house or Senate and a lower house or House of Assembly
Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court
Leaders:
Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented
by Governor General Stanislaus Anthony JAMES (since 10 October 1988);
Head of Government--Prime Minister John George Melvin COMPTON (since
3 May 1982)
Political parties and leaders: United Workers' Party (UWP), John Compton;
St. Lucia Labor Party (SLP), Julian Hunte; Progressive Labor Party (PLP), George
Odlum
Suffrage: universal at age 18
Elections:
House of Assembly--last held 6 April 1987 (next to be held
April 1992);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(17 total) UWP 10, SLP 7
Communists: negligible
Member of: ACP, CARICOM, FAO, G-77, GATT (de facto), IBRD, ICAO, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, NAM, OAS, OECS, PAHO, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Dr. Joseph Edsel EDMUNDS;
Chancery at Suite 309, 2100 M Street NW, Washington DC 30037;
telephone (202) 463-7378 or 7379; there is a St. Lucian Consulate General
in New York;
US--none
Flag: blue with a gold isosceles triangle below a black arrowhead; the
upper edges of the arrowhead have a white border
- Economy
Overview: Since 1983 the economy has shown an impressive average
annual growth rate of almost 5% because of strong agricultural and tourist
industry sectors. There is also an expanding industrial base supported by
foreign investment in manufacturing and other activities, such as in data
processing. The economy, however, remains vulnerable because the important
agricultural sector is dominated by banana production. St. Lucia is subject
to periodic droughts and/or tropical storms, and its protected market agreement
with the UK for bananas may end in 1992.
GDP: $172 million, per capita $1,258; real growth rate 6.8% (1988
est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7.0% (1987)
Unemployment rate: 18.6% (1986)
Budget: revenues $71.7 million; expenditures $79.3 million,
including capital expenditures of $19.6 million (1987)
Exports: $76.8 million (f.o.b., 1987); commodities--bananas 67%,
cocoa, vegetables, fruits, coconut oil, clothing; partners--UK 55%,
CARICOM 21%, US 18%, other 6%
Imports: $178.1 million (c.i.f., 1987); commodities--manufactured
goods 22%, machinery and transportation equipment 21%, food and live animals
20%, mineral fuels, foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fertilizers, petroleum
products; partners--US 33%, UK 16%, CARICOM 14.8%, Japan 6.5%, other 29.7%
External debt: $39.5 million (December 1987)
Industrial production: growth rate 2.4% (1987)
Electricity: 20,000 kW capacity; 80 million kWh produced,
530 kWh per capita (1989)
Industries: clothing, assembly of electronic components, beverages,
corrugated boxes, tourism, lime processing, coconut processing
Agriculture: accounts for 15% of GDP and 43% of labor force;
crops--bananas, coconuts, vegetables, citrus fruit, root crops, cocoa;
imports food for the tourist industry
Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-87), $4 million; Western
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $93 million
Currency: East Caribbean dollar (plural--dollars);
1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1--2.70 (fixed rate
since 1976)
Fiscal Year: 1 April-31 March
- Communications
Highways: 760 km total; 500 km paved; 260 km otherwise improved
Ports: Castries
Civil air: 2 major transport aircraft
Airports: 2 total, 2 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
1 with runways 1,220-2,439
Telecommunications: fully automatic telephone system; 9,500 telephones;
direct radio relay link with Martinique and St. Vincent and the Grenadines;
interisland troposcatter link to Barbados; stations--4 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV (cable)
- Defense Forces
Branches: Royal St. Lucia Police Force
Military manpower: NA
Defense expenditures: NA
----------------------------------------------------
Country: St. Pierre and Miquelon
(territorial collectivity of France)
- Geography
Total area: 242 km2; land area: 242 km2; includes eight small islands
in the St. Pierre and the Miquelon groups
Comparative area: slightly less than 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: none
Coastline: 120 km
Maritime claims:
Contiguous zone: 12 nm;
Continental shelf: 200 meters or to depth of exploitation;
Extended economic zone: 200 nm;
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Disputes: focus of maritime boundary dispute between Canada and
France
Climate: cold and wet, with much mist and fog; spring and autumn are windy
Terrain: mostly barren rock
Natural resources: fish, deepwater ports
Land use: 13% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 0% meadows and pastures;
4% forest and woodland; 83% other
Environment: vegetation scanty
Note: located 25 km south of Newfoundland, Canada, in the
North Atlantic Ocean
- People
Population: 6,330 (July 1990), growth rate 0.4% (1990)
Birth rate: 17 births/1,000 population (1990)
Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
Net migration rate: - 6 migrants/1,000 population (1990)
Infant mortality rate: 9 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
Life expectancy at birth: 72 years male, 79 years female (1990)
Total fertility rate: 2.2 children born/woman (1990)
Nationality: noun--Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women); adjective--French
