Known as the 'Land of 365 Beaches', Antigua (pronounced An‐tee'ga) and Barbuda is a twin‐island country, located in the eastern Caribbean, at the southern end of the Leeward Islands chain. Antigua is about 23 km long and 18 km wide, encompassing 280 km², including the capital city, Saint John's. The highest point on Antigua is Mount Obama (402 m), known as Boggy Peak until 2009. Barbuda is a flat coral island with an area of only 161 km². The nation also includes the small (1.6 km²) uninhabited island of Redonda, which is now a nature preserve.

With a tropical maritime climate, there is little variation in seasonal temperatures, and steady south‐easterly breezes. The hurricane season is from June to September. The islands receive a mean annual rainfall of some 2 500 mm, with October and November being the wettest months. With no rivers or springs, droughts are not uncommon. There is generally low humidity year around. Average monthly temperatures range between 25 to 27 °C. -—
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—- The country is fourth on the list of most at‐risk countries according to the United Nations University -—
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—- World Risk Index.

Agriculture, once the mainstay of the economy, has been largely supplanted by tourism. Sugarcane was once the dominant crop on Antigua but is now insignificant. Today, fruit and vegetables, including citrus fruits, mangoes and eggplants are cultivated on the islands. Manufacturing plays a small role in the economy; most activity involves processing agricultural products and making clothing and textiles and concrete blocks. Manufactured exports mainly consist of iron, steel and shipping equipment. Shipping trade has also become important, and the country possesses one of the most important freight hubs in the Caribbean. Services account for almost three quarters of GDP. -—
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—- Tourism and financial services have turned the country into one of the more prosperous in the Caribbean. The contribution of travel and tourism to the economy is significant with over 1 million annual tourist arrivals each year from 2017 to 2019, and the inbound tourism expenditure reaching almost 45 per cent over GDP in 2019 -—
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The national dish is fungie (pronounced 'foon‐jee') made from cornmeal and pepper pot.

The nation's abundant coral reefs attract many snorkelers and scuba divers. Cricket is the favourite sport in Antigua and Barbuda, which has produced some of the greatest names in cricket, like Sir Vivian Richards, Andy Roberts and Riche Richardson. Other popular sports on the island include sport fishing, windsurfing and kite‐surfing. While English is the official language, many people speak Antiguan Creole.

The Antigua and Barbuda Carnival is often organised as a ten‐day festival featuring colourful costumes, beauty pageants, talent shows, and music. Steel drum music is an important part of the Carnival, and Antigua and Barbuda is home to many Caribbean steel bands. Soca is another typical type of music featured that grafts the slower beat of soul music onto the fast tempo of calypso. Reggae is also very popular and has been part of the Antigua and Barbudan music scene for a long time.

Located in the Atlantic Ocean, the Bahamas archipelago (also known as the Lucayan Archipelago) is comprised of some 700 low lying, tropical islands located off the east coast of Florida. Consisting mainly of raised coral reefs and sandbars, with a high point of only 63 m, it is one of the lowest countries in the world. It is unclear whether the name of the islands derive from the Spanish 'baja mar', meaning shallow water, or from the Taíno 'ba ha ma', meaning big upper middle land, which was a term for the region used by the indigenous peoples. Only about 30 of the islands are inhabited, with the majority (about 70 per cent) of people living in Nassau on the island of New Providence.

The Commonwealth of the Bahamas covers a massive 470 000 km² of ocean, stretching from Bimini, just 80 km off the Florida coast, then running along the entire coast of Cuba to Inagua, less than 100 km north of Haiti. The Bahamas sit right on the south western edge of the infamous Bermuda Triangle. The Tropic of Cancer bisects the Bahamian islands of Long Island and Exuma.

The Bahamas, surrounded by the warm Gulf stream, enjoys a tropical marine climate. The hot and rainy season spans from May to October while the cooler season lasts from November to April. Cooler weather is felt more on the north‐western islands. Average monthly temperatures range between 22 to 29 °C. Sea temperatures remain at around 26 °C all year round. Hurricanes and tropical cyclones strike mainly from August to November. The average annual rainfall is about 1 300 mm, with June and September being the wettest months. -—
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—- The prevailing winds have a cooling effect on the often humid climate.

