Committee for Human Rights in Grenada or CHRG; New Jewel Movement
Support Group; The British Grenada Friendship Society; The New Jewel
19 Committee
International organization participation:
ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OAS,
OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Denis G. ANTOINE
chancery: 1701 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 265-2561
FAX: [1] (202) 265-2468
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to
Grenada
embassy: Lance-aux-Epines Stretch, Saint George's
mailing address: P. O. Box 54, Saint George's
telephone: [1] (473) 444-1173 through 1177
FAX: [1] (473) 444-4820
Flag description:
a rectangle divided diagonally into yellow triangles (top and
bottom) and green triangles (hoist side and outer side), with a red
border around the flag; there are seven yellow, five-pointed stars
with three centered in the top red border, three centered in the
bottom red border, and one on a red disk superimposed at the center
of the flag; there is also a symbolic nutmeg pod on the hoist-side
triangle (Grenada is the world's second-largest producer of nutmeg,
after Indonesia); the seven stars represent the seven administrative
divisions
Economy
Grenada
Economy - overview:
Grenada relies on tourism as its main source of foreign exchange,
especially since the construction of an international airport in
1985. Strong performances in construction and manufacturing,
together with the development of an offshore financial industry,
have also contributed to growth in national output. Grenada has
rebounded from the devastating effects of Hurricanes Ivan (2004) and
Emily (2005), but is now saddled with the debt burden from the
rebuilding process. The agricultural sector, particularly nutmeg and
cocoa cultivation, has gradually recovered, and the tourism sector
has seen substantial increases in foreign direct investment as the
regional share of the tourism market increases.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.108 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$590 million (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.1% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$10,500 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 5.4%
industry: 18%
services: 76.6% (2003)
Labor force:
42,300 (1996)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 24%
industry: 14%
services: 62% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:
12.5% (2000)
Population below poverty line:
32% (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $85.8 million
expenditures: $102.1 million (1997)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.7% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
6.5% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
9.76% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$151.2 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$533.4 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$575.8 million (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, mace, citrus, avocados, root crops,
sugarcane, corn, vegetables
Industries:
food and beverages, textiles, light assembly operations, tourism,
construction
Industrial production growth rate:
0.7% (1997 est.)
Electricity - production:
167.2 million kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - consumption:
144.2 million kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - consumption:
2,043 bbl/day (2006 est.)
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports:
1,844 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Current account balance:
-$138 million (2007 est.)
Exports:
$38 million (2006)
Exports - commodities:
bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, fruit and vegetables, clothing, mace
Exports - partners:
Jamaica 92.8%, Saint Lucia 1.3%, US 1.2% (2007)
Imports:
$343 million (2006)
Imports - commodities:
food, manufactured goods, machinery, chemicals, fuel
Imports - partners:
Trinidad and Tobago 36.5%, US 23.3%, Italy 4.1% (2007)
Economic aid - recipient:
$44.87 million (2005)
Debt - external:
$347 million (2004)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Currency (code):
East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Currency code:
XCD
Exchange rates:
East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2007), 2.7 (2006),
2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003)
Communications
Grenada
Telephones - main lines in use:
27,700 (2006)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
46,200 (2006)
Telephone system:
general assessment: automatic, islandwide telephone system
domestic: interisland VHF and UHF radiotelephone links
international: country code - 1-473; landing point for the East
Caribbean Fiber Optic System (ECFS) submarine cable with links to 13
other islands in the eastern Caribbean extending from the British
Virgin Islands to Trinidad; SHF radiotelephone links to Trinidad and
Tobago and Saint Vincent; VHF and UHF radio links to Trinidad
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 13, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
57,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
2 (1997)
Televisions:
33,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.gd
Internet hosts:
9 (2008)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
14 (2000)
Internet users:
23,000 (2007)
Transportation
Grenada
Airports:
3 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2007)
Roadways:
total: 1,127 km
paved: 687 km
unpaved: 440 km (2000)
Ports and terminals:
Saint George's
Military
Grenada
Military branches:
no regular military forces; Royal Grenada Police Force (includes
Coast Guard) (2007)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 27,309 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 20,249 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 1,034
female: 970 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures:
NA
Transnational Issues
Grenada
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
small-scale cannabis cultivation; lesser transshipment point for
marijuana and cocaine to US
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008
======================================================================
@Guam
Introduction
Guam
Background:
Guam was ceded to the US by Spain in 1898. Captured by the Japanese
in 1941, it was retaken by the US three years later. The military
installation on the island is one of the most strategically
important US bases in the Pacific.