Ethnic divisions: originally Basques and Bretons (French fishermen)
Religion: 98% Roman Catholic
Language: French
Literacy: NA%, but compulsory education between 6 and 16 years of age
Labor force: 2,510 (1982)
Organized labor: Workers' Force trade union
- Government
Long-form name: Territorial Collectivity of Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Type: territorial collectivity of France
Capital: St. Pierre
Administrative divisions: none (territorial collectivity of France)
Independence: none (territorial collectivity of France)
Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system: French law
National holiday: National Day, 14 July
Executive branch: commissioner of the Republic
Legislative branch: unicameral General Council
Judicial branch: Superior Tribunal of Appeals (Tribunal Superieur
d'Appel)
Leaders:
Chief of State--President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981);
Head of Government--Commissioner of the Republic Jean-Pierre MARQUIE
(since February 1989); President of the General Council Marc PLANTEGENEST
(since NA)
Political parties and leaders: Socialist Party (PS);
Union for French Democracy (UDF/CDS), Gerard Grignon
Suffrage: universal at age 18
Elections:
General Council--last held September-October 1988 (next to be
held September 1994);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(19 total) Socialist and other left-wing parties 13, UDF and
right-wing parties 6;
French President--last held 8 May 1988 (next to be held May 1995);
results--(second ballot) Jacques Chirac 56%, Francois Mitterrand 44%;
French Senate--last held 24 September 1989 (next
to be held September 1992);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(1 total) PS 1;
French National Assembly--last held 5 and 12 June 1988
(next to be held June 1993);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(1 total) UDF/CDS 1
Diplomatic representation: as a territorial collectivity of France,
local interests are represented in the US by France
Flag: the flag of France is used
- 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 St. Pierre has steadily dropped over the years. In
March 1989, an agreement between France and Canada set fish quotas for
St. Pierre's trawlers fishing in Canadian and Canadian-claimed waters for
three years. The agreement settles a longstanding dispute that had
virtually brought fish exports to a halt. The islands are heavily
subsidized by France. Imports come primarily from Canada.
GDP: $NA, per capita $2,495 (1984); real growth rate NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Unemployment rate: 13.3% (1987)
Budget: revenues $NA million; expenditures $13.9 million,
including capital expenditures of $NA (1988)
Exports: $23.3 million (f.o.b., 1986); commodities--fish and fish
products, fox and mink pelts; partners--US 58%, France 17%, UK 11%,
Canada, Portugal
Imports: $50.3 million (c.i.f., 1986); commodities--meat, clothing,
fuel, electrical equipment, machinery, building materials;
partners--Canada, France, US, Netherlands, UK
External debt: $NA
Industrial production: growth rate NA%
Electricity: 10,000 kW capacity; 25 million kWh produced,
3,970 kWh per capita (1989)
Industries: fishing and supply base for fishing fleets; tourism
Agriculture: vegetables, cattle, sheep and pigs for local
consumption; fish catch, 14,750 metric tons (1986)
Aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-87), $477 million
Currency: French franc (plural--francs); 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1--5.7598 (January 1990),
6.3801 (1989), 5.9569 (1988), 6.0107 (1987), 6.9261 (1986), 8.9852 (1985)
Fiscal year: calendar year
- Communications
Highways: 120 km total; 60 kM paved (1985)
Ports: St. Pierre
Civil air: Air Saint-Pierre
Airports: 2 total, 2 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways,
none with runways over 2,439 m; 1 with runway 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications: 3,601 telephones; stations--1 AM, 3 FM, no TV;
radiotelecommunication with most countries in the world; 1 satellite earth
station in French domestic system
- Defense Forces
Note: defense is the responsibility of France
----------------------------------------------------
Country: St. Vincent and the Grenadines
- Geography
Total area: 340 km2; land area: 340 km2
Comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: none
Coastline: 84 km
Maritime claims:
Contiguous zone: 24 nm;
Extended economic zone: 200 nm;
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; little seasonal temperature variation;
rainy season (May to November)
Terrain: volcanic, mountainous; Soufriere volcano on the island of
St. Vincent
Natural resources: negligible
Land use: 38% arable land; 12% permanent crops; 6% meadows and
pastures; 41% forest and woodland; 3% other; includes 3% irrigated
Environment: subject to hurricanes; Soufriere volcano is a constant
threat
Note: some islands of the Grenadines group are administered by Grenada
- People
Population: 112,646 (July 1990), growth rate 1.4% (1990)
Birth rate: 27 births/1,000 population (1990)
Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
Net migration rate: - 8 migrants/1,000 population (1990)
Infant mortality rate: 32 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
Life expectancy at birth: 68 years male, 72 years female (1990)
Total fertility rate: 2.9 children born/woman (1990)
Nationality: noun--St. Vincentian(s) or Vincentian(s); adjectives--St.
