1. The Caribbean Secondary
Education Certificate
SOCIAL STUDIES
Year Two
Development and Use of Resources

2. Concepts
• A resource is anything natural that can be
harnessed, developed and used to satisfy the
needs and wants of people. (Brathwaite et al
2004:130)
• natural resource naturally occurring
exploitable material: a naturally occurring
material such as coal or wood that can be
exploited by people. (Encarta, 2004)

3. Part II of Concepts
• Physical resources – Also known as natural
resources are those resources which have been
given to us by nature. They include land and
minerals and the physical elements necessary for
our agricultural, manufacturing and tourism
industries. (Brathwaite et al 2004:130)
• Ubiquitous - [yoo bíkwitəss]adj existing
everywhere: present every where at once, or
seeming to be Microsoft® Encarta® Reference
Library 2003.

4. Classification of Physical
Resources
Renewable resources are those that can be used
and reused or once used can be restored or re grown within a reasonable period of time. e.g.
livestock, forests and marine life.
Non – renewable resources are those which cannot
be replaced, replenished or re –grown, within a
reasonable period of time, after they have been
utilized. These resources include raw materials
and minerals.

5. •
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A list of Physical Resources
available for use in Caribbean
* All are ubiquitous
Agricultural land
Water
Forests
Beaches
Marine Life
Solar Energy
Wind
Fossil fuels
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Gold
Diamonds
Bauxite
Gypsum
Geothermal Energy
Copper
Asphalt
Air

6. Classifying Physical Resources
Renewable Resources
Forests
Beaches
Wind
Geo – thermal
Marine life
Agricultural land
Water
Non – Renewable
Resources
Gold
Diamonds
Fossil fuels

7. Physical Resources

8. Main
minerals within CARICOM
• Bauxite – Jamaica,
Guyana.
• Diamonds – Guyana
• Gold – Guyana
• Copper – Jamaica
(undeveloped)
• Natural Gas – Trinidad,
Barbados
• Mineral Oil – Trinidad,
Barbados
• Gypsum – Jamaica
• Asphalt – Trinidad.

9. Assignment
• The lack of capital can hinder the development of
physical resources in the Caribbean.
As a consultant to the Ministry of Technology,
Industry and Commerce, suggest THREE
measures which governments of the region can
take to remove some of the financial constraints
which hinder the development of resources.

10. Suggested Answer
• Governments need to
invest in the generation of
cheap energy. This would
create a climate for
development of resources
• SIGN MOU
• Enter into bilateral
agreement with nations or
international agencies that
would give loans or grants
or provide capital needed
for investment.
• Speed up the regional
integration so we can
pool resources to
establish tertiary level
industries. Funds
gained could be used
to further develop
such physical
resources.