remains were taken to Paris in 1840); harbors at least 40 species of
plants unknown anywhere else in the world; Ascension is a breeding
ground for sea turtles and sooty terns
@Saint Helena:People
Population: 7,036 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 20% (male 722; female 698)
15-64 years : 71% (male 2,621; female 2,396)
65 years and over: 9% (male 240; female 359) (1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.78% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 14.21 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 6.4 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth : 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 29.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.58 years
male : 72.53 years
female: 78.79 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.5 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Saint Helenian(s)
adjective: Saint Helenian
Ethnic groups: African descent, white
Religions: Anglican (majority), Baptist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Roman
Catholic
Languages: English
Literacy:
definition : age 20 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 98% (1987 est.)
@Saint Helena:Government
Country name:
conventional long form : none
conventional short form: Saint Helena
Data code: SH
Dependency status: dependent territory of the UK
Government type: NA
National capital: Jamestown
Administrative divisions: 1 administrative area and 2 dependencies*;
Ascension*, Saint Helena, Tristan da Cunha*
Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)
National holiday: Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen, 10 June
1989 (second Saturday in June)
Constitution: 1 January 1989
Legal system: NA
Suffrage: NA years of age
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952)
head of government: Governor and Commander in Chief David Leslie
SMALLMAN (since NA 1995)
cabinet: Executive Council consists of the governor, two ex-officio
officers, and six elected members of the Legislative Council
elections: none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; governor is
appointed by the queen
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council (16 seats,
including the governor, 2 ex-officio and 12 elected members; members
are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held NA July 1993 (next to be held NA July 1997)
election results : percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 15
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: none
International organization participation: ICFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (dependent territory of the
UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (dependent territory of
the UK)
Flag description: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side
quadrant and the Saint Helenian shield centered on the outer half of
the flag; the shield features a rocky coastline and three-masted
sailing ship
Economy
Economy - overview: The economy depends primarily on financial
assistance from the UK. The local population earns some income from
fishing, the raising of livestock, and sales of handicrafts. Because
there are few jobs, a large proportion of the work force has left to
seek employment overseas.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $NA
GDP - real growth rate: NA%
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $NA
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture : NA%
industry: NA%
services : NA%
Inflation rate - consumer price index: NA%
Labor force:
total: 2,416 (1991 est.)
by occupation: professional, technical, and related workers 8.7%,
managerial, administrative, and clerical 12.8%, sales people 8.1%,
farmer, fishermen, etc. 5.4%, craftspersons, production process
workers 14.7%, others 50.3% (1987)
note : a large proportion of the work force has left to seek
employment overseas
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $11.2 million
expenditures: $11 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY92/93)
Industries: crafts (furniture, lacework, fancy woodwork), fishing
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - capacity: NA kW
Electricity - production: NA kWh
Electricity - consumption per capita: NA kWh
Agriculture - products: maize, potatoes, vegetables; timber production
being developed; crawfishing on Tristan da Cunha
Exports:
total value : $704,000 (f.o.b., 1995)
commodities: fish (frozen and salt-dried skipjack, tuna), handicrafts
partners : South Africa, UK
Imports:
total value: $14.434 million (c.i.f., 1995)
commodities: food, beverages, tobacco, fuel oils, animal feed,
building materials, motor vehicles and parts, machinery and parts
partners : UK, South Africa
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 Saint Helenian pound (£S) = 100 pence
Exchange rates: Saint Helenian pounds (£S) per US$1 - 0.6023 (January
1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995), 0.6529 (1994), 0.6658 (1993),
0.5664 (1992); note - the Saint Helenian pound is at par with the
British pound
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
@Saint Helena:Communications
Telephones: 550
Telephone system:
domestic : automatic network; HF radiotelephone to Ascension, then
into worldwide submarine cable and satellite networks
international: major coaxial submarine cable relay point between South
Africa, Portugal, and UK at Ascension; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 2,500 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 0
Televisions: NA
Communications - note: Gough Island has a meteorological station
@Saint Helena:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total : NA km (mainland 118 km, Ascension NA km, Tristan da Cunha NA
km)
paved: 180.7 km (mainland 98 km, Ascension 80 km, Tristan da Cunha
2.70 km)
unpaved: NA km (mainland 20 km, Ascension NA km, Tristan da Cunha NA
km)
Ports and harbors: Georgetown (on Ascension), Jamestown
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 1 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (1996 est.)
