| The terrorist attacks of 2001 produced several | | | | quarter of Americans possess a passport, predict |
| marked alterations in the global foreign policy of the | | | | that this will have an adverse effect on travel to the |
| world's remaining superpower. The United States | | | | region. The Bush administration's introduction of the |
| narrowed its definition of national security to focus | | | | Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, fully |
| predominantly on anti-terrorism, assessing most other | | | | implemented by June 1, 2009, will have a profound |
| policy priorities in terms of their perceived | | | | effect on how travel is conducted by Americans |
| contribution to that overriding goal. The United States | | | | within the Caribbean reason being many of whom |
| has also shown a new willingness to take the initiative | | | | were accustomed to traveling with a birth certificate |
| in world affairs, sometimes leading to a unilateralism | | | | or driver's license. |
| that irks some other nations. The application of these | | | | The administration argues that the adjustments will |
| worldwide policies in sub-regions relatively divorced | | | | be minimal and that the transition will be smoother |
| from major terrorist incidents such as the Caribbean | | | | than anticipated. We must take cognizance that |
| can be unbending and severe. | | | | tourism plays a vital role in the economy of the |
| As a matter of fact, the impact of 9/11 on the | | | | Caribbean. The World Travel and Tourism Council |
| Caribbean has been diverse in many ways. In effect, | | | | estimated that tourism in 2005 accounted for 4.5% |
| one multi-faceted and crucial event exerted a | | | | or U.S. $8.7 billion of the regional GDP and that this |
| complex impact upon a social, economic and political | | | | figure is estimated to grow to approximately 5.2% or |
| process that has become deeply interwoven into the | | | | U.S. $18.4 billion by 2014. Clearly, a shift in American |
| score of nations surrounding the Caribbean basin. The | | | | policy will and must have a profound impact based |
| attacks on 9/11 has reshaped U.S. policy towards the | | | | upon the sizeable amount of visitors to the region by |
| region in a number of areas, from trade to migration, | | | | Americans. It should be noted here that since 9/11, |
| travel restrictions, tourism, financial aid, military | | | | although tourism in the Caribbean has been growing, |
| assistance, drug interdiction and foreign policy in | | | | the rate of growth has been on the decline, i.e. 7.1% |
| terms of intervention in areas of volatility. | | | | in 2003, 6.9% in 2004 and 3.5% in 2005. |
| While the focus of this paper is on the effects of 9 | | | | In terms of regional security, some experts have |
| 11 on the formulation of U.S. policy towards the | | | | accused the United States of turning its back on the |
| Caribbean and the resulting consequence, we must | | | | Caribbean since 9/11. In 2003, the majority of |
| take a look at the reshaping of U.S. policy globally, | | | | Caribbean states failed to support the Bush |
| namely that:o Anti terrorism has replaced anti | | | | Administration's call for war with Iraq. This, together |
| communism as the 21st century's all-purpose rationale | | | | with Washington's concentration on the War on |
| for providing U.S. military aid, weapons and training to | | | | Terror has left the region without the full support of |
| foreign militaries;o U.S. security assistance is on the | | | | the various agencies of the U.S. government. Their |
| rise since 9/11, flowing to an ever widening pool of | | | | focus has shifted primarily to Homeland Security and |
| states; ando Several key restrictions on arms sales | | | | the War on Terror. This perceived lack of attention |
| and military aid have been waived or dismissed to | | | | on the Caribbean has left many Heads of |
| make way for the new anti terrorism aid. | | | | Government uneasy, especially with its own battle |
| Some experts in international relations have now | | | | against crime, namely the drug trade. |
| contemplated that this new shift in foreign policy by | | | | The U.S. support for the war on drugs within the |
| the United States has led to the rise of key | | | | region has remained stagnant since 9/11. More |
| problems, particularly:o Other geo-strategic policies | | | | emphasis is now being placed on security at ports of |
| that would have faced harsh criticism in the pre- 9/11 | | | | call, especially those close to the U.S. mainland like the |
| world - such as counter insurgency aid or protecting | | | | Bahamas. As a matter of fact, the United States has |
| U.S. access to oil sources are now being approved in | | | | mandated the Bahamian Government to install more |