Vincentian or Vincentian
Ethnic divisions: mainly of black African descent; remainder mixed, with
some white, East Indian, Carib Indian
Religion: Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Seventh-Day Adventist
Language: English, some French patois
Literacy: 82%
Labor force: 67,000 (1984 est.)
Organized labor: 10% of labor force
- Government
Long-form name: none
Type: constitutional monarchy
Capital: Kingstown
Administrative divisions: 6 parishes; Charlotte, Grenadines,
Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint Patrick
Independence: 27 October 1979 (from UK)
Constitution: 27 October 1979
Legal system: based on English common law
National holiday: Independence Day, 27 October (1979)
Executive branch: British monarch, governor general, prime minister,
Cabinet
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly (includes 15 elected
representatives and six appointed senators)
Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court
Leaders:
Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented
by Governor General David JACK (since 29 Septermber 1989);
Head of Government--Prime Minister James F. MITCHELL (since 30 July 1984)
Political parties and leaders: New Democratic Party (NDP), James (Son)
Mitchell; St. Vincent Labor Party (SVLP), Vincent Beach; United People's
Movement (UPM), Adrian Saunders; Movement for National Unity (MNU),
Ralph Gonsalves; National Reform Party (NRP), Joel Miguel
Suffrage: universal at age 18
Elections:
House of Assembly--last held 16 May 1989
(next to be held July 1994);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(15 total) NDP 15
Member of: ACP, CARICOM, FAO, G-77, GATT (de facto), IBRD, ICAO,
IDA, IFAD, IMF, IMO, OAS, OECS, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO
Diplomatic representation: none
Flag: three vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold (double width), and
green; the gold band bears three green diamonds arranged in a V pattern
- Economy
Overview: Agriculture, dominated by banana production, is the most
important sector of the economy, providing employment for over 60% of the labor
force and contributing about 20% to GDP. The services sector is next in
importance, based mostly on a growing tourist industry. The economy
continues to have a high unemployment rate of 30% because of an
overdependence on the weather-plagued banana crop as a major export earner.
Government progress toward diversifying into new industries has been relatively
unsuccessful.
GDP: $136 million, per capita $1,305; real growth rate 8.4% (1988)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.0% (1988)
Unemployment rate: 30% (1989 est.)