Geography
Guam
Location:
Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of
the way from Hawaii to the Philippines
Geographic coordinates:
13 28 N, 144 47 E
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 541.3 sq km
land: 541.3 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
three times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
125.5 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical marine; generally warm and humid, moderated by northeast
trade winds; dry season (January to June), rainy season (July to
December); little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:
volcanic origin, surrounded by coral reefs; relatively flat
coralline limestone plateau (source of most fresh water), with steep
coastal cliffs and narrow coastal plains in north, low hills in
center, mountains in south
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Lamlam 406 m
Natural resources:
aquatic wildlife (supporting tourism), fishing (largely undeveloped)
Land use:
arable land: 3.64%
permanent crops: 18.18%
other: 78.18% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
frequent squalls during rainy season; relatively rare, but
potentially very destructive typhoons (June - December)
Environment - current issues:
extirpation of native bird population by the rapid proliferation of
the brown tree snake, an exotic, invasive species
Geography - note:
largest and southernmost island in the Mariana Islands archipelago;
strategic location in western North Pacific Ocean
People
Guam
Population:
175,877 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 28.2% (male 25,644/female 23,910)
15-64 years: 64.8% (male 58,034/female 55,900)
65 years and over: 7% (male 5,801/female 6,588) (2008 est.)
Median age:
total: 28.9 years
male: 28.7 years
female: 29.2 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.373% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
18.37 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
4.65 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
NA (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 6.55 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 7.22 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.93 years
male: 75.86 years
female: 82.19 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.55 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Guamanian(s) (US citizens)
adjective: Guamanian
Ethnic groups:
Chamorro 37.1%, Filipino 26.3%, other Pacific islander 11.3%, white
6.9%, other Asian 6.3%, other ethnic origin or race 2.3%, mixed 9.8%
(2000 census)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 85%, other 15% (1999 est.)
Languages:
English 38.3%, Chamorro 22.2%, Philippine languages 22.2%, other
Pacific island languages 6.8%, Asian languages 7%, other languages
3.5% (2000 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (1990 est.)
Education expenditures:
NA
Government
Guam
Country name:
conventional long form: Territory of Guam
conventional short form: Guam
local long form: Guahan
local short form: Guahan
Dependency status:
organized, unincorporated territory of the US with policy relations
between Guam and the US under the jurisdiction of the Office of
Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior
Government type:
NA
Capital:
name: Hagatna (Agana)
geographic coordinates: 13 28 N, 144 44 E
time difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
none (territory of the US)
Independence:
none (territory of the US)
National holiday:
Discovery Day, first Monday in March (1521)
Constitution:
Organic Act of Guam, 1 August 1950
Legal system:
modeled on US; US federal laws apply
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal; US citizens, but do not vote in US
presidential elections
Executive branch:
chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January
2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001)
head of government: Governor Felix P. CAMACHO (since 6 January
2003); Lieutenant Governor Dr. Michael W. CRUZ (since 1 January 2007)
cabinet: heads of executive departments; appointed by the governor
with the consent of the Guam legislature
elections: under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated
territories, such as Guam, do not vote in elections for US president
and vice president; however, they may vote in Democratic and
Republican presidential primary elections; governor and lieutenant
governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year
term (can serve two consecutive terms, then must wait a full term
before running again); election last held 7 November 2006 (next to
be held in November 2010)
election results: Felix P. CAMACHO reelected governor; Dr. Michael
W. CRUZ elected lieutenant governor; percent of vote - NA
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislature (15 seats; members are elected by popular
vote to serve two-year terms)
elections: last held 7 November 2006 (next to be held in November
2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
Republican Party 8, Democratic Party 7
note: Guam elects one nonvoting delegate to the US House of
Representatives; election last held 7 November 2006 (next to be held
in November 2008); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - Democratic Party 1
Judicial branch:
Federal District Court (judge is appointed by the president);
Territorial Superior Court (judges appointed for eight-year terms by
the governor)
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Party [leader Michael PHILLIPS]; Republican Party [Philip
J. FLORES] (controls the legislature)
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Guam Federation of Teachers' Union; Guam Waterworks Authority Workers
other: activists; indigenous groups
International organization participation:
IOC, SPC, UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (territory of the US)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (territory of the US)
Flag description:
territorial flag is dark blue with a narrow red border on all four
sides; centered is a red-bordered, pointed, vertical ellipse
containing a beach scene, outrigger canoe with sail, and a palm tree
with the word GUAM superimposed in bold red letters; US flag is the
national flag
Economy
Guam
Economy - overview:
The economy depends largely on US military spending and tourism.
Total US grants, wage payments, and procurement outlays amounted to
$1.3 billion in 2004. Over the past 30 years, the tourist industry
has grown to become the largest income source following national
defense. The Guam economy continues to experience expansion in both
its tourism and military sectors.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$2.5 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$2.773 billion (2001)
GDP - real growth rate:
NA%
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$15,000 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Labor force:
62,050 (2002 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 26%
industry: 10%
services: 64% (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate:
11.4% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:
23% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $319.6 million
expenditures: $427.8 million (2002 est.)
Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.5% (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:
fruits, copra, vegetables; eggs, pork, poultry, beef
Industries:
US military, tourism, construction, transshipment services, concrete
products, printing and publishing, food processing, textiles
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
1.789 billion kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - consumption:
1.664 billion kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - consumption:
12,780 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports:
13,530 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Exports:
$45 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:
transshipments of refined petroleum products, construction
materials, fish, food and beverage products
Exports - partners:
Japan 67.2%, Singapore 11.6%, UK 4.8% (2006)
Imports:
$701 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:
petroleum and petroleum products, food, manufactured goods
Imports - partners:
Singapore 50%, South Korea 21.4%, Japan 14%, Hong Kong 4.6% (2006)
Economic aid - recipient:
Guam receives large transfer payments from the US Federal Treasury
into which Guamanians pay no income or excise taxes; under the
provisions of a special law of Congress, the Guam Treasury, rather
than the US Treasury, receives federal income taxes paid by military
and civilian Federal employees stationed in Guam (2001 est.)