| the name of counter terrorism;o Anti terrorism is | | | | modern equipment at its port in Freeport as an |
| triumphing all other foreign policy concerns, opening | | | | added security measure to check cargo before |
| the way for new relations with repressive regimes; | | | | entering Miami in particular. Attention has also shifted |
| ando U.S. aid, arms and training related to counter | | | | to the transportation of energy based material into |
| terrorism may destabilize tense regions. | | | | the United States as fears exist within intelligence |
| In light of the convergence of U.S. foreign policy over | | | | circles that a next attack on the United States might |
| the years from the Monroe to Truman Doctrines, the | | | | come via this method. |
| start of the Cold War, U.S. and the Third World, | | | | For the years 2001 to 2003, United States military |
| Reagan's rearmament and the fall of Communism, an | | | | and economic assistance to Bahamas, Belize, the |
| examination of this latest shift upon the states of | | | | Eastern Caribbean, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica and Trinidad |
| the Caribbean is required in order to establish a | | | | and Tobago was estimated at U.S. $41.56 million. |
| framework by which these small satellite countries | | | | Allocation to the same countries for the period 2004 |
| must now engage the world's remaining established | | | | to 2006 was estimated at $36.59 million, a decrease |
| superpower. | | | | of approximately U.S. $4.7 million. Add this to the fact |
| In terms of trade, the Caribbean has suffered at the | | | | that military assistance was temporarily withdrawn by |
| hands of stalled talks in of the Free Trade Area of | | | | the United States to Barbados, St. Vincent and the |
| the Americas. Originally slated to achieve significant | | | | Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago since these |
| progress in 2005 and implementation by 2008, the | | | | countries did not agree to shield U.S. soldiers from |
| FTAA would have been a major forum by which the | | | | prosecution under the International Criminal Court and |
| Caribbean states could have gained access to | | | | one would be at ease to pontificate a somewhat less |
| hemispheric markets. Since 9/11, and given the | | | | than enthusiastic approach on the part of the |
| dispute between Brazil and the United States over | | | | American government in dealing with security issues |
| subsidies in agriculture among other issues, we have | | | | within the region. As a footnote, it should be noted |
| witnessed a proliferation of trade talks with the | | | | that the vast majority of military assistance to Latin |
| United States engaging more frequently in regional | | | | America and the Caribbean post 9/11 went to the |
| and bilateral discussions rather than at the | | | | Colombian anti-kidnapping programme. |
| multi-national level [F.T.A.A.]. | | | | Although the United States was the leading power in |
| At the Third Meeting of Foreign Ministers of the | | | | restoring President Jean Bertrand Aristide [Haiti] in |
| Caribbean and the then Secretary of State of the | | | | 1994 and in 2001 and the fact that some experts |
| United States Colin Powell, held on February 7 2002 in | | | | contend that they had a hand in his removal in 2004, |
| Nassau, Bahamas, the Foreign Ministers of the | | | | the United States since 9/11 has adopted a |
| Caribbean Community [CARICOM] and the Dominican | | | | somewhat reduced role for itself in Haiti, with the |
| Republic, placed trade and investment issues firmly at | | | | Canadians and the French taking the lead in the |
| the top of the agenda. They reminded the United | | | | establishment of a United Nations Stabilization Mission |
| States of the significant advantage it has been | | | | in Haiti [MINUSTAH] in June 2004. The U.S. has |
| enjoying in its balance of trade with the Caribbean | | | | engaged in a policy of retreat in Haiti, namely |
| since the establishment of the Caribbean Basin | | | | because the state posses no terrorist threat to the |
| Initiative in 1983. The events of 9/11 and their ripple | | | | United States and in the fact that it lacks sources of |
| effects on Caribbean economics also found their | | | | energy, particularly oil and natural gas. This is a far |
| place on the agenda. . The impact on Caribbean | | | | cry from U.S. policy prior 9/11 especially when one |
| tourism and travel industry and the diversion of | | | | takes into account the invasion of Grenada in 1983 |
| scarce resources from development priorities to new | | | | and the Bay of Pigs [Cuba] in 1961. |
| security demands were of particular concern. | | | | The aftermath of 9/11 has added some new |
| The United States, pursuant to Article IX: 3 of the | | | | tensions to U.S. political relations with major Caribbean |