Budget: revenues $42.7 million; expenditures $67.5 million,
including capital expenditures of $25.8 (FY88)
Exports: $63.8 million (f.o.b., 1986); commodities--bananas,
eddoes and dasheen (taro), arrowroot starch, copra;
partners--CARICOM 60%, UK 27%, US 10%
Imports: $87.3 million (c.i.f., 1986); commodities--foodstuffs,
machinery and equipment, chemicals and fertilizers, minerals and fuels;
partners--US 37%, CARICOM 18%, UK 13%
External debt: $35 million (July 1987)
Industrial production: growth rate - 1.2% (1986)
Electricity: 16,600 kW capacity; 64 million kWh produced,
610 kWh per capita (1989)
Industries: food processing (sugar, flour), cement, furniture, rum,
starch, sheet metal, beverage
Agriculture: accounts for 20% of GDP and 60% of labor force; provides bulk
of exports; products--bananas, arrowroot (world's largest producer), coconuts,
sweet potatoes, spices; small numbers of cattle, sheep, hogs, goats; small fish
catch used locally
Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-87), $11 million; Western
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $71 million
Currency: East Caribbean dollar (plural--dollars);
1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1--2.70 (fixed rate
since 1976)
Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June
- Communications
Highways: about 1,000 km total; 300 km paved; 400 km improved; 300 km
unimproved
Ports: Kingstown
Merchant marine: 175 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,305,945
GRT/2,029,935 DWT; includes 2 passenger, 1 passenger cargo, 103 cargo,
10 container, 8 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 4 refrigerated cargo,
9 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 4 chemical tanker,
2 liquefied gas, 28 bulk, 4 combination bulk; note--a flag of convenience
registry
Civil air: no major transport aircraft
Airports: 6 total, 6 usable; 4 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 2,439 m; 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications: islandwide fully automatic telephone system;
6,500 telephones; VHF/UHF interisland links to Barbados and the Grenadines;
new SHF links to Grenada and St. Lucia; stations--2 AM, no FM, 1 TV (cable)
- Defense Forces
Branches: Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force
Military manpower: NA
Defense expenditures: NA
----------------------------------------------------
Country: San Marino
- Geography
Total area: 60 km2; land area: 60 km2
Comparative area: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundary: 39 km with Italy
Coastline: none--landlocked
Maritime claims: none--landlocked
Climate: Mediterranean; mild to cool winters; warm, sunny summers
Terrain: rugged mountains
Natural resources: building stones
Land use: 17% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 0% meadows and pastures;
0% forest and woodland; 83% other
Environment: dominated by the Appenines
Note: landlocked; world's smallest republic; enclave of Italy
- People
Population: 23,123 (July 1990), growth rate 0.6% (1990)
Birth rate: 8 births/1,000 population (1990)
Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
Net migration rate: 5 migrants/1,000 population (1990)
Infant mortality rate: 9 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
Life expectancy at birth: 74 years male, 79 years female (1990)
Total fertility rate: 1.3 children born/woman (1990)
Nationality: noun--Sanmarinese (sing. and pl.); adjective--Sanmarinese
Ethnic divisions: Sanmarinese, Italian
Religion: Roman Catholic
Language: Italian
Literacy: 97%
Labor force: about 4,300
Organized labor: Democratic Federation of Sanmarinese Workers (affiliated
with ICFTU) has about 1,800 members; Communist-dominated General Federation of
Labor, 1,400 members
- Government
Long-form name: Republic of San Marino
Type: republic
Capital: San Marino
Administrative divisions: 9 municipalities (castelli, singular--castello);
Acquaviva, Borgo Maggiore, Chiesanuova, Domagnano, Faetano, Fiorentino,
Monte Giardino, San Marino, Serravalle
Independence: 301 (by tradition)
Constitution: 8 October 1600; electoral law of 1926 serves some of the
functions of a constitution
Legal system: based on civil law system with Italian law influences;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday: Anniversary of the Foundation of the Republic,
3 September
Executive branch: two captains regent, Congress of State (cabinet); real
executive power is wielded by the secretary of state for foreign affairs and the
secretary of state for internal affairs
Legislative branch: unicameral Grand and General Council (Consiglio
Grande e Generale)
Judicial branch: Council of Twelve (Consiglio dei XII)
Leaders:
Co-Chiefs of State and Co-Heads of Government--Captain Regent Salvatori
REVES (since April 1989) and Captain Regent Luciano CARDELLI (since April 1989);
Captains Regent are elected for six-month terms
Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Party (DCS),
Gabriele Gatti; Communist Party (PCS), Gilberto Ghiotti; Socialist Unity Party
(PSU), Emilio Della Balda and Patrizia Busignani; San Marino Socialist Party
(PSS), Antonio Volpinari; San Marino Social Democratic Party (PSDS),
Augusto Casali; San Marino Republican Party (PRS), Cristoforo Buscarini
Suffrage: universal at age 18
Elections:
Grand and General Council--last held 29 May 1988
(next to be held by May 1993);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(60 total) DCS 27, PCS 18, PSU 8, PSS 7
Communists: about 300 members; the PCS, in conjunction with the PSS, PSU,
and PSDS, has led the government since 1978
Other political parties or pressure groups: political parties influenced
by policies of their counterparts in Italy
Member of: ICJ, ITU, IRC, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WTO; observer
status in NAM
Diplomatic representation: San Marino maintains honorary
Consulates General in Washington and New York, and an honorary Consulate
in Detroit;
US--no mission in San Marino, but the Consul General in Florence
(Italy) is accredited to San Marino; Consulate General at
38 Lungarno Amerigo Vespucci, Florence, Italy (mailing address is APO
NY 09019); telephone [39] (55) 298-276
Flag: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and light blue with the
national coat of arms superimposed in the center; the coat of arms has a shield
(featuring three towers on three peaks) flanked by a wreath, below a crown and
above a scroll bearing the word LIBERTAS (Liberty)
- Economy
Overview: The economy relies heavily on the tourist industry as a source
of revenue. More than 2 million tourists visit each year, contributing about
60% to GDP. The sale of postage stamps to foreign collectors is another
important income producer. The manufacturing sector employs nearly 40% of the
labor force and agriculture less than 4%. The per capita level of output
and standard of living are comparable to northern Italy.
