Factors That Negatively Affect Caribbean Development

The Caribbean is considered a Third-World region or a collection of Less Developed Nations. In broad terms, development can be viewed in social, economic and political dimensions. Every region has development issues to routinely overcome. The Caribbean region has obstacles to development that are peculiar to the region. These issues are of a cultural, economic, geographic and social nature.

1) Small markets

The population of the states associated with CARICOM is between 6 and 7 million. The Caribbean market is a small one even if you include non-English speaking territories. This fact reduces the market potential for conglomerates and limits the emergence of dominant Caribbean enterprises. Even indigenous large business entities in the Caribbean face constraints of growth and expansion.

2) Resource-dependent and tourism based economies

Caribbean economies are highly dependent on both tourism and natural resource-exploitation. This makes the Caribbean region more vulnerable to economic downturns in more developed nations. While this is the norm in the interconnected global market, the Caribbean economies are hardly self-sufficient- relying on imports for necessitates. Regional governments seem content with using what they are lucky to have instead of developing other sectors and creating more tradable goods.

3) Retrograde education system

Under colonial rule, the education system was designed to meet the needs of colonial masters. They were geared towards getting people to sustain the "plantation economy" and serve the public sector. The education system hasn't changed much since colonial times and fails to produce enough citizens who are innovative and entrepreneurial. The static education system is one of the reasons for the perceived 'culture of dependency'.

4) Exploitation and division under colonial rule

The Caribbean's resources were pillaged during the colonial era. Once the colonial powers had their fill, they left. Further to that, they created division among different groups within the region as part of the 'divide and conquer' principle. While they left the Caribbean with a model of civilization, they really were not interested in ensuring the development of the nations of the West Indies outside of their self-interest.

5) Climactic factors - hurricanes

The Caribbean is right in the middle of the hurricane belt. Islands across the archipelago have been devastated by hurricanes and setback by tropical storms. The recurrent infrastructural damage places a real burden on both economic and social development.

6) Political fragmentation

From 1958 to 1962, a Caribbean federation was in existence. The idea was that the islands under British rule would form a single political unit. However, insularity and parochial considerations took root and the federation dissolved- after just four years. This political setback further stymied the economic and social integration of the small Caribbean islands. Even current attempts to unify politically and economically are futile or protracted.

7) Migration of skilled workers and professionals

Many West Indians- skilled or unskilled- leave these shores to head for the more developed countries of North America or Europe. The problem is that the best and the brightest of the Caribbean are highly likely to migrate, or study abroad and remain there. This phenomenon- known as 'brain drain'- effectively deprives the Caribbean of its best technocrats, intellectuals, skilled workers and professionals.

8) Lack of meritocracy

In a small place, it is very difficult to be unknown. Unfortunately, the culture of the Caribbean is not one that emphasises achievement based on merit. While the idea of complete meritocracy is an ideal, it is at least implemented to a greater or lesser extent in other cultures. Cronyism and nepotism hinder political and economic development since the best-qualified do not hold the positions that they merit.

9) Crime

Some countries in the Caribbean have the highest crime rates in the world. This is a result of myriad factors- including the illegal drugs and firearms trade that uses the Caribbean as a handy trans-shipment point. Crime affects tourism and direct foreign investment. It also changes the way of life for large sections of the Caribbean population.

There are indeed several factors that hinder Caribbean development. Arguably the most significant of those would be the cultural or economic. Little can be done about natural disasters or the remnant colonial fetters of the region. What is important to note is that the Caribbean territories are young independent nations that are still finding their feet. Encouragingly, overcoming the factors that negatively impact Caribbean development is not impossible- albeit difficult.