| Marrakesh Agreement establishing the World Trade | | | | states, while somewhat exacerbating existing strains. |
| Organization on February 24 2005 requested an | | | | The longstanding overall pattern of the United States' |
| extension of the existing waiver of the provisions of | | | | preponderant political influence in the region [with the |
| the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act of 1983 | | | | exception of Cuba] has not been altered. Instead, the |
| and the amendments covered under the Caribbean | | | | limited frictions that form part of that asymmetry in |
| Basin Economic Recovery Expansion Act of 1990. | | | | power have been augmented somewhat. Perhaps |
| This expansion is valid up to September 30, 2008. | | | | paradoxically, though Cuba is the United States' major |
| This was standard procedure and reflects to a | | | | adversary, Havana has developed the region's most |
| certain degree, the United States' ambivalence | | | | institutionalized migration relations with the |
| towards creating a more vigorous policy for the | | | | Washington. A series of formal agreements initiated |
| Caribbean post 9/11. This is a particularly prudent | | | | in 1984 and modified most recently in 1995, have |
| observation given the expectations of a more | | | | committed the U.S. to issue at least 20 000 immigrant |
| dynamic relationship between the two areas following | | | | visas per year to Cuba citizens and to return |
| the Caribbean/United States Summit - "Partnership | | | | unauthorized migrants to Cuba who have been |
| for Prosperity and Security in the Caribbean" on May | | | | intercepted at sea. |
| 10, 1997 in Bridgetown, Barbados. | | | | Since 9/11, migration relations between Jamaica and |
| As a matter of fact, the United States began placing | | | | the U.S. have been placed under stress by reductions |
| more emphasis in terms of trade negotiations with | | | | in visa issuance and by Jamaican concerns that their |
| Central American nations as signaled by the signing of | | | | nation's chosen course in other realms of foreign |
| the Central American Free Trade Agreement on May | | | | policy may have proved costly in the field of |
| 28, 2004. Although U.S. exports to the Caribbean | | | | migration. Despite assurances from the U.S. |
| increased from $338.12 million in 2001 to $409.35 | | | | Ambassador in Jamaica shortly after 9/11 that "we |
| million in 2002, a 21.07% upward movement, it was | | | | do not anticipate less visas being offered, over the |
| not due to a change in U.S. policy towards the | | | | following twelve months, 37% fewer visitors' visas |
| Caribbean, but to the inevitable advantages to the | | | | were distributed though processing of immigrant visas |
| United States because of the imposition of structural | | | | increased slightly. |
| adjustment and trade liberalization policies by the | | | | The issue of deporting Caribbean nations from the |
| International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. | | | | United States has gained momentum since 9/11. It |
| Despite the current U.S. administration's attention | | | | has had a negative impact on receiving countries as it |
| elsewhere, they have managed to maintain the | | | | has been directly co-related to a sharp rise in crime |
| contribution of a healthy level of development aid to | | | | throughout the region. |
| the region. In FY 2005, development aid to the | | | | A tendency towards multilateral migration |
| Caribbean from the United States was $370 million. | | | | negotiations in the Caribbean has also lost |
| With respect to travel and tourism in the Caribbean, | | | | momentum, largely due to U.S. coolness towards it. |
| the events of 9/11 had a near devastating effect on | | | | Beginning in the late 1990's, when Caribbean states |
| this industry. While the stakeholders, particularly the | | | | sought to offset or even reverse restricting U.S. |
| airlines and hotels have shown some resilience in | | | | measures adopted in 1996, states in the region |
| responding to the fallout from these attacks, the | | | | sometimes acted together to lobby the United |
| new travel restrictions on American citizens threaten | | | | States more often than in previous years. The |
| to temper the expected growth of this, a very | | | | prospect of participating in the Mexico initiative [2001] |
| capricious industry. The U.S. Administration made it | | | | might have spurred this trend. What seems clear is |
| mandatory on January 8, 2007 for all Americans | | | | that the U.S. has now little enthusiasm for multilateral |
| traveling to the Caribbean to do so with the use of a | | | | diplomacy with the Caribbean. |
| passport. Many analysts, given the fact that only a | | | | |