| SPRING 1962. |
| POSSIBLE POSTINGS NO. 5. |
| by D.T.J. |
| Caribbean Area |
| Caribbean Area is the name of the command composed of a collection of islands lying in the Gulf of Mexico between North and South America. These islands are divided into two groups, the Windwards to the south and the Leewards to the north, comprising what we know as the West Indies. The southern group has at its extremities Puerto Rico and Trinidad off the coast of Venezuela, while the northern group terminates in the Bahamas just over 60 miles from Miami, Florida and Haiti. The distance involved in command between Port of Spain, Trinidad and Nassau in the Bahamas is about the same as the distance between London and Moscow. Also included in the command are two territories on the mainland of America, British Guiana bordered by Venezuela and British Honduras by Mexico and Guatamala. The Headquarters of the command are in Kingston, Jamaica, captured for us by Oliver Cromwell in 1654. |
| THE ARMY IN THE WEST INDIES |
| The garrison is composed of one British and one West Indian Regiment with their necessary supplies and services composed in the main of locally enlisted coloured troops - a total of about 2,000 all ranks. |
| These troops are responsible for the internal security, protection and hurricane relief of the entire area. In order to carry out this task they are disposed in company group detachments in Georgetown, British Guinaa, Belize, British Honduras and Kingston, Jamaica. From time to time elements are moved to other parts such as the Bahamas and Trinidad in the event of hurricanes, labour unrest or elections and also for goodwill trips. |
| THE IMPORTANCE OF JAMAICA |
| Jamaica's importance lies firstly in her position in the centre of the islands and mainland colonies. Rich in natural resources and minerals she commands the economic life of this area. The main products are bauxite from which aluminium is made, bananas, citrus fruit and rice. Jamaica is the focal point of international air routes between North, South and Central America, and shipping routes between Europe, South Africa and the Pacific and Gulf ports via the Panama Canal. British Honduras and British Guiana must not be forgotten, as they are valued for their timber and mineral resources which are among the richest in the world. |
| MILITARY AND LEISURE ACTIVITIES |
| Due to a sub-tropical climate there are no training areas as we know them and the constant troop movements within the commands allow no facilities for either European or Jungle training. Most of the training is of the "showing the flag" variety over populated areas, coupled with public service, as in the recent hurricane in British Honduras. At the same time semi-military expeditions take place such as the recent exploration of the Esiquibo river and Kaiteur Fall in British Guiana and the mapping of some of the still uncharted areas of British Honduras. |
| Leave facilities are excellent locally and opportunities occur for visiting neighbouring countries such as Venezuela, Mexico and the U.S.A. Air services are both cheap and quick. Spare-time interests are very wide in scope and embrace game fishing and shooting, skin diving, water ski-ing, camping, all European sports and baseball. Because of the generosity of the local inhabitants and the high standard of living among the Europeans it is possible for all ranks to enjoy many of the tourist attractions at reduced rates. Above all other industries, tourism is supreme, offering every form of experience and modern service. It is, in short, as the posters say, "A tropical paradise". |
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