Government type: parliamentary democracy
National capital: Castries
Administrative divisions: 11 quarters; Anse-la-Raye, Castries,
Choiseul, Dauphin, Dennery, Gros Islet, Laborie, Micoud, Praslin,
Soufriere, Vieux Fort
Independence: 22 February 1979 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 22 February (1979)
Constitution: 22 February 1979
Legal system: based on English common law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General Dr. Perlette LOUISY (since September
1997)
head of government: Prime Minister Kenneth ANTHONY (since NA)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of
the prime minister
elections: none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; following
legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a
majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor
general
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (an
11-member body, six appointed on the advice of the prime minister,
three on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and two after
consultation with religious, economic, and social groups) and the
House of Assembly (17 seats; members are elected by popular vote from
single member constituencies to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Assembly-last held 23 May 1997 (next to be held NA
2002)
election results: House of Assembly-percent of vote by party-NA; seats
by party - SLP 16, UWP 1
Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, jurisdiction extends
to Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, the British Virgin Islands,
Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Political parties and leaders: United Workers' Party (UWP); Saint
Lucia Labor Party (SLP), Kenneth ANTHONY; National Freedom Party
(NFP), Martinus FRANCOIS
International organization participation: ACCT (associate), ACP, C,
Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol,
IOC, ISO (subscriber), NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Mrs. Juliet
Elaine MALLET PHILLIP
chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
telephone: [1] (202) 364-6792 through 6795
FAX: [1] (202) 364-6728
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an embassy
in Saint Lucia; the Ambassador to Saint Lucia resides in Bridgetown
(Barbados)
Flag description: blue with a gold isosceles triangle below a black
arrowhead; the upper edges of the arrowhead have a white border
@Saint Lucia:Economy
Economy-overview: Though foreign investment in manufacturing and
information processing in recent years has increased Saint Lucia's
industrial base, the economy remains vulnerable due to its heavy
dependence on banana production, which is subject to periodic droughts
and tropical storms. Indeed, the destructive effect of Tropical Storm
Iris in mid-1995 caused the loss of 20% of the year's banana crop.
Increased competition from Latin American bananas will probably
further reduce market prices, exacerbating Saint Lucia's need to
diversify its economy in coming years, e.g., by further expanding
tourism, manufacturing, and construction.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$600 million (1996 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 0.8% (1996 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$3,800 (1996 est.)
GDP-composition by sector:
agriculture: 10.7%
industry: 32.3%
services: 57% (1996 est.)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: -2.3% (1996 est.)
Labor force:
total: 43,800
by occupation: agriculture 43.4%, services 38.9%, industry and
commerce 17.7% (1983 est.)
Unemployment rate: 15% (1996 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $155 million
expenditures: $169 million, including capital expenditures of $48
million (FY96/97 est.)
Industries: clothing, assembly of electronic components, beverages,
corrugated cardboard boxes, tourism, lime processing, coconut
processing
Industrial production growth rate: 2.8% (1996 est.)
Electricity-capacity: 22,000 kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 110 million kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 705 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: bananas, coconuts, vegetables, citrus, root
crops, cocoa
Exports:
total value: $79.5 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
commodities: bananas 41%, clothing, cocoa, vegetables, fruits, coconut
oil
partners: UK 50%, US 24%, Caricom countries 16% (1995)
Imports:
total value: $270.6 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
commodities: food 23%, manufactured goods 21%, machinery and
transportation equipment 19%, chemicals, fuels
partners: US 36%, Caricom countries 22%, UK 11%, Japan 5%, Canada 4%
(1995)
Debt-external: $131 million (1996)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1-2.7000 (fixed
rate since 1976)
Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March
Communications
Telephones: 26,000 (1992 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: system is automatically switched
international: direct microwave radio relay link with Martinique and
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; tropospheric scatter to Barbados;
international calls beyond these countries are carried by Intelsat
from Martinique
Radio broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 1, shortwave 0
Radios: 104,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 3 (two commercial stations and one
cable)
Televisions: 26,000 (1992 est.)
