the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; the governor general
appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the
leader of the majority party 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; representatives elected by popular vote to
serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 13 December 2010 (next to be held in 2015)
election results: percent of vote by party - ULP 51.6%, NDP 47.8%;
seats by party - ULP 8, NDP 7
Judicial branch:
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (consisting of a High Court and
Court of Appeals; based on Saint Lucia; two judges of the Supreme
Court reside in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)
Political parties and leaders:
New Democratic Party or NDP [Arnhim EUSTACE]; Unity Labor Party or
ULP [Ralph GONSALVES] (formed by the coalition of Saint Vincent
Labor Party or SVLP and the Movement for National Unity or MNU)
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU,
ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, PetroCaribe, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador La Celia A. PRINCE
chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
telephone: [1] (202) 364-6730
FAX: [1] (202) 364-6736
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines;
the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines
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, which stands for Vincent; the diamonds recall the islands
as the "Gems of the Antilles"; blue conveys the colors of a tropical
sky and crystal waters, yellow signifies the golden Grenadine sands,
and green represents lush vegetation
National anthem:
name: "St. Vincent! Land So Beautiful!"
lyrics/music: Phyllis Joyce MCCLEAN PUNNETT/Joel Bertram MIGUEL
note: adopted 1967
Economy ::Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Economy - overview:
Success of the economy hinges upon seasonal variations in
agriculture, tourism, and construction activity as well as
remittance inflows. Much of the workforce is employed in banana
production and tourism, but persistent high unemployment has
prompted many to leave the islands. This lower-middle-income country
is vulnerable to natural disasters - tropical storms wiped out
substantial portions of crops in 1994, 1995, and 2002. In 2008, the
islands had more than 200,000 tourist arrivals, mostly to the
Grenadines, a drop of nearly 20% from 2007. Saint Vincent is home to
a small offshore banking sector and has moved to adopt international
regulatory standards. The government's ability to invest in social
programs and respond to external shocks is constrained by its high
public debt burden, which was over 90% of GDP at the end of 2010.
Following the global downturn, St. Vincent and the Grenadines saw an
economic decline in 2009, after slowing since 2006, when GDP growth
reached a 10-year high of nearly 7%. The GONSALVES administration is
directing government resources to infrastructure projects, including
a new international airport that is expected to be completed in 2011.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.107 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
$1.102 billion (2009 est.)
$1.112 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$583 million (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
0.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
-1% (2009 est.)
-0.6% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$10,600 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
$10,500 (2009 est.)
$10,600 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 10%
industry: 26%
services: 64% (2001 est.)
Labor force:
57,520 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 26%
industry: 17%
services: 57% (1980 est.)
Unemployment rate:
15% (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.8% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
5.3% (2008 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
6.5% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 64
6.5% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
9.19% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
9.52% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$133 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 177
$138.7 million (31 December 2008)
Stock of broad money:
$444.4 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 173
$453.5 million (31 December 2008)
Stock of domestic credit:
$417.4 million (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
$387.8 million (31 December 2007 est.)
Agriculture - products:
bananas, coconuts, sweet potatoes, spices; small numbers of cattle,
sheep, pigs, goats; fish
Industries:
food processing, cement, furniture, clothing, starch
Electricity - production:
133.8 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