GDP: $NA, per capita $NA; real growth rate NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.4% (1986)
Unemployment rate: 6.5% (1985)
Budget: revenues $99.2 million; expenditures $NA, including
capital expenditures of $NA (1983)
Exports: trade data are included with the statistics for Italy; commodity
trade consists primarily of exchanging building stone, lime, wood, chestnuts,
wheat, wine, baked goods, hides, and ceramics for a wide variety of consumer
manufactures
Imports: see Exports
External debt: $NA
Industrial production: growth rate NA%
Electricity: supplied by Italy
Industries: wine, olive oil, cement, leather, textile, tourist
Agriculture: employs less than 4% of labor force; products--wheat, grapes,
corn, olives, meat, cheese, hides; small numbers of cattle, pigs, horses;
depends on Italy for food imports
Aid: NA
Currency: Italian lira (plural--lire);
1 Italian lira (Lit) = 100 centesimi; also mints its own coins
Exchange rates: Italian lire (Lit) per US$1--1,262.5 (January 1990),
1,372.1 (1989), 1,301.6 (1988), 1,296.1 (1987), 1,490.8 (1986), 1,909.4 (1985)
Fiscal year: calendar year
- Communications
Highways: 104 km
Telecommunications: automatic telephone system; 11,700 telephones;
stations--no AM, 20 FM, no TV; radio relay and cable links into Italian
networks; no communication satellite facilities
- Defense Forces
Branches: public security or police force of less than 50 people
Military manpower: all fit men ages 16-60 constitute a militia that can
serve as an army
Defense expenditures: NA
----------------------------------------------------
Country: Sao Tome and Principe
- Geography
Total area: 960 km2; land area: 960 km2
Comparative area: slightly less than 5.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: none
Coastline: 209 km
Maritime claims: (measured from claimed archipelagic baselines);
Extended economic zone: 200 nm;
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; one rainy season (October to May)
Terrain: volcanic, mountainous
Natural resources: fish
Land use: 1% arable land; 20% permanent crops; 1% meadows and pastures;
75% forest and woodland; 3% other
Environment: deforestation; soil erosion
Note: located south of Nigeria and west of Gabon near the Equator
in the North Atlantic Ocean
- People
Population: 124,765 (July 1990), growth rate 3.0% (1990)
Birth rate: 38 births/1,000 population (1990)
Death rate: 8 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1990)
Infant mortality rate: 61 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
Life expectancy at birth: 64 years male, 67 years female (1990)
Total fertility rate: 5.4 children born/woman (1990)
Nationality: noun--Sao Tomean(s); adjective--Sao Tomean
Ethnic divisions: mestico, angolares (descendents of Angolan slaves),
forros (descendents of freed slaves), servicais (contract laborers from Angola,
Mozambique, and Cape Verde), tongas (children of servicais born on the islands),
and Europeans (primarily Portuguese)
Religion: Roman Catholic, Evangelical Protestant, Seventh-Day Adventist
Language: Portuguese (official)
Literacy: 50% (est.)