Muslims in the Caribbean

There are 31 countries in the Caribbean, which are classified
linguistically into four regions, such asEnglish speaking, French
speaking, Spanish speaking and Dutch speakingIslands. There are 19
English speaking countries; five French speaking countries;
threeSpanish speaking countries and four Dutch speakingIslands.
Muslims from different parts of the globe have settled in these
regions. Immigrants vary from medical students to traders, from
Indo-Pakistan to Indonesian and African countries. Some are very
active they even reach the media inBahamas, whereas in other places,
they are still in economical weakness.
Most of them have a common problem of getting permanent work permit
for their imaams and Islamic workers. Some of the countries aregetting
a lot of pressure from the government, which is characterized as the
most hostile to Islam in the whole ofCaribbeanas in Dominico. Most of
these countries have no mosques with the exception of some mosques
built in few of them. They have just a prayers place or prayer house.
Let us first describe in brief the socio-demographic backgrounds of
the different islands of theCaribbean:
SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC BACKGROUND
Country Total Population Muslim Population
English- speaking 5,836,601 172,250
French- speaking 7,178,572 2,600
Spanish- speaking 20,537,000 3,500
Dutch- speaking 635,415 121,000
There are 19 countries of theCaribbeanwhere people speak the English
language. These are, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize,
Bermuda, Monsterrat, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Trinidad, Tobago, Virgin
Islands – US.
Among the English-speaking countries,Jamaicahas the largest population
in theCaribbeanwhere more than 2,450,000 people live, among whom 5,000
are Muslims. They constitute 3.75 percent ofthe total population of
the English-speaking countries of theCaribbean, but this variesfrom 5
to 15 percent. The largest Muslims concentration of those speaking
English is foundinGuyana,Trinidad and Tobago)i.e. 100,000(, where they
constitute 13.33 and 8.10 percent ofthe total population respectively.
Muslims fromIndiaandIndonesiacame here first as indentured servants
and farm labourers respectively. They have preserved their Islamic
Identify and culture but have developed not many community
institutions such as schools or Awqaaf.
Christian missionary activity has, on the whole, failed to convert
Muslims to Christianity. But some youths have been neutralized: low
commitment to Islam while remaining nominally Muslims. Over the past
30 years, Afro-Caribbeans have been converting to Islam.Many Islamic
organization have been formed since the 1970s, which are active in
various endeavours.
The most well-organized Muslim community in the Caribbean region is
the one in theCaribbean. TheIndian community is well-established and
has been here for over 150 years. There are many mosques and Islamic
schools. The Afro-Caribbean community of new converts is still very
small and weak. The main organizations are :)Caribbean Islamic
Organization of Guyana Islamic Trust respectively(, the Guyana Muslim
Mission , and the Guyana Islamic Institute.
Trinidad is the most important island in theCaribbean, politically,
economically and in terms of propagation of Islam. Local Islamic work
is well developed, and local organizations are handing it well.
International Islamic Federation of Student Organizations )IIFSO(
whose coordination is inPort of Spain, the capital of Trinidad
earmarked some resources forTrinidad. Its work consists mainly of
supporting education, managing revolving credit fund for new Muslims,
and providing support to an Islamic book and video center.
In theFrench-speakingIslands, such
asGuadeloupe,GuyanaFrancaise,Haitiand Martinique, the Muslims
community is mainly made up of African Muslims immigrants fromWest
Africa,SenegalandMali. The total population of these five countries is
7,178,572 outof which 2,600 are Muslims. The Muslim figures for Guyana
Francaise andHaitiare not known.
InMartinique, there is a wealthy immigrant Palestinian community with
an Islamic center and full time Imam. Native converts are struggling
to preserve their Islamic identify. IIFSO has been helping with
material that propagates Islam.
In the Spanish-speaking island, such asCuba,Dominican
RepublicandPuerto Rico, a fact finding mission was sent and contact
was established with Muslim community. Total population of these
countries are 20,573,000 out of which 3,500 are Muslims. The Muslims
figure forDominican Republicis not known though the total population
of the country is around 7,000,000. It is expected that the Cuban
intellectuals would listen to Islam sympathetically. The Communist era
has weakened the Catholic Church.
InDominican Republic, Pakistani Muslims have well established efforts
for the propagation of Islam. There is a 2,000-strong Palestinian
community inPuerto Ricowith two mosques. They are economically strong
and are thus able to pay for a full time Imaam. Islamic books were
sent and visited these islands. With the expected fall of Communist
regime IIFSO expects to do a lot of work in propagation of Islam.
In the Dutch-speaking countries, such as Curacao,St. Martin,Surinamand
Nethfral, Antilles, the population figures for Curacao andSt.
Martinare not available. But we have the figure for the other two
countries of the Dutch-speaking islands which are as follows:
Countries Total Population Muslim Population
Surinam425,000 120,000
Nethfral andAntilles210,415 1,000
There are Arab and Indo-Pakistani immigrantcommunities. Arabs have a
mosque and a full time Imaam and are better organized.
They can self-finance many of their projects. InSurinam, there is a
large number of Muslims where they constitute 28.23 percent of the
totalpopulation of 425,000 of the country. Three distinct Muslim
communities are living inSurirnam. The Javanese from the Indonesian
Archipelago have been living in the island for more than 50 years;
Indo-Pakistanis came as indentured labour for more than 100 years
ago.Besides, there is a growing Afro-Surinamese community here.
There is a Caribbean Islamic Secretariat which was set up in 1988 with
an Executive Director anda Board of Directors to carry out the efforts
of propagating Islam, Islamic literature distribution, provision of
Islamic education and catering to economic development.