On evoking the economy of Guadeloupe, it is necessary to take into
consideration its colonial past, essentially centred on agricultural
activity. The agricultural sector of the island is in a paradox situation
today: agriculture is extremely visible in terms of workforce and exploited
surface, as well as of typical products of the region (sugar, rum, banana),
yet agriculture accounts for only a feeble 4% of the island’s GDP. This
antinomy is due to an important period of transition begun in the early 80s:
international competition left its mark on the[...]
The island’s economy experienced
two main periods: before and after 1950. Due to history and tradition,
economy before this date was primarily centred on agriculture and the
exploitation of salt mines, similarly to industrial activity on other
islands of the region. Tobacco, indigo, cotton, sugar, coffee and cocoa all
had their periods of glory followed by a respectful downfall in production.
The abolishment of slavery (1848) and changes in international economic
relations rang the knell of the agricultural sector, even though[...]
Population : 381 427 inhabitants after the census of 1999 (359 572 en 1990) ; estimated 393,000 in 2004.
Biggest towns : Fort-de-France (94 049 inhab, 25 % of the population), Lamentin (35 460), Le Robert (21 240), Schœlcher (20 845), Sainte-Marie (20 098).
Population density : 338 inhab./km² (1999, estimated 356 in 2004)
Urban population : 42 %
Active population : 166 400 (2002)
Unemployment rate : 22,4 % ( in 2004 without taking into account « non-declared » revenues. 26,3 % in 2000).
GDP/inhab. : 14 283 € (year 2000)
Total GDP : 5 496[...]
Dominica's economy is above all based on the resources that it gets from its land. Its wet and fertile soil makes for flourishing agriculture. Bananas, vanilla, limes, grapefruit, coffee, cocoa and coconut, were at various times the primary cultivated products for export. Up until now the banana has been the most exported fruit but faced with competition on the international market and the giants in the American market, the banana has to fight to remain in existence. Following the good figures for this year (exports) we are reassured because it[...]
Saint Barthelemy’s economy is based on top-of-the-range tourism, and is thus entirely different from that of Guadeloupe and the Caribbean region in general. It is a dry and barren little island, not ideal for agricultural and industrial activity. Saint Barth’s population had suffered centuries of isolation and poverty before the dawn of tourism, and is now experiencing a boom of salaries and quality of life unheard of in the history of the island.
Saint Barth’s regular customers are a wealthy clientele of mostly North American[...]
Member of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS), Saint Lucia's
economy is still based on agricultural activities
(especially banana; which with fishing represents 5.5 % of GDP), industry
(clothing, fabrics, etc.) and tourism; the latter of the three is
the preponderant sector but industry a sports a certain degree
of diversity. Also note that the island has two fully-equipped ports.
Despite substantial efforts since the 90's, the road ahead
still seems difficult. GDP per inhabitant (5,700
$US) places it in the lowest[...]
The majority of Saint
Vincent’s inhabitants are descendants of African slaves. They mostly live in
coastal regions, as inland areas tend to be rather mountainous, covered by
vast tropical forests.
The development of the tourism sector is on the
rise, though it is still unmatched to agriculture, the dominant force in the
island’s economy, as the soil is extremely fertile due to volcanic activity
in the region. Tropical fruit and vegetables form the basis of the island’s
agriculture and commerce.
Sugarcane is the island’s primary resource, similarly to Guadeloupe’s Grand Terre. Marie Galante was already quite well-known for its sugar and rum in the 18th century, when it prided in disposing of 72 sugar-mills, each belonging to an independent family exploitation.
This old technology was replaced in the middle of the 19th century by four large factories, installed in the centre of the sugarcane plantations: Grande Anse, Robert, Pirogue and Dorot, of which only Grand Anse is still in activity today. Three distilleries out of[...]