@Saint Lucia:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 1,210 km
paved: 63 km
unpaved: 1,147 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Castries, Vieux Fort
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 2 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways:
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1997 est.)
@Saint Lucia:Military
Military branches: Royal Saint Lucia Police Force, Coast Guard
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $5 million (1991); note-for
police force
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 2% (1991)
@Saint Lucia:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: none
Illicit drugs: transit point for South American drugs destined for the
US and Europe
______________________________________________________________________
SAINT PIERRE AND MIQUELON
(territorial collectivity of France)
@Saint Pierre and Miquelon:Geography
Location: Northern North America, islands in the North Atlantic Ocean,
south of Newfoundland (Canada)
Geographic coordinates: 46 50 N, 56 20 E
Map references: North America
Area:
total: 242 sq km
land: 242 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes eight small islands in the Saint Pierre and the
Miquelon groups
Area-comparative: 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 120 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: cold and wet, with much mist and fog; spring and autumn are
windy
Terrain: mostly barren rock
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Morne de la Grande Montagne 240 m
Natural resources: fish, deepwater ports
Land use:
arable land: 13%
permanent crops: NA%
permanent pastures: NA%
forests and woodland: 4%
other: 83% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: persistent fog throughout the year can be a maritime
hazard
Environment-current issues: NA
Environment-international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography-note: vegetation scanty
@Saint Pierre and Miquelon:People
Population: 6,914 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 0.76% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 12.45 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 5.49 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.59 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 8.62 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.91 years
male: 75.35 years
female: 78.79 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.6 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women)
adjective: French
Ethnic groups: Basques and Bretons (French fishermen)
Religions: Roman Catholic 99%
Languages: French
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (1982 est.)
@Saint Pierre and Miquelon:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Territorial Collectivity of Saint Pierre and
Miquelon
conventional short form: Saint Pierre and Miquelon
local long form: Departement de Saint-Pierre et Miquelon
local short form: Saint-Pierre et Miquelon
Data code: SB
Dependency status: self-governing territorial collectivity of France
Government type: NA
National capital: Saint-Pierre
Administrative divisions: none (territorial collectivity of France)
note: there are no first-order administrative divisions approved by
the US Government, but there are two communes-St. Pierre, Miquelon
Independence: none (territorial collectivity of France; has been under
French control since 1763)
National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system: French law with special adaptations for local
conditions, such as housing and taxation
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President of France Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May
1995), represented by Prefect Jean-Francois CARENCO (since NA 1996)
head of government: President of the General Council Bernard LE SOAVEC
(since NA 1996)
cabinet: NA
elections: prefect appointed by the president of France on the advice
of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the General Council
is elected by the members of the council
Legislative branch: unicameral General Council or Conseil General (19
seats, 15 from Saint Pierre and 4 from Miquelon; members are elected
by popular vote to serve six-year terms)
elections: elections last held 20 March 1994 (next to be held NA April
2000)
election results: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-RPR 15,
other 4
note: Saint Pierre and Miquelon elect 1 seat to the French Senate;
elections last held NA September 1995 (next to be held NA September
2004); results - percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-RPR 1;
Saint Pierre and Miquelon also elects 1 seat to the French National
Assembly; elections last held 25 May-1 June 1997 (next to be held NA
2002); results-percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party-UDF 1
Judicial branch: Superior Tribunal of Appeals or Tribunal Superieur
d'Appel
Political parties and leaders: Socialist Party or PS; Rassemblement
pour la Republique or RPR; Union pour la Democratie Francaise or UDF
International organization participation: FZ, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territorial collectivity of
France)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territorial collectivity
of France)
Flag description: a yellow sailing ship rides on a dark blue
background with a black wave line under the ship; on the hoist side, a
vertical band is divided into three parts: the top part is red with a
green diagonal cross extending to the corners overlaid by a white
cross dividing the square into four sections; the middle part has a
white background with an ermine pattern; the third part has a red
background with two stylized yellow lions outlined in black, one on
top of the other; the flag of France is used for official occasions
@Saint Pierre and Miquelon:Economy
Economy-overview: The inhabitants have traditionally earned their
livelihood by fishing and by servicing fishing fleets operating off
the coast of Newfoundland. The economy has been declining, however,
because the number of ships stopping at Saint Pierre has dropped
steadily over the years. In 1992, an arbitration panel awarded the
islands an exclusive economic zone of 12,348 sq km to settle a
longstanding territorial dispute with Canada, although it represents
only 25% of what France had sought. The islands are heavily subsidized
by France. Imports come primarily from Canada and France.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$74 million (1996 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: NA%
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$11,000 (1996 est.)
