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Caribbean Islands
Index
Close ties with the United States, Britain, and Canada
traditionally have been of prime importance and have existed at the
political, commercial, and personal levels. After World War II, the
United States, Britain, and Canada all provided economic assistance
to Jamaica through international organizations, private
investments, and encouragement of the idea of West Indian
federation. By the 1950s, the United States and Canada had replaced
the once-dominant British trade role. On August 7, 1962, the day
after independence, Prime Minister Bustamante described Jamaica as
pro-Western, Christian, and anticommunist, and he announced "the
irrevocable decision that Jamaica stands with the West and the
United States."
Independent Jamaica adopted Western models for internal
development and external perspective. Jamaican leaders, recognizing
the strong United States disapproval of Soviet influence in Cuba
and British Guiana (present-day Guyana), rejected the Soviet
alternative. As British influence in Jamaica eroded rapidly
following independence, the United States began paying closer
attention to political events on the island. Beginning with the
seizure of power in Cuba by Fidel Castro, Jamaica's proximity to
both Cuba and the United States raised Jamaica's profile in
American foreign policy circles. Growing United States economic
interest in Jamaica paralleled the former's increasing political
interest. Jamaica sided frequently with the United States in its
United Nations (UN) voting on cold war issues during the first few
years of independence. The nation became visibly less pro-West in
its UN voting beginning in 1965-66, however. Jamaica moved out of
the United States orbit for the first time when it abstained on the
1971 vote to admit China into the UN. According to a survey by
academic researchers, favorable attitudes toward Jamaica's
alignment with Western nations declined from 71 percent in 1962 to
36 percent in 1974.
Nevertheless, during his visit to the United States in 1970,
Prime Minister Shearer declared that his party, the JLP, had
reoriented its foreign relations priority away from Britain to the
United States. Relations between Jamaica and the United States,
Canada, and Britain remained generally friendly. Tensions arose
occasionally, however, over the dominance of foreign firms in the
Jamaican economy in the 1970s, continuing colonial patterns of
trade, racial antagonism, emigration of well-educated Jamaicans to
the United States, and the nation's ambivalent attitude toward the
United States as a global power.
Jamaica's foreign policy orientation shifted again under
Michael Manley, who decided that Jamaicans, in order to solve their
economic problems, needed to break out of their traditional
reliance on the United States and the Commonwealth of Nations.
Jamaican-United States relations were strained after the Manley
government established diplomatic relations with Cuba in late 1972,
at a time when a majority of the Organization of American States
(OAS) had voted against such recognition. In July 1973, the Manley
government declared the United States ambassador, who was a
political appointee, persona non grata; the ambassador had claimed
before a congressional committee that he had made a "deal" with
Manley, promising American support of Manley's candidacy in the
1972 elections in exchange for his promise not to nationalize the
bauxite industry. Also contributing to strained relations were the
Manley government's imposition in mid-1974 of a production levy on
companies producing bauxite in Jamaica and its move to acquire 51-
percent control of the industry (see Role of Government, this ch.);
however, subsequent negotiations largely overcame these issues. In
the late 1970s, Jamaican-United States relations were aggravated
further by Manley's anti-United States rhetoric in Third World
forums, his government's close relations with Cuba, his staunch
support for Cuban interventionism in Africa, and his defense of the
placement of Soviet combat troops in Cuban bases.
After becoming prime minister in 1980, Seaga reversed Jamaica's
pro-Cuban, Third World-oriented foreign policy and began close,
cooperative relations with the United States administration of
President Ronald Reagan. Seaga was the first foreign leader to
visit Reagan following the latter's inauguration in January 1981.
A Stone Poll conducted that month indicated that 85 percent of the
Jamaican electorate supported Seaga's close ties to Reagan. That
year United States aid to Jamaica increased fivefold; it averaged
more than US$125 million a year during the 1981-86 period, but was
cut by 40 percent in 1987 (see External Sector, this ch.). The
Reagan administration made Jamaica the fulcrum of its Caribbean
Basin Initiative (CBI), a program that Seaga helped to inspire (see
Appendix D). Seaga met periodically with Reagan and other senior
United States government officials, during 1980-87, and in April
1982, Reagan became the first United States President to visit
Jamaica. In addition to its pro-CBI stance (see The Economy, this
ch.), Jamaica adopted pro-United States positions on Grenada and
relations with Cuba. The Seaga government favored a return to
principles of dètente in hopes of ensuring the security of small
states, and firmly supported nuclear weapons reductions with
adequate verification. The Seaga government has disagreed strongly
with the United States, however, on two issues in particular: South
Africa and the Law of the Sea Treaty. Jamaica, example, disputed
territorial water boundaries recognized by the United States.
Jamaica's international horizons remained limited mainly to the
United States, Canada, and Britain, with the principal exception of
the 1970s, when Manley's government maintained close relations with
the Soviet Union and Cuba. Although twenty-seven countries had
missions in Kingston in 1985, Jamaica maintained a minimal
diplomatic presence in foreign capitals. Even its most important
missions abroad--in London, Washington, Ottawa, and at the UN--were
kept small. Jamaican ambassadors usually were accredited
concurrently to several countries.