Debt - external:
$NA
Currency (code):
US dollar (USD)
Currency code:
USD
Exchange rates:
the US dollar is used
Communications
Guam
Telephones - main lines in use:
65,500 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
98,000 (2004)
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern system, integrated with US facilities for
direct dialing, including free use of 800 numbers
domestic: modern digital system, including cellular mobile service
and local access to the Internet
international: country code - 1-671; major landing point for
submarine cables between Asia and the US (Guam is a trans-Pacific
communications hub for major carriers linking the US and Asia);
satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 3, FM 11, shortwave 2 (2005)
Radios:
221,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
3 (2006)
Televisions:
106,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.gu
Internet hosts:
36 (2008)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
20 (2000)
Internet users:
65,000 (2005)
Transportation
Guam
Airports:
5 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2007)
Roadways:
total: 1,045 km (2007)
Ports and terminals:
Apra Harbor
Military
Guam
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 1,665
female: 1,547 (2008 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues
Guam
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008
======================================================================
@Guatemala
Introduction
Guatemala
Background:
The Mayan civilization flourished in Guatemala and surrounding
regions during the first millennium A.D. After almost three
centuries as a Spanish colony, Guatemala won its independence in
1821. During the second half of the 20th century, it experienced a
variety of military and civilian governments, as well as a 36-year
guerrilla war. In 1996, the government signed a peace agreement
formally ending the conflict, which had left more than 100,000
people dead and had created, by some estimates, some 1 million
refugees.
Geography
Guatemala
Location:
Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between El
Salvador and Mexico, and bordering the Gulf of Honduras (Caribbean
Sea) between Honduras and Belize
Geographic coordinates:
15 30 N, 90 15 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 108,890 sq km
land: 108,430 sq km
water: 460 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Tennessee
Land boundaries:
total: 1,687 km
border countries: Belize 266 km, El Salvador 203 km, Honduras 256
km, Mexico 962 km
Coastline:
400 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:
tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands
Terrain:
mostly mountains with narrow coastal plains and rolling limestone
plateau
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Volcan Tajumulco 4,211 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 13.22%
permanent crops: 5.6%
other: 81.18% (2005)
Irrigated land:
1,300 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
111.3 cu km (2000)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 2.01 cu km/yr (6%/13%/80%)
per capita: 160 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
numerous volcanoes in mountains, with occasional violent
earthquakes; Caribbean coast extremely susceptible to hurricanes and
other tropical storms
Environment - current issues:
deforestation in the Peten rainforest; soil erosion; water pollution
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
no natural harbors on west coast
People
Guatemala
Population:
13,002,206 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 40.1% (male 2,653,915/female 2,565,841)
15-64 years: 56.2% (male 3,539,874/female 3,762,471)
65 years and over: 3.7% (male 222,303/female 257,802) (2008 est.)
Median age:
total: 19.2 years
male: 18.6 years
female: 19.7 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.11% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
28.55 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
5.19 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
-2.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 28.79 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 31.21 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 26.24 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69.99 years
male: 68.22 years
female: 71.86 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.59 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
78,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
5,800 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: dengue fever and malaria (2008)
Nationality:
noun: Guatemalan(s)
adjective: Guatemalan
Ethnic groups:
Mestizo (mixed Amerindian-Spanish - in local Spanish called Ladino)
and European 59.4%, K'iche 9.1%, Kaqchikel 8.4%, Mam 7.9%, Q'eqchi
6.3%, other Mayan 8.6%, indigenous non-Mayan 0.2%, other 0.1% (2001
census)
Religions:
Roman Catholic, Protestant, indigenous Mayan beliefs
Languages:
Spanish 60%, Amerindian languages 40% (23 officially recognized
Amerindian languages, including Quiche, Cakchiquel, Kekchi, Mam,
Garifuna, and Xinca)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 69.1%
male: 75.4%
female: 63.3% (2002 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 10 years
male: 11 years
female: 10 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
2.6% of GDP (2006)
Government
Guatemala
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Guatemala
conventional short form: Guatemala
local long form: Republica de Guatemala
local short form: Guatemala
Government type:
constitutional democratic republic
Capital:
name: Guatemala
geographic coordinates: 14 37 N, 90 31 W
time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard
Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in April; ends last
Friday in September; note - there is no DST planned for 2007-2009
Administrative divisions:
22 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Alta
Verapaz, Baja Verapaz, Chimaltenango, Chiquimula, El Progreso,
Escuintla, Guatemala, Huehuetenango, Izabal, Jalapa, Jutiapa, Peten,
Quetzaltenango, Quiche, Retalhuleu, Sacatepequez, San Marcos, Santa
Rosa, Solola, Suchitepequez, Totonicapan, Zacapa
Independence: