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ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA

Also known as: Motto: Location:

The Island of 365 Beaches. Each Endeavouring All Achieving Located in the Eastern Caribbean at the southern end of the Leeward Islands, 40 km (25 miles) northeast of Montserrat. Columbus landed on Antigua in 1493 and named the island after the church of Santa Maria de la Antigua in Seville, Spain. It was colonised by the English in 1632 and apart from a brief French occupation in 1667, remained British until becoming an 'Associated State' in 1967. The islands attained full independence on November 1, 1981. In the late 18th century the islands served as a major naval dockyard for the British fleet in the Eastern Caribbean. Dame Louise Agnetha Lake-Tack, GCMG, DStJ, Governor-General

History:

Head of state:

Prime Minister:

The Honorable Winston Baldwin Spencer

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THE BAHAMAS
Also known as: The place where worlds meet (Source: The Heraldry of the Commonwealth Caribbean) Forward, Upward, Onward Together The Bahamas is an archipelago state lying about 50 miles off the coast of Florida, extending over 750 miles south-easterly along the coast of Cuba to within 60 miles of Haiti and West of Turks and Caicos Islands. The archipelago comprises about 100,000 square miles with more than 4,000 islands, islets and cays, but it is commonly known as the country of 700 islands. Twenty-nine islands are permanently inhabited. The islands were colonised by the English in the 16th century and was a British Crown Colony from 1717 until internal self-rule in 1964. It gained independence on 10 July 1973. Rt. Hon. Perry G. Christie

Motto: Location:

History:

Prime Minister

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BARBADOS

Also known as:

Land of the Flying Fish

Motto:

Pride and Industry

Location:

Most easterly of the Caribbean islands, approximately 120 km (75 mi) from Saint Lucia and 399 km (200 mi) northeast of Trinidad and Tobago.

History:

First sighted by the Portuguese, but settled by the English in 1627 and remained a British colony until independence in 1966. The Barbados House of Assembly is the third oldest legislature in the Americas, dating from 1639

Capital:

Bridgetown

The Honourable Freundel Stuart, QC MP Prime Minister, Barbados

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BELIZE

Also known as:

Mother Nature's Best Kept Secret

Motto: Under the Shade I Flourish Location: On the Caribbean coast of Central America with Mexico bordering on the north and part of the west, and Guatemala on the southwest. History: Belize was part of the Mayan empire of Central America which flourished between 300 and 900 AD. The country changed hands between Spain and Britain from the early 1600s until 1862 when the country became British Honduras. The country was renamed Belize in 1973 and gained independence in 1981. CAPITAL:BELMOPAN Hon. Dean Oliver Barrow Prime Minister

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DOMINICA
Also known as: Nature Island of the Caribbean (Source: Caribbean Islands Handbook (Footprint Handbooks) 8th ed.)

Motto:

After the Good Lord, we Love the Earth

Location:

The most northerly and largest of the Windward Islands situated between Guadeloupe to the north, and Martinique to the south.

History:

Dominica was occupied first by the Amerindians. It was sighted and named by Christopher Columbus in 1493. The island changed hands several times in the 18th century, but it finally became British in 1805. It was joined to the Leeward, then the Windward Island, and achieved separate status in 1960. Dominica became a British Associate State in 1967, and gained independence on November 3, 1978. hon. Roosevelt Skerrit,

Prime minister

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GRENADA

Also known as:

The Spice Isle

Motto:

Ever Conscious of God We Aspire, and Advance as One People

Location:

The most southerly of the Windward Islands, 135 km (83.8 miles) north of Trinidad and Tobago

History:

Columbus landed on the island in 1498, but the French first settled on the island in 1650. It was alternately ruled by the French and British until 1783 when, under the Treaty of Versailles, the island was ceded to the British. It was joined to the Windward Islands in 1833, and was a part of the West Indies Federation during the period 1958-62. It gained independence on 7 February 1974. The Maurice Bishop Government which came to power in 1979 was toppled by an internal coup in 1983, and an interim government prepared the way for the 1984 elections.

Prime minister

Dr. the Hon. Keith Mitchell

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GUYANA
Known as : Motto : Location: Land of many water One People, One Nation, One Destiny

On the northern coast of the South American continent bounded by the Atlantic Ocean on the north, Brazil to the southwest, Suriname to the east and Venezuela to the northwest. Guyana was originally inhabited by Amerindians. It was settled by the Dutch in the 16th century and changed hands between the Dutch, British and French from the late 16th to early 19th century, and was finally ceded to Britain in 1814. Independence was achieved in 1966 and the Cooperative Republic of Guyana established in 1970. capital : George town

History:

President

H.E. Donald Ramotar

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Haiti

Motto: Location:

L'UNION FAIT LA FORCE (Unity is our strength)

Haiti, a 80% mountainous country, is located on the Western half of the island previously known as Hispaniola, 80 km east of Cuba and 750 miles south-east of Miami (Florida) The Dominican Republic occupies the Eastern two-thirds of Hispaniola History: Columbus encountered the island of Hispaniola, populated by Arawak Indians in 1492. In 1503 the Spanish brought the first African slaves to the island, and in 1697 the colony was ceded to France. In 1791 a voodoo priest by the name of Boukman started an uprising that was to be led by Toussaint L'ouverture, who launched a general slave revolt. Capital: Port au-prince His Excellency Michel Joseph Martelly President