GDP-composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Inflation rate-consumer price index: NA%
Labor force:
total: 2,971 (1995)
by occupation: NA
Unemployment rate: 11% (1996)
Budget:
revenues: $28 million
expenditures: $28 million, including capital expenditures of $7.8
million (1992 est.)
Industries: fish processing and supply base for fishing fleets;
tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity-capacity: 27,000 kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 42 million kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 6,216 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: vegetables; cattle, sheep, pigs; fish catch of
14,800 metric tons (1994)
Exports:
total value: $5 million (f.o.b., 1995)
commodities: fish and fish products, fox and mink pelts
partners: US 58%, France 17%, UK 11%, Canada, Portugal (1990)
Imports:
total value: $70.2 million (c.i.f., 1995)
commodities: meat, clothing, fuel, electrical equipment, machinery,
building materials
partners: Canada, France, US, Netherlands, UK
Debt-external: $NA
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1-6.0836 (January 1998),
5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520 (1994), 5.6632
(1993)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 3,650 (1994 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: radiotelephone communication with most countries in the
world; 1 earth station in French domestic satellite system
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 3, shortwave 0
Radios: 3,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 0 (programs from France, Canada, and
the US are rebroadcast)
Televisions: 2,000 (1992 est.)
@Saint Pierre and Miquelon:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 114 km
paved: 69 km
unpaved: 45 km (1994 est.)
Ports and harbors: Saint Pierre
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 2 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways:
total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1997 est.)
@Saint Pierre and Miquelon:Military
Military-note: defense is the responsibility of France
______________________________________________________________________
SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
@Saint Vincent and the Grenadines:Geography
Location: Caribbean, islands in the Caribbean Sea, north of Trinidad
and Tobago
Geographic coordinates: 13 15 N, 61 12 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 340 sq km
land: 340 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area-comparative: twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 84 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season
(May to November)
Terrain: volcanic, mountainous
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Soufriere 1,234 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use:
arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 18%
permanent pastures: 5%
forests and woodland: 36%
other: 31% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: hurricanes; Soufriere volcano on the island of Saint
Vincent is a constant threat
Environment-current issues: pollution of coastal waters and shorelines
from discharges by pleasure yachts and other effluents; in some areas
pollution is severe enough to make swimming prohibitive
Environment-international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection,
Ship Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography-note: the administration of the islands of the Grenadines
group is divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada
@Saint Vincent and the Grenadines:People
Population: 119,818 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 31% (male 18,630; female 17,994)
15-64 years: 64% (male 38,562; female 37,979)
65 years and over: 5% (male 2,740; female 3,913) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.6% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 18.74 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 5.28 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: -7.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 15.69 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.51 years
male: 72 years
female: 75.07 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.97 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Saint Vincentian(s) or Vincentian(s)
adjective: Saint Vincentian or Vincentian
Ethnic groups: black, white, East Indian, Carib Amerindian
Religions: Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Seventh-Day Adventist
Languages: English, French patois
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 96%
male: 96%
female: 96% (1970 est.)
