caribbean – Jo-AnneRamplings

I have written about some countries in the Caribbean area but will do a few more, the Caribbean is comprised of 13 independent island nations: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago, These nations are recognized for their shared cultural heritage and location within the Caribbean region. There are 12 dependencies and 7 overseas territories as well various disputed territories.

This week we will look at Haiti which is a country located in the Caribbean. It shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic, located to its east. While it was once a plantation colony of France based upon slavery of Africans, Haiti gained its independence in the year 1804.

The population is 11.77millon, Haiti has two official languages, Haitian Creole and French, everyone in Haiti speaks Haitian Creole. Some scholars estimate that approximately 90-95% of the population is monolingual, speaking Haitian Creole.

The Haitian Gourde (HTG) is the official currency of Haiti, a nation located on the western part of the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean.

Haiti’s capital city is Port-au-Prince, it sits on the Gulf of Gonâve. The Musée du Panthéon National Haïtien honours the nation’s history and founding fathers. The Iron Market, a large 1891 covered bazaar, has produce and handicraft vendors. Nearby is the immense Notre Dame de l’Assomption Cathedral, reduced to a ruin by a 2010 earthquake. Colourful gingerbread-style houses from the turn of the 19th century dot the city.

The Haitian flag is a bicolour flag with two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red (bottom). In the centre, there is a white rectangle containing the Haitian coat of arms. The coat of arms includes a palm tree topped with the liberty cap, surrounded by cannons, flags, and other weaponry. The motto “L’Union Fait La Force” (“Unity Makes Strength”) is displayed on a banner below the coat of arms.

This week we going back to North American counties, there are 23 countries in North America, each with its own history and culture.

This week’s country is Cuba.

Cuba, officially the Republic of Cuba, is an island country, comprising the island of Cuba, Isla de la Juventud, and 4,195 islands, islets and cays surrounding the main island. It is located where the northern Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and Atlantic Ocean meet.

The capital is Havana it has Spanish colonial architecture in its 16th-cecntury Old Havana core which includes the Castillo de la Real Fuerza, a fort and maritime museum. The National Capitol Building is an iconic 1920s landmark. Also in Old Havana is the baroque Catedral de San Cristóbal and Plaza Vieja, whose buildings reflect the city’s vibrant architectural mix.

The population is around 11 million and the language is Spanish.

In Cuba, religion is a vibrant and diverse aspect of culture, with Catholicism being the largest single religious group. While the government has a history of promoting atheism, today, religion thrives with a mix of Catholicism, Protestant Christianity, Afro-Cuban religions like Santería, and other syncretic practices.

The Cuban peso also known as moneda nacional, is the official currency of Cuba. The Cuban peso historically circulated at par with the Spanish-American silver dollar from the 16th to 19th centuries, and then at par with the U.S. dollar from 1881 to 1959. one and the country now has a single-currency economy. Until 1^st January 2021, Cuba had spent nearly 20 years living and working with 2 currencies, the CUP ( Cuban Peso ) and the CUC ( Cuban Convertible Peso )

The Cuban flag, officially called the Bandera nacional de Cuba, features five alternating horizontal stripes of navy blue and white, with a red triangle at the hoist (the side with the pole) bearing a white five-pointed star in its centre. This design reflects Cuba’s history, particularly its struggle for independence and the unification of its regions. The flag was officially adopted on May 20, 1902.

Symbolism of the Colours:

Blue: Represents the country’s maritime location and the ideals of its people.

Red: Symbolizes the blood spilled by those who fought for Cuban independence.

White: Represents the purity of the revolutionary cause.

Cuba is constitutionally defined as a single party Marxist–Leninist socialist republic with semi-presidential powers.

iguel Díaz-Canel. Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez (Latin American Spanish: [miˈɣel ˈdi.as kaˈnel]; born 20 April 1960) is a Cuban politician and engineer. He has served as the 8th first secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba since 2021 and as the 17th president of Cuba since 2019.

The current Constitution of Cuba was adopted in 2019 after a public referendum, and it is considered the last socialist-inspired constitution with Soviet influence. The 2019 constitution aims to become a “normative constitution,” ensuring direct application of its principles, a challenge given Cuba’s history of weak legal culture. The constitution emphasizes socialism, communism, and the exploitation of man by man, while also promoting environmental protection and responding to climate change.