Final answer:
The economic development of a region can be limited due to agricultural dependency, especially on a single crop like sugarcane, which brings low profit margins and is subject to international price fluctuations. Lack of industrial growth is often due to scarce resources, poor infrastructure, and limited energy. In the Caribbean, outside of certain resource-rich areas, tourism has become a major economic driver.
Step-by-step explanation:
The economic development of a region can be hindered by various challenges. In this context, agricultural dependency on crops like sugarcane can be a significant limitation. Agriculture, particularly when reliant on a single crop, generally offers low profit margins and is vulnerable to price fluctuations in international markets. This affects the islands of the Lesser Antilles, where despite the growth of some other industries, limited industrial development on most islands has resulted in a heavy reliance on agriculture.
Low industrial growth can be attributed to a lack of resources such as oil or minerals, poor infrastructure, inconsistent electricity, and basic transportation, all of which constrain linkage to global markets and impede development. Additionally, other factors such as environmental risks (earthquake zones, hurricane threats), limited energy resources, and political issues can disrupt economic stability and growth. When examining the Caribbean, it is notable that except for locations with natural resources as in Trinidad and Tobago, the economy heavily depends on tourism due to these constraints.