himself with cronies from Roseau and resorting to a
strategy of confrontation rather than consultation.
After independence on November 3, 1978, the growing arrogance
of the prime minister was surpassed only by the sense of elitism
that was increasingly associated with the style and actions of the
members of the Defence Force. By that time, the main center of
training had shifted away from Britain to Guyana, and a growing
rift appeared between the Force and the police, who continued to be
trained in Barbados and Britain. For the first time, Dominica was
faced with the prospect of a highly politicized military force. It
was well armed and trained, and although it was paid for by the
country's taxpayers, it was accountable to persons who were fast
being discredited.
Following the removal of the John government in June 1979, the
domestic situation remained tense because the Defence Force, widely
assumed to favor the ousted regime, had not been disbanded. Further
complicating the situation, the country's infrastructure and
economy had been destroyed by Hurricanes David and Frederick in
1979. Regionally, the New Jewel Movement had overthrown the
government of Eric Gairy in Grenada by military coup on March 13,
1979, and the Anastasio Somoza regime had been defeated by the
Sandinistas in Nicaragua. Into this situation came the DFP
government on July 20, 1980, soon to be followed by the swearing in
of Reagan as president of the United States and Edward Seaga as
prime minister of Jamaica in January 1981.
On March 17, 1981, Charles announced the discovery of a plot to
overthrow her government. This disclosure led to the arrest of John
along with senior officers of the Defence Force. In April the
Defence Force was disbanded by an Act of Parliament. On December 19
of that same year, an attempt was made by members of the thendisbanded force to free John from prison. This attempt was foiled
by the police and led to the arrest of the persons involved.
The need for internal security was forcefully established by
these dramatic events. Nonetheless, having disbanded the Defence
Force, Charles tried to avoid going back on her position that small
countries like Dominica did not need more than a police force.
Instead the government created the Special Service Unit (SSU)
within the police force. The members of the unit were specially
selected by the government and trained and equipped by the United
States. The SSU constituted Dominica's contingent of the Regional
Security System (RSS--see Appendix E). Although criticized by the
Dominican Liberation Movement Alliance, these moves were welcomed
by the population.
In the meantime, expansion and training of the SSU continued.
Beginning in 1983, large supplies of military equipment were flown
into Dominica regularly. Whereas the regular police, numbering 375
enlisted men and women, continued training in Barbados and Britain,
the 80-member SSU force received all its training from the United
States, and members were authorized to wear special combat uniforms
and gear supplied by the United States.
For the second time in five years, the potential emerged for a
rift between the two branches of the security forces, with unknown
consequences for national stability. In order to remove this
possibility, SSU members were occasionally required to wear police
uniforms and to report for duty along with the regular police.
Special search-and-seize missions for drugs were, however,
entrusted to the SSU, and in the period between April 1981 and
April 1982, thirteen civilian deaths related to this type of
activity were reported by Amnesty International.
Several security-related laws were also passed in Parliament:
the Prevention of Terrorism Act on February 19, 1981; the State
Security Act on February 28, 1984; and a Treason Act on March 19,
1984. These pieces of legislation provided security forces with
broad powers and were ostensibly aimed at preserving national
security. Defense and security expenditures also doubled during the
1980 to 1984 period as compared with the previous four years.
* * *
Lennox Honychurch's The Dominica Story offers an
excellent historical overview of the island. Thomas Atwood's
History of the Island of Dominica provides an account of the
earliest recorded conditions in the colony, including graphic
descriptions of the Caribs, Arawaks, flora and fauna, and early
colonial government. Detailed and fascinating descriptions of the
Caribs can be found in Douglas Taylor's The Island Caribs of
Dominica and The Caribs of Dominica, Anthropology and
Population. A comprehensive treatment of the period from 1800
to 1950, with particular regard to the emergence of social
structures, is presented in W.E. Riviere's Active Resistance to
Slavery in the Caribbean. Extensive economic information can be
found in the World Bank's Dominica: Priorities and Prospects for
Development. Data on current political and social conditions in
Dominica are available in several publications of the Institute of
Social and Economic Research of the UWI and the CDB. (For further
information and complete citations, see Bibliography.)
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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