The Bahamas had the 3rd highest per capita GDP in the western hemisphere in 2019, after the United States and Canada -—
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—-. In 2019, over seven million people arrived to the Bahamas by air and sea according to the local authorities. With only 0.8 per cent of arable land, according to FAO, agriculture makes a small contribution to the economy. Manufactured exports often relate to the oceans economy, such as shipping equipment and sea food, but also petroleum. Over 80 per cent of GDP comes from the service sector where four in five persons are employed -—
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—-, many in tourism and transport. Travel and tourism's contribution to the economy is large. Almost 7.3 million tourists arrived in the country in 2019 and inbound tourism expenditure reached 28 per cent over GDP -—
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—-. The islands are also an important centre for business and financial services and banking -—
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The Bahamas is a hub for transshipment and shipping services. It has one of the highest numbers of registered ships in the world ‐ in particular, cruise ships that sail in the Caribbean. Other industries include oil bunkering, salt, rum, aragonite and pharmaceuticals. Because of its ship registries and heavy reliance on tourism, the Bahamas does not collect taxes on personal income or capital gains. Revenues are mainly generated from tariffs on imported goods, value added tax and property taxes, as well as from tourists who visit the country.

The Bahamas imports almost all its food. However, some fruits are cultivated locally, mainly: tomatoes, pineapple, banana, mango, guava, sapodilla, soursop, grapefruit and sea grape. Some pigs, sheep and cattle are also raised. A small industry catches spiny lobster, grouper and conch.

The national dish is Conch, a staple in the Bahamas. It is a large tropical mollusc (sea snail) with firm, white flesh. It is often served raw as Conch salad with lime juice, vegetables and fruit.

On 26 December each year, the Bahamians celebrate Junkanoo. It is a spectacular carnival, characterized by colourful costumes, stilt dancers, street dancers, clowns and acrobats, all accompanied by powerful rhythms beaten traditionally on goatskin drums, cowbells, bugles, horns, whistles and conch shells.

Cricket is the national sport of the Bahamas but track and field is also very popular. The Bahamas have produced some notable athletic stars, including: Frank Rutherford, Chandra Sturrup, Debbie Ferguson, Eldece Clarke‐Lewis, Pauline Davis‐Thompson, Savatheda Fynes, Tonique Williams‐Darling and Shaunae Miller.

For scuba divers, the Bahamas boasts the longest known underwater cave system in the world beneath Grand Bahama Island. It also has Dean's Blue Hole, located west of Clarence Town on Long Island, which, at 202 m, is one of the deepest blue holes in the world. The warm waters surrounding the islands boast colourful fish and turtles. Andros Island offers the 225 km‐long Andros Barrier Reef, one of the longest coral reefs in the world.

The Bahamas have a number of national symbols: the yellow elder is the national flower, the Lignum Vitae (tree of life) the national tree, the flamingo the national bird and the blue marlin the national fish of the islands.

Known as both 'the land of the flying fish' and the 'jewel of the Caribbean', Barbados is the easternmost island in the Caribbean island chain, otherwise known as the Lesser Antilles in the West Indies. Unlike many Caribbean islands, Barbados is non‐volcanic and composed mainly of coral limestone. It has a varied landscape including flatlands, highlands, terraces and rugged cliffs, caves and tropical rainforests. The island's name means 'the bearded ones', after the indigenous bearded fig trees once found in abundance on the island.