Data as of November 1987
Relations with the United States, Britain, and Canada
Close ties with the United States, Britain, and Canada
traditionally have been of prime importance and have existed at the
political, commercial, and personal levels. After World War II, the
United States, Britain, and Canada all provided economic assistance
to Jamaica through international organizations, private
investments, and encouragement of the idea of West Indian
federation. By the 1950s, the United States and Canada had replaced
the once-dominant British trade role. On August 7, 1962, the day
after independence, Prime Minister Bustamante described Jamaica as
pro-Western, Christian, and anticommunist, and he announced "the
irrevocable decision that Jamaica stands with the West and the
United States."
Independent Jamaica adopted Western models for internal
development and external perspective. Jamaican leaders, recognizing
the strong United States disapproval of Soviet influence in Cuba
and British Guiana (present-day Guyana), rejected the Soviet
alternative. As British influence in Jamaica eroded rapidly
following independence, the United States began paying closer
attention to political events on the island. Beginning with the
seizure of power in Cuba by Fidel Castro, Jamaica's proximity to
both Cuba and the United States raised Jamaica's profile in
American foreign policy circles. Growing United States economic
interest in Jamaica paralleled the former's increasing political
interest. Jamaica sided frequently with the United States in its
United Nations (UN) voting on cold war issues during the first few
years of independence. The nation became visibly less pro-West in
its UN voting beginning in 1965-66, however. Jamaica moved out of
the United States orbit for the first time when it abstained on the
1971 vote to admit China into the UN. According to a survey by
academic researchers, favorable attitudes toward Jamaica's
alignment with Western nations declined from 71 percent in 1962 to
36 percent in 1974.
Nevertheless, during his visit to the United States in 1970,
Prime Minister Shearer declared that his party, the JLP, had
reoriented its foreign relations priority away from Britain to the
United States. Relations between Jamaica and the United States,
Canada, and Britain remained generally friendly. Tensions arose
occasionally, however, over the dominance of foreign firms in the
Jamaican economy in the 1970s, continuing colonial patterns of
trade, racial antagonism, emigration of well-educated Jamaicans to
the United States, and the nation's ambivalent attitude toward the
United States as a global power.
Jamaica's foreign policy orientation shifted again under
Michael Manley, who decided that Jamaicans, in order to solve their
economic problems, needed to break out of their traditional
reliance on the United States and the Commonwealth of Nations.
Jamaican-United States relations were strained after the Manley
government established diplomatic relations with Cuba in late 1972,
at a time when a majority of the Organization of American States
(OAS) had voted against such recognition. In July 1973, the Manley
government declared the United States ambassador, who was a
political appointee, persona non grata; the ambassador had claimed
before a congressional committee that he had made a "deal" with
Manley, promising American support of Manley's candidacy in the
1972 elections in exchange for his promise not to nationalize the
bauxite industry. Also contributing to strained relations were the
Manley government's imposition in mid-1974 of a production levy on
companies producing bauxite in Jamaica and its move to acquire 51-
percent control of the industry (see Role of Government, this ch.);
however, subsequent negotiations largely overcame these issues. In
the late 1970s, Jamaican-United States relations were aggravated
further by Manley's anti-United States rhetoric in Third World
forums, his government's close relations with Cuba, his staunch
support for Cuban interventionism in Africa, and his defense of the
placement of Soviet combat troops in Cuban bases.
After becoming prime minister in 1980, Seaga reversed Jamaica's
pro-Cuban, Third World-oriented foreign policy and began close,
cooperative relations with the United States administration of
President Ronald Reagan. Seaga was the first foreign leader to
visit Reagan following the latter's inauguration in January 1981.
A Stone Poll conducted that month indicated that 85 percent of the
Jamaican electorate supported Seaga's close ties to Reagan. That
year United States aid to Jamaica increased fivefold; it averaged
more than US$125 million a year during the 1981-86 period, but was
cut by 40 percent in 1987 (see External Sector, this ch.). The
Reagan administration made Jamaica the fulcrum of its Caribbean
Basin Initiative (CBI), a program that Seaga helped to inspire (see
Appendix D). Seaga met periodically with Reagan and other senior
United States government officials, during 1980-87, and in April
1982, Reagan became the first United States President to visit
Jamaica. In addition to its pro-CBI stance (see The Economy, this
ch.), Jamaica adopted pro-United States positions on Grenada and
relations with Cuba. The Seaga government favored a return to
principles of dètente in hopes of ensuring the security of small
states, and firmly supported nuclear weapons reductions with
adequate verification. The Seaga government has disagreed strongly
with the United States, however, on two issues in particular: South
Africa and the Law of the Sea Treaty. Jamaica, example, disputed
territorial water boundaries recognized by the United States.
Jamaica's international horizons remained limited mainly to the
United States, Canada, and Britain, with the principal exception of
the 1970s, when Manley's government maintained close relations with
the Soviet Union and Cuba. Although twenty-seven countries had
missions in Kingston in 1985, Jamaica maintained a minimal
diplomatic presence in foreign capitals. Even its most important
missions abroad--in London, Washington, Ottawa, and at the UN--were
kept small. Jamaican ambassadors usually were accredited
concurrently to several countries.
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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