Eastern Caribbean: a guide to the people, politics and culture

The idyllic landscapes of the Eastern Caribbean belie a dramatic and often cruel history.

Fought over by the imperial Navies and vulnerable to natural disasters, these small islands have also been marked by slavery, migration and a tradition of resistance.

With their population rooted in every continent, a mix of influences has created today's cultural diversity and self-expression.

As tourism replaces agriculture, the islands of the Eastern Caribbean face the challenge of economic survival and maintaining their distinctive identities.

The countries focused on are: Trinidad and Tobago; St Vincent and the Grenadines; Anguilla; Antigua-Barbuda; Barbados; Dominica; Grenada; Guadeloupe; Martinique; Montserrat; Saba; St Eustatius; St Kitts-Nevis; St Lucia; and St Martin.