Barbados, lying just north of the equator, enjoys a hot and humid, moderately tropical, oceanic climate all year round. However, the heat is tempered by northeast trade winds. Temperatures do not vary by much throughout the year, with monthly average temperatures ranging from 26 to 27°C; humidity usually stays between 70 and 76 per cent. Sea temperatures average around 25°C. The average annual rainfall is about 2 200 mm, with November as the wettest month. Barbados lies along the southern edge of the Caribbean hurricane zone. Hurricanes have caused great devastation in the past. The Atlantic hurricane season coincides with the wet season, which lasts from June to November. -—
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Barbados has an open, market‐oriented economy. The Barbados economy, formerly solely dependent on sugar, has diversified over the past 30 years into services (tourism and financial services) and light industry and agriculture (sugar). According to the items attribute is mandatory, almost 30 per cent of men work in industry, and nearly 10 per cent for women. Relatively few are employed in agriculture. Services account for over 80 per cent of GDP -—
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—-, and almost the same proportion of employment. In 2018, almost 1.4 million tourists arrived in the country and inbound tourism expenditure reached 22 per cent over GDP -—
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As a small and open economy, Barbados is vulnerable to global economic downturns and those of its trade partners. A significant amount of income is received in the form of remittances from Barbadians overseas. Barbados' best‐known export is Mount Gay Rum, one of the oldest and most famous brands of fine rum in the world and produced in Barbados since 1703. Given this history, it is not surprising that the export of beverages constitutes well over 10 per cent of the value of commodity exports in Barbados. The main export partners include, for instance the United States of America, Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica.

Barbados has the third oldest parliament in the world, with uninterrupted parliamentary governance since 1639. The capital of Barbados, Bridgetown, has been an important port town for many centuries. This colourful and well‐preserved historic town is a UNESCO heritage site.

Barbados is also known for its small wooden chattel houses. Chattel, meaning movable property, arose in the past as homeowners were not necessarily landowners. Thus, chattel houses were constructed on blocks, so if an owner had to move, they could take the house with them. Over time, a distinct and ornate design of Barbadian chattel house evolved, making them unique and traditionally Barbadian in style.

Barbadian cuisine includes a unique blend of foods with African, Indian and British influences. The national dish of Barbados is Cou‐Cou and Flying Fish. Cou‐Cou is made with yellow cornmeal and okras, in much the same way that it has been made in Africa for centuries. Flying Fish is prepared and stewed in an aromatic sauce of tomato, onion, chives, thyme, fresh pepper, garlic and other local herbs. Other popular dishes include fried fish cakes, souse (a pickled pork dish), black pudding, macaroni pie, and sweet desserts such as tamarind balls and baked custard.

Music plays an important role in the country's culture, blending calypso, local spouge, jazz, reggae and soca. Perhaps their best known musical exports are Rihanna and Grandmaster Flash.

Cricket is considered the national sport. One of the greatest cricket all‐rounders, Sir Garfield St. Auburn Sobers, was born in 1936 in Barbados.

Before the Concorde supersonic jet was decommissioned in 2003, Barbados was one of only four countries with regular Concorde service from London.

Belize is located on the northeast, Caribbean coast of Central America. It borders Mexico to the north and Guatemala to the west and south, making it the only Central American country without a Pacific coastline. While the northern and southern borders are largely defined by the courses of two rivers, the Hondo and the Sarstoon River, respectively, the western border follows no natural features and runs in a relatively straight line north-to-south through highland plateaus and the country's predominant lowlands (swampy at the coast and covered in forest inland). A total land border of 516 km is contrasted by the 386 km coastline to the east in the Caribbean Sea. The coast is flanked by the second-longest barrier reef in the world. The Belize Barrier Reef consists of a 300 km long section of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System with a total length of 900 km. Belize has 1 060 islands and many lagoons along the coast.

Having a tropical climate, Belize experiences pronounced wet and dry seasons. Temperatures in Belize are affected by elevation, proximity to the coast and the effects of trade winds from the Caribbean. Average temperatures range from 23 °C in January to 27 °C in June -—
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—-, with the interior having somewhat higher and highlands somewhat lower temperatures. Seasons are mostly determined by the amount of rainfall. The wet season in Belize occurs during the months of May to October and the dry season from November to April. During the wet season, Belize usually receives mean monthly rainfall of 150-400 mm in the south of the country; in the rest of the country precipitation is limited with less than 100 mm of rainfall per month -—
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Hurricanes have major effects on the climate of Belize, often devastating ones. The city of Belmopan was built in 1970 to become the new capital, since Belize City was so often devastated by hurricanes. Belmopan is the third-largest settlement in Belize, following Belize City and San Ignacio.