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JAMAICA

Also known Land of Wood and Water as: Motto: Out of Many One People Location: In the Caribbean Sea, 145 km (90 miles) south of Cuba and 160 km (100 miles) west of Haiti. Jamaica was first settled by Amerindians. Columbus visited the island in 1494, and it fell under Spanish possession from 1509-1655, before becoming a British sugar colony. During the social unrest of the 1930s, two major political parties were formed - the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) by Alexander Bustamante, and the People's National Party (PNP) by Norman Manley. Jamaica joined the West Indies Federation in 1958, but withdrew following a referendum in 1961. The country gained independence in 1962. The PNP instituted a democratic socialist government from 1974-80, and the JLP established free-enterprise government from 1980 Kingston
The Most Honorable Portia Simpson Miller

History:

Capital:
Prime minister:

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Montserrat
Also known as: Emerald Isle (Source: Caribbean Islands Handbook (Footprint Handbooks), 8thed) Motto: Each Endeavoring, All Achieving

Location: A British overseas territory in the Leeward Islands, and one of the chains of islands of the Lesser Antilles. It is located 40 km south-West of Antigua. The island is volcanic and mountainous. History: Sighted by Columbus in 1493, Montserrat was settled by Anglo-Irish colonists from 1632. The island fell under French occupation twice, but was otherwise continuously under British rule. In 1967, Montserrat opted for colonial status instead of Associated Statehood. In 1995 the Soufriere Hills Volcano came to life and by 1997 the majority of the population was forced to leave the island. Approximately two thirds of the island, including the capital, Plymouth, and the W.H. Bramble Airport is covered with ash. Only the northern section of the island is now inhabited. The Government now functions from Brades. Capital : Plymouth Prime minister: Honorable Reuben Meade Premier

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Saint Lucia

Also known as:

Helen of the West

Motto: Location:

The Land, The People, The Light Saint Lucia is located in the eastern Caribbean Sea on the boundary with the Atlantic Ocean. Part of the Lesser Antilles, it is located north of the islands of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and south of Martinique. Amerindians were the first inhabitants.. French colonisation began in 1650 and the struggle for possession between the French and English ended in 1815 with the island becoming an English colony. It gained independence in 1979. Castries Dr. The Honourable Kenny D. Anthony

History:

Capital: Prime minister:

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ST KITTS AND NEVIS

Also known as:

Mother Colony of the West Indies (Source: Countries of the world, Internet ed.)

Motto:

Country above Self

Location:

St. Kitts and Nevis is located in the Leeward Islands group in the Eastern Caribbean. A channel of about 3.2 km in width separates the two islands Originally settled by Caribs, and by the British in 1623 who fought with the French for possession. The island was finally ceded to Britain in 1783 and gained independence in 1983. Basseterre

History:

Capital :

The Right Honourable. Dr. Denzil Llewllyn Douglas Prime Minister

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St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Also known as:

Jewels of the Caribbean (Named Hairoun by the Caribs (The Home of the Blessed)) Peace and Justice St. Vincent is situated in the Windward Islands at the lower end of the Caribbean chain; the Grenadines comprise a chain of little islands and rocks between St Vincent and Grenada. It is volcanic and densely forested. St. Vincent and the Grenadines was originally settled by Amerindians. Struggle for possession by the French and the British ended with the British in control in 1783 (apart from French occupation from 1778-1783). The island gained independence in 1979. Kingstown

Motto: Location:

History:

Capital:

Prime Minister

Dr. the Hon. Ralph E. Gonsalves

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SURINAME

Also known as: Motto: Location:

Beating Heart of the Amazon Justitia, Pietas, Fides (Justice, Compassion, Loyalty) Suriname is situated on the north eastern coast of South America. It is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean on the North, Guyana on the West, French Guiana on the East and Brazil on the South.

History:

Amerindians inhabited the country up to the 15th century. Settlers came from England, The Netherlands, France and Germany among others. African slaves, indentured labourers from India, Indonesia and China were brought to Suriname during the 18th century. Struggle for possession by the French, British and Dutch ended with control by the Netherlands in 1815. Slavery was abolished in 1863. The country gained independence in 1975. In February 1980 a military coup brought commander Desi Bouterse into power. In 1987 national elections were held and democracy was restored. In October 1997 an attempt to overthrow the government was foiled. Paramaribo H.E. Desir Delano Bouterse

Capital: President:

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Trinidad and Tobago

Also known as: Motto: Location: Land of the Humming Bird Together we Aspire, Together we Achieve Southernmost islands of the Lesser Antilles. Separated from Venezuela by the 11 km (7 miles) strait of the Gulf of Paria. Trinidad, the larger of the two islands, is 30km (19 miles) from Tobago. Both islands were settled by Amerindians. Trinidad became a Spanish outpost from the late 16th century. French and British settlers; African slaves, indentured labourers came during the 18th century. The two islands became one state in 1888 and gained independence in 1962. In 1976 the twin-island State became a Republic within the Commonwealth with the President as Head of State.
Port-of-Spain

History:

Capital:

Prime Minister

Hon. Kamla Persad-Bissessar