Military
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS
@Saint Kitts and Nevis:Geography
Location: Caribbean, islands in the Caribbean Sea, about one-third of
the way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates: 17 20 N, 62 45 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 269 sq km
land: 269 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 135 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
territorial sea : 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental
margin
Climate: subtropical tempered by constant sea breezes; little seasonal
temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)
Terrain: volcanic with mountainous interiors
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Liamuiga 1,156 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use:
arable land: 22%
permanent crops : 17%
permanent pastures: 3%
forests and woodland: 17%
other: 41% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: hurricanes (July to October)
Environment - current issues: NA
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous
Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
@Saint Kitts and Nevis:People
Population: 41,803 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 34% (male 7,285; female 6,945)
15-64 years: 60% (male 12,471; female 12,395)
65 years and over : 6% (male 1,107; female 1,600) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.1% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 23.08 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 8.85 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: -3.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 18.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 67.22 years
male: 64.18 years
female: 70.44 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.49 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Kittsian(s), Nevisian(s)
adjective: Kittsian, Nevisian
Ethnic groups: black
Religions: Anglican, other Protestant sects, Roman Catholic
Languages: English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 97%
male : 97%
female: 98% (1980 est.)
@Saint Kitts and Nevis:Government
Country name:
conventional long form : Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis
conventional short form: Saint Kitts and Nevis
former: Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis
Data code: SC
Government type: constitutional monarchy
National capital: Basseterre
Administrative divisions: 14 parishes; Christ Church Nichola Town,
Saint Anne Sandy Point, Saint George Basseterre, Saint George
Gingerland, Saint James Windward, Saint John Capisterre, Saint John
Figtree, Saint Mary Cayon, Saint Paul Capisterre, Saint Paul
Charlestown, Saint Peter Basseterre, Saint Thomas Lowland, Saint
Thomas Middle Island, Trinity Palmetto Point
Independence: 19 September 1983 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 19 September (1983)
Constitution: 19 September 1983
Legal system: based on English common law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal adult
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General Dr. Cuthbert Montraville SEBASTIAN
(since 1 January 1996)
head of government : Prime Minister Dr. Denzil DOUGLAS (since 6 July
1995) and Deputy Prime Minister Sam CONDOR (since 6 July 1995)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general in consultation
with 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; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly (14 seats, 11
popularly elected from single member constituencies; members serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held 3 July 1995 (next to be held by July 2000)
election results: percent of vote by party - SKLNP 58%, PAM 41%; seats
by party - SKNLP 7, PAM 1, NRP 1, CCM 2
Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based on Saint
Lucia); one judge of the Supreme Court resides in Saint Kitts
Political parties and leaders: People's Action Movement (PAM), Dr.
Kennedy SIMMONDS; Saint Kitts and Nevis Labor Party (SKNLP), Dr.
Denzil DOUGLAS; Nevis Reformation Party (NRP), Joseph PARRY; Concerned
Citizens Movement (CCM), Vance AMORY
International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC,
FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
Interpol, IOC, OAS, OECS, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO,
WIPO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission : Ambassador Osbert LIBURD
chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
telephone: [1] (202) 686-2636
FAX: [1] (202) 686-5740
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an embassy
in Saint Kitts and Nevis; US interests are monitored by the embassy in
Bridgetown, Barbados
Flag description: divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a
broad black band bearing two white five-pointed stars; the black band
is edged in yellow; the upper triangle is green, the lower triangle is
red
Economy
Economy - overview: The economy has traditionally depended on the
growing and processing of sugarcane; decreasing world prices have hurt
the industry in recent years. Tourism and export-oriented
manufacturing have assumed larger roles. Most food is imported. The
newly elected government has undertaken a program designed to
revitalize the faltering sugar sector. It is also working to improve
revenue collection in order to better fund social programs.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $235 million (1996 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 4% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $5,700 (1996 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 6%
industry: 22%
services: 72% (1996 est.)
Inflation rate - consumer price index: -0.9% (1995)
Labor force:
total : 18,172 (June 1995)
by occupation: services 69%, manufacturing 31%
Unemployment rate: 4.3% (May 1995)
Budget:
revenues: $100.2 million
expenditures: $100.1 million, including capital expenditures of $41.4
million (1996 est.)
Industries: sugar processing, tourism, cotton, salt, copra, clothing,
footwear, beverages
Industrial production growth rate: NA %
Electricity - capacity: 15,000 kW (1995)
Electricity - production: 42 million kWh (1995)
Electricity - consumption per capita: NA kWh
Agriculture - products: sugarcane, rice, yams, vegetables, bananas;
fishing potential not fully exploited
Exports:
total value: $35.4 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
commodities: machinery, food, electronics, beverages and tobacco
partners: US 46.6%, UK 26.4%, Caricom nations 9.8% (1994)
Imports:
total value : $112.4 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
commodities: machinery, manufactures, food, fuels
partners: US 45%, Caricom nations 18.8%, UK 12.5%, Canada 4.2%, Japan
4.2%, (1994)
Debt - external: $45.3 million (1994 est.)
