GPS geodetic constraints on Caribbean-North America plate motion

We describe a model for Caribbean plate motion based on GPS velocities of f our sites in the plate interior and two azimuths of the Swan Islands transf orm fault. The data are well fit by a single angular velocity, with average misfits approximately equal to the 1.5-3.0 mm yr(-1) velocity uncertaintie s. The new model predicts Caribbean-North America motion similar to 65% fas ter than predicted by NUVEL-1A, averaging 18-20 +/- 3 mm yr(-1) (2 sigma) a t various locations along the plate boundary. The data are best fit by a ro tation pole that predicts obliquely convergent motion along the plate bound ary east of Cuba, but are fit poorly by a suite of previously published mod els that predict strike-slip motion in this region. The data suggest an app roximate upper bound of 4-6 mm yr(-1) for internal deformation of the Carib bean plate, although rigorous estimates await more precise and additional v elocities from sites in the plate interior.