Belize’s economy has traditionally been based primarily on agriculture. Key export crops include citrus, sugar, banana, and marine products such as shrimp -—
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—-. According to the FAO -—
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—-, less than 4 per cent of the territory is classified as arable land. The share of agriculture, hunting, forestry and fishing in total value added has fallen to just below 11 per cent in 2019, whereas services now account for three quarters -—
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—-. Agriculture accounts for about 17 per cent of employment in the country; roughly 24 per cent for men. Over 85 per cent of women and 55 per cent of men are employed in service sector -—
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Tourism has been gaining importance in the economy of Belize since the early 2000s: inbound tourism expenditure as a per cent of GPD was over 27 per cent in 2019 and the number of inbound tourists reached almost 1.7 million by 2018 -—
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—-. Belize’s main export partners are the United States of America and the United Kingdom, jointly dominating the trade accounting for around 60 per cent of Belize’s total exports. Jamaica, Ireland and Spain are also important export partners. -—
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Belize’s culture is an amalgamation of various ethnicities in the country, ranging from Central American to Afro-Caribbean, with a blend of Indian and Chinese communities. This is most pronounced in cuisine, but also in music and national folklore, the latter reflecting various legends.

Local food is diverse and influenced by the history of the country. Belizean cuisine offers spicy Creole dishes, corned beef and fried paca, which is a small jungle rodent. Beans and rice are a staple for most meals, and they commonly include coconut milk, hot peppers and plantains. Underground roasted pig is one of the delicious dishes still prepared, especially in the countryside.

Cuba consists of an archipelago of islands located in the northern Caribbean Sea. Cuba is the main island, surrounded by four smaller island groups: the Colorados, the Sabana-Camagüey, the Jardines de la Reina and the Canarreos. The main island is 1 250 km long. It is the largest island in the Caribbean and 17^th largest island in the world measured by land area. The Sierra Maestra mountains are located in the southeast on the main island with the highest point, “Pico Turquino” reaching 1 974 m. All in all, the country consists of more than 1 600 islands, islets and cays. The second largest individual island is the Isla de la Juventud (the Isle of Youth), which is part of the Canarreos archipelago. Havana is the largest city of Cuba and its capital. Other large cities include Santiago de Cuba and Camagüey.

Cuba has a tropical climate with a rainy season in summer. Cuba is highly vulnerable to climate variability, with rainwater its only water resource. Therefore, rain also has an important impact on agricultural activity. Average monthly temperatures range from 23 to 28 °C. The annual average rainfall is 1 376 mm. Although Cuba does not have annual hurricanes, September and October are prone to heavy rains. Monthly rainfall exceeds 150 mm from May to October. These are also the warmest months of the year. -—
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Travel and tourism are important for Cuba. In 2018, over 4.7 million tourists visited Cuba -—
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—-. With few natural or mineral resources and water shortages, exacerbated by cycles of sustained drought, agriculture is mostly subsistence-level. According to the FAO -—
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—-, over 28 per cent of the territory is classified as arable land. The soil is highly fertile, but agriculture is highly dependent on precipitation. The main crops grown include among others sugarcane, tobacco, rice, citrus fruits and potatoes. Sugar, beverages and tobacco are important export products, and the main export destinations include China, Canada and Venezuela -—
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In 2019, agriculture accounted for about 18 per cent of employment in Cuba; roughly 24 per cent for men and 7 per cent for women. In total, two in three Cubans worked in services, four in five among women. Industry employed 10 per cent of women and 20 per cent of men. -—
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—- The Cuban economy is dominated by state-run enterprises and most people are employed by the state. Cuba is classified as an upper middle income country -—
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—- and GDP reached US$9 295 per capita in 2019 -—
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Music is an important part of Cuban culture and brings together influences from both Spanish and African music. The traditional music of Cuba includes cha-cha-cha, charanga, danzon, mambo, and rumba, among others. Salsa evolved from these rhythms.