@Saint Vincent and the Grenadines:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Data code: VC
Government type: constitutional monarchy
National capital: Kingstown
Administrative divisions: 6 parishes; Charlotte, Grenadines, Saint
Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint Patrick
Independence: 27 October 1979 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 27 October (1979)
Constitution: 27 October 1979
Legal system: based on English common law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General Charles ANTROBUS (since NA)
head of government: Prime Minister James Fitz-Allen MITCHELL (since 30
July 1984)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of
the prime minister
elections: none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; following
legislative elections, the leader of the majority party is usually
appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputy prime
minister appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime
minister
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly (21 seats, 15 elected
representatives and 6 appointed senators; members are elected by
popular vote from single member constituencies to serve five-year
terms)
elections: last held 21 February 1994 (next to be held by NA May 1999)
election results: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-NDP 12,
ULP 3
Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based on Saint
Lucia); one judge of the Supreme Court resides in Saint Vincent
Political parties and leaders: New Democratic Party (NDP), James F.
MITCHELL; United People's Movement (UPM), Adrian SAUNDERS; National
Reform Party (NRP), Joel MIGUEL; Unity Labor Party (ULP),Vincent
BEACHE-formed by the coalition of Saint Vincent Labor Party (SVLP) and
the Movement for National Unity (MNU)
International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC,
FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, OAS, OECS, OPANAL,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Kingsley C.A. LAYNE
chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
telephone: [1] (202) 364-6730
FAX: [1] (202) 364-6736
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an embassy
in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; the Ambassador to Saint Vincent
and the Grenadines resides in Bridgetown (Barbados)
Flag description: three vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold
(double width), and green; the gold band bears three green diamonds
arranged in a V pattern
@Saint Vincent and the Grenadines:Economy
Economy-overview: Agriculture, dominated by banana production, is the
most important sector of this lower middle income economy. The
services sector, based mostly on a growing tourist industry, is also
important. The government has been relatively unsuccessful at
introducing new industries, and high unemployment rates of 35%-40%
continue. The continuing dependence on a single crop represents the
biggest obstacle to the islands' development; tropical storms wiped
out substantial portions of crops in both 1994 and 1995. The tourism
sector has considerable potential for development over the next
decade.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$259 million (1996 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 1% (1996 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$2,200 (1996 est.)
GDP-composition by sector:
agriculture: 10.6%
industry: 17.5%
services: 71.9% (1996 est.)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 3.6% (1996)
Labor force:
total: 67,000 (1984 est.)
by occupation: agriculture 26%, industry 17%, services 57% (1980 est.)
Unemployment rate: 35%-40% (1994 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $80 million
expenditures: $118 million, including capital expenditures of $39
million (1996 est.)
Industries: food processing, cement, furniture, clothing, starch
Industrial production growth rate: 0.3% (1995 est.)
Electricity-capacity: 14,000 kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 64 million kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 545 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: bananas, coconuts, sweet potatoes, spices; small
numbers of cattle, sheep, pigs, goats; small fish catch used locally
Exports:
total value: $46 million (f.o.b., 1996)
commodities: bananas 39%, eddoes and dasheen (taro), arrowroot starch,
tennis racquets
partners: Caricom countries 49%, UK 16%, US 10% (1995)
Imports:
total value: $127 million (f.o.b., 1996)
commodities: foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, chemicals and
fertilizers, minerals and fuels
partners: US 36%, Caricom countries 28%, UK 13% (1995)
Debt-external: NA
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1-2.7000 (fixed
rate since 1976)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 6,189 (1983 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: islandwide, fully automatic telephone system; VHF/UHF
radiotelephone from Saint Vincent to the other islands of the
Grenadines
international: VHF/UHF radiotelephone from Saint Vincent to Barbados;
new SHF radiotelephone to Grenada and to Saint Lucia; access to
Intelsat earth station in Martinique through Saint Lucia
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 76,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 cable
Televisions: 20,600 (1992 est.)
@Saint Vincent and the Grenadines:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 1,040 km
paved: 320 km
unpaved: 720 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Kingstown