Barbados Flag

Brief History. Barbados, which was previously uninhabited, was first settled by the British in 1627. It's economy was based on slave labor on the sugar plantations established on the island until 1834 when slavery was abolished. Through the most of the 20th century, its economy remained heavily dependent on sugar, rum, and molasses production. The gradual introduction of social and political reforms in the 1940s and 1950s led to complete independence from the UK in 1966. Tourism and manufacturing surpassed the sugar industry in economic importance in the 1990s.

Antigua and Barbuda Flag

Brief History. The islands of Antigua and Barbuda were first inhabited by the Siboneys in 2400 B.C. Arawak Indians populated the islands when Columbus landed on his second voyage in 1493. Early settlements by the Spanish and French were succeeded by the English who formed a colony in 1667. Slavery, which was established to run the sugar plantations on Antigua, was abolished in 1834. The islands became an independent state within the British Commonwealth of Nations in 1981.

Dominica Flag

Brief History. Before Columbus' voyages to the Caribbean, Dominica was inhabited by Carib indians. Though Spanish ships passed through from then on, the island was actually settled by Europeans in the 17th century and those Europeans were French missionaries. The island came under British rule in 1763. Variously tied to the Leeward Islands, the Windward Islands, and then the West Indies Federation, Dominica embarked upon a political relationship with Britain (1967) which culminated in independence for Dominica in 1978.

Jamaica Flag

Brief History. Jamaican island was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1494 and was settled by the Spannish early in the 16th century. The native Taino Indians, who had inhabited Jamaica for centuries, were gradually exterminated, replaced by African slaves. The abolition of slavery in 1834 freed a quarter million slaves, many of which became small farmers. Jamaica gained full independence when it withdrew from the federation in 1962. Deteriorating economic conditions during the 1970s led to recurrent violence as rival gangs created by the major political parties evolved into powerful organized crime networks involved in international drug smuggling and money laundering.

Grenada Flag

Brief History. Grenada was discovered in 1498 by Columbus. French settled it in 17th century, established sugar estates, and imported large numbers of African slaves. Britain took the island in 1762 and vigorously expanded sugar production. Full independence was attained in 1974 making Grenada one of the smallest independent countries in the Western Hemisphere. Grenada was seized by a Marxist military council on 19 October 1983. Six days later the island was invaded by US forces and those of six other Caribbean nations, which quickly captured the ringleaders and their hundreds of Cuban advisers.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Flag

Brief History. Carib Indians aggressively prevented European settlement on St. Vincent until the 18th century. Beginning in 1719, French settlers cultivated coffee, tobacco, indigo, cotton, and sugar on plantations worked by enslaved Africans. In 1763, St. Vincent was ceded to Britain. Autonomy was granted in 1969 and independence in 1979.

Saint Kitts and Nevis Flag

Brief History. Saint Kitts and Nevis along with Anguilla, both colonies of the United Kingdom, became an associated state with full internal autonomy in 1967. Angullians rebelled, and their island was allowed to separate from the others in 1971. St. Kitts and Nevis achieved independence in 1983. It is the newest sovereign nation of the Americas. In August 1998, a vote in Nevis on a referendum to separate from St. Kitts fell short of the two-thirds majority needed.

Montserrat Flag

Brief History. Montserrat was first settled by English and Irish colonists coming from St. Kitts in 1632. First African slaves arrived three decades later. Through most of the 18th century, the British and French fought for possesion of the island, which resultef in a British winnig possession in 1783. The island's sugar plantation economy was converted to small farm landholdings in the mid 19th century. Much of this island was devastated and two-thirds of the population fled abroad because of the eruption of the Soufriere Hills Volcano that began on 18 July 1995. Montserrat has endured volcanic activity since, with the last eruption occurring in July 2003.

Guyana Flag

Brief History. Guyana was originally a Dutch colony in the 17th century, but became a British possession by 1815. The abolition of slavery led to black settlement of urban areas and the importation of indentured servants from India to work the sugar plantations. This ethnocultural divide has persisted and has led to turbulent politics. Guyana achieved independence from the UK in 1966, and since then it has been ruled mostly by socialist-oriented governments

Saint Lucia Flag

Brief History. Saint Lucia is an independent island nation and one of the Windward Islands. It was first visited by Europeans in about the year 1500 and first colonized successfully by France who signed a treaty with the native Carib peoples in 1660. England then took control of the island from 1663-1667 before going to war with France over it fourteen times. The British finally took complete control of the island in 1814. Representative government came about in 1924 and from 1958 to 1962 the island was a member of The Federation of the West Indies. Lastly, on February 22, 1979 Saint Lucia became an independent state of the Commonwealth of Nations.

Trinidad and Tobago Flag

Brief History. The islands came under British control in the 19th century. Independence was granted in 1962. The country is one of the most prosperous in the Caribbean thanks largely to petroleum and natural gas production and processing. Tourism, mostly in Tobago, is targeted for expansion and is growing.