In addition to music, Cuba is well known for its handmade cigars. The country produces several million cigars per year, and the International Havana Cigar Festival brings many tourists to the country

Pork is the meat of choice for traditional feasts and is often served with rice and beans. Black beans are a common ingredient and in several types of dishes. Rice with black beans is called arroz congri. Cuban cuisine uses tomatoes, cassava, lettuce, and, when afforded, chicken, beef, pork and eggs. Cuban coffee is famous, but most of its coffee is exported and Cubans themselves consume imported coffee, often from Africa.

Baseball is the most popular sport in Cuba, though other sports also play an important role in Cuban society. In the warm local climate, Cubans often wear cool and relaxed clothing with a tradition of simplicity. Guayabera is the most famous traditional clothing worn by men as a classic linen or cotton shirt, usually in white, and women wear Guayabera dresses.

Dominica is a small island state in the Caribbean Sea, to the south of Guadeloupe and north of Martinique. The highest peak is Morne Diablotins, rising 1 447 m above sea level. Dominica is the youngest island in the Lesser Antilles and is still being formed by geothermal‐volcanic activity. It has the world's second‐largest hot spring, called Boiling Lake. Dominica is known as 'The Nature Island of the Caribbean', as the mountainous island and its rainforests are home to many rare plants, animals and birds. The Sisserou parrot (also called the imperial amazon) is the island's national bird, lives only in Dominica and is featured on the national flag. Dominica's flag is one of only two national flags that include the colour purple, the other being Nicaragua.

Dominica has a tropical maritime climate with a relatively cool and dry season from January to mid‐April and a hot and rainy season from mid‐June to mid‐November. The average monthly temperature is around 25‐26 °C, dropping only a little to 24‐25 °C in the period from December to February. The average annual rainfall is 3 200 mm. -—
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—- However, while some of the western coast can be rather dry (below 2 000 mm annually), heavy rainfalls occur more often inland and on the eastern coast, around 5 000 mm annually ‐ in some places even up to 9 000 mm. The northeastern slopes of Morne Diablotins are among the rainiest places in the world. Dominica is vulnerable to hurricanes, which usually hit between June and October, sometimes causing heavy rains, extensive flooding, landslides, destroying homes and causing damage to agriculture. The country is the third most at-risk country according to the United Nations University -—
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—- World Risk Index.

Dominica has traditionally been dependent on agriculture, mainly bananas, but is diversifying its economy to make the country an eco‐tourism destination. In addition to bananas, its main export products include soap, bay oil, vegetables and revenue stamps. Nearly one third of the labour force works in agriculture. The economy is highly vulnerable to natural disasters and weather conditions. Economic growth relies on increases in tourism, construction, and offshore and other services, in addition to the banana industry.

Tourism has developed more slowly in Dominica than on other Caribbean islands. Cruise ship stopovers have increased with the better availability of modern waterfront facilities in the capital, Roseau. Dominica makes an attractive tourism destination with its mountains, rainforests, lakes and hot springs, waterfalls and related water sport opportunities. In 2019, Dominica attracted over 322 thousand tourist arrivals compared to 199 thousand in 2018. The growth is likely to have increased inbound tourism expenditure over GDP from 21 per cent recorded in 2018. -—
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Music and dance are important in the Dominican culture. Creole festival weeks have been organised since 1997, called 'Creole in the Park' and the 'World Creole Music Festival'. Exile One was a famous music group from the 1970s and paved the way for modern Creole music. Dominica's music mixes Haitian, Afro‐Cuban, African and European music styles. The second Pirates of the Caribbean film was largely filmed in Dominica as well as parts of the third film in the series.

Dominicans eat often saltfish and baked goods for breakfast or for a fast‐food snack throughout the day. Cornmeal porridge is also part of a typical breakfast – made with fine cornmeal or polenta, milk, condensed milk and sugar. Common vegetables include peas, plantains, potatoes, rice, tanias (a root vegetable) and yams. These are often prepared with meat or fish in stews with onions, carrots, garlic, ginger and herbs like thyme. The vegetables and meat are browned to create a rich dark sauce.

Cricket is a popular sport in Dominica. Association football, basketball, netball, rugby and tennis are gaining in popularity as well. In 2014, Dominica participated for the first and only time in the Winter Olympics, competing in cross‐country skiing. Dominicans also participate in Track and Field, winning a bronze medal from the 1995 World Championships in the triple jump.

The Dominican republic is the second largest country in the Caribbean in terms of land area, after Cuba. It encompasses the eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean. It shares Hispaniola with Haiti. Coastal areas of the Dominican Republic are generally more developed, especially in the southern coastal plains and the Cibao Valley, where population density is highest.

A geographically diverse state, the Dominican Republic is home to both the Caribbean's tallest mountain peak, Pico Duarte (3 098 m), and the Caribbean's largest lake and point of lowest elevation, Lake Enriquillo. Besides 1 288 km of coastline, the country’s landscape consists of rugged highlands and mountains interspersed with fertile valleys. This island state is the site of the first cathedral, castle and monastery built in the Americas, located in Santo Domingo's Colonial Zone, a World Heritage Site.

There is more climate variation over short distances in the Dominican Republic than in any other Caribbean state. The coastal and lowland areas are characterized by a tropical rainforest climate, the Cibao region dwells in the tropical savanna, while snowfall can sometimes cover the summit of Pico Duarte. The annual average temperature at higher elevations is 18 °C, while near sea level it is 28 °C.

Tropical cyclones strike the Dominican Republic every couple of years, mainly impacting the southern coast. Hurricanes occur most often between June and October. The country can suffer from heavy flooding. Some areas - mainly in the west - also witness periodic droughts and consequent water shortages. Soil erosion is frequent on the island, damaging coral reefs. Deforestation is a serious concern, as well. The Dominican Republic is highly vulnerable to climate change since climate variations tend to accelerate natural disaster incidences.

Historically, the Dominican Republic’s economy was dominated by agriculture, and the country was known for its exports of sugar, cocoa, coffee and tobacco. Over the last three decades, the economy has made an effective move to a diversified mix of services, manufacturing, agriculture, mining and trade. The Dominican Republic is the site of one of the largest gold mines in the world, the Pueblo Viejo mine.

In 2019, the service sector accounted for 63 per cent of GDP, while manufacturing accounted for a further 31 per cent. From 2010 to 2019, real GDP increased on average by 5.3 per cent annually, indicating steady, robust growth. Its most important trade partner is the United States of America, the destination of about half of the Dominican Republic’s exports in 2019. -—
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—-. The country is classified as upper middle income economy -—
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In 2019, 71 per cent of employed people worked in the services sector, 20 per cent in industry and 9 per cent in agriculture -—
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—-. The shift towards services is mainly due to the growth in tourism and free trade zones. Although the Dominican Republic has in recent years been the most popular inbound tourism destination in the Caribbean – hosting more foreign visitors than any other state in the region – the contribution of inbound tourism expenditure to GDP has remained between 8 and 9 per cent since 2013 -—
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—-. This reveals that the country is less dependent on tourism than many Caribbean states. Income inequalities persist and remittances remain an important source of subsistence -—
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The Dominican Republic is a culturally diverse society, blending influences from European (mainly Spanish), native Taino and African heritage. This rich culture is present in visual arts, literature and architecture. The share of urban population stood at 83 per cent in 2020 -—
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—-. Baseball is the most popular sport in the Dominican Republic, which features a league of six teams.

Local cuisine is rather characteristic of the Caribbean islands. Meals tend to favour meats and starches over dairy products and vegetables. Many dishes are made with sofrito, which is a mix of local herbs used as a wet rub for meats. In the south-central region, bulgur is a main ingredient in quipes or tipili (bulgur salad). Other favorite foods include chicharrón, yuca, pastelitos (empanadas), batata, and yam.

Music is an inseparable part of the lifestyle in the Dominican Republic, and the country is known for the creation of many musical styles. Popular merengue and bachata music and dances originated from the Dominican Republic. Palo is an Afro-Dominican sacred music that can be found throughout the island. Carnivals, Latino and traditional music festivals are very popular, organized throughout the year, featuring vibrant music and dances, colorful costumes, and traditional food stands, hosting presentations, tastings and more.