Greater Antilles

The Greater Antilles are the four largest Caribbean Islands.

Cuba, the largest, is also the closest to the United States of America. It is about ninety sea miles away from U.S. mainland. Cuba has been ruled since 1959 by Fidel Castro, who set up a Communist government aided by the former U.S.S.R. Prior to 1959, Cuba was a favored tourist destination for North Americans. Commercial relations and travel to Cuba have been regulated by the United States Government since the early 1960’s. Cubans speak Spanish and belong mostly to the “Latin” race.

Hispaniola, the second largest, is composed of two separate countries. Haiti, on the eastern side of the island, is closest to Cuba and to the United States. Haiti is said to be the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere. Most Haitians are black and generally speak French. The Dominican Republic, on the other side of the island, is closest to Puerto Rico. It is economically much better off than Haiti but even so, there is much poverty on the island. It is quite ironical that many Haitians leave their country to work in measly jobs and near slavery conditions in the Dominican Republic, while many people in the Dominican Republic risk their lives in open seas to enter Puerto Rico as illegal aliens, looking for measly jobs and the opportunity to improve their own economic life.

Jamaica, the third largest island, is located south of Cuba and Hispaniola. Jamaicans are mostly black. Jamaica was a member of the British Commonwealth until their independence some years ago. The country, whose language is English, still maintains strong ties with the British Empire.

Puerto Rico is the smallest of the Greater Antilles.

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