Formerly a British colony off the United States coast.

The Arawak Indians inhabited the islands when visited by Columbus in 1492 as his first landfall. They were taken as slaves leaving the islands uninhabited when the English arrived. First English settlement was in 1648. Piracy was common among the islands in the later 17th century. They were made a British (rather than proprietary) colony in 1717 in order to suppress pirates. Some loyalists from the mainland migrated there on American independence.

They became independent in 1973. There is no source of wealth other than tourism and smuggling. During prohibition the islands were a base for smuggling alcohol into the United States; now the same is true of drugs.

Presumably the islands are in practice under the influence of the US which would invade if ever there was believed to be a need. The majority of the population is of African descent.

English

Creole

Multi-party elected government, but the opposition does not win. The government is reputed to be rather corrupt and was before independence.

Tourism, fishing, drug smuggling, mafia. See Cayman Islands for details of tax dodging and money laundering.

Coral reef bleaching observed. Believed to be an effect of rising temperatures, perhaps of the greenhouse effect.

One in 80 are infected with HIV following crack epidemic and great promiscuity.

Increased danger of hurricanes.