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
@Saint Kitts and Nevis:Communications
Telephones: 3,800 (1986 est.)
Telephone system: good interisland VHF/UHF/SHF radiotelephone
connections and international link via Antigua and Barbuda and Saint
Martin (Guadeloupe and Netherlands Antilles)
domestic : interisland links are handled by VHF/UHF/SHF radiotelephone
international: international calls are carried by radiotelephone to
Antigua and Barbuda and from there switched to submarine cable or to
Intelsat, or carried to Saint Martin (Guadeloupe and Netherlands
Antilles) by radiotelephone and switched to Intelsat
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 25,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 4
Televisions: 9,500 (1993 est.)
@Saint Kitts and Nevis:Transportation
Railways:
total: 58 km
narrow gauge: 58 km 0.762-m gauge on Saint Kitts to serve sugarcane
plantations (1995)
Highways:
total : 310 km
paved: 132 km
unpaved: 178 km (1995 est.)
Ports and harbors: Basseterre, Charlestown
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 2 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: Royal Saint Kitts and Nevis Police Force, Coast
Guard
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49 : NA
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males: NA
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: transshipment points for South American drugs destined
for the US
______________________________________________________________________
SAINT LUCIA
@Saint Lucia:Geography
Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North
Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates: 13 53 N, 60 68 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 620 sq km
land: 610 sq km
water : 10 sq km
Area - comparative: 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 158 km
Maritime claims: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone : 200 nm or to the edge of the continental
margin
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season from
January to April, rainy season from May to August
Terrain: volcanic and mountainous with some broad, fertile valleys
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Gimie 950 m
Natural resources: forests, sandy beaches, minerals (pumice), mineral
springs, geothermal potential
Land use:
arable land: 8%
permanent crops : 21%
permanent pastures: 5%
forests and woodland: 13%
other: 53% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: hurricanes and volcanic activity
Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil erosion,
particularly in the northern region
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
@Saint Lucia:People
Population: 150,630 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years : 35% (male 26,430; female 26,018)
15-64 years: 60% (male 44,117; female 45,922)
65 years and over: 5% (male 3,091; female 5,052) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.14% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 23.31 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 5.71 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: -6.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 17.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.36 years
male : 67.74 years
female: 75.23 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.44 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality:
noun : Saint Lucian(s)
adjective: Saint Lucian
Ethnic groups: black 90%, mixed 6%, East Indian 3%, white 1%
Religions: Roman Catholic 90%, Protestant 7%, Anglican 3%
Languages: English (official), French patois
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 67%
male: 65%
female : 69% (1980 est.)
@Saint Lucia:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Saint Lucia
Data code: ST
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 William George MALLET (since 1 June
1996)
head of government : Prime Minister Vaughn LEWIS (since 31 March 1996)
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 27 April 1992 (next to be
held NA May 1997)
election results: House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - UWP 11, SLP 6
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), Vaughn
LEWIS; Saint Lucia Labor Party (SLP), Kenneth ANTHONY; Saint Lucia
Freedom Party (SLFP), 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, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Joseph Edsel EDMUNDS
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
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 - $695 million (1996 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 4.3% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $4,400 (1996 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture : 13.8%
industry: 17.4%
services: 68.8% (1992 est.)
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 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: 25% (1995 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $361.5 million
expenditures: $311 million, including capital expenditures of $104
million (1995 est.)
Industries: clothing, assembly of electronic components, beverages,
corrugated cardboard boxes, tourism, lime processing, coconut
processing
Industrial production growth rate: NA %
Electricity - capacity: 34,000 kW (1995)
Electricity - production: NA kWh
Electricity - consumption per capita: 801 kWh (1995 est.)
Agriculture - products: bananas, coconuts, vegetables, citrus, root
crops, cocoa
Exports:
total value: $104.1 million (f.o.b., 1995)
commodities: bananas 60%, clothing, cocoa, vegetables, fruits, coconut
oil
partners: UK 56%, US 22%, Caricom countries 19% (1991)
Imports:
total value: $270.5 million (f.o.b., 1995)
commodities: manufactured goods 21%, machinery and transportation
equipment 21%, food and live animals, chemicals, fuels
partners: US 34%, Caricom countries 17%, UK 14%, Japan 7%, Canada 4%
(1991)
Debt - external: $115 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
(February 1997; fixed rate since 1976)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
@Saint Lucia:Communications
Telephones: 26,000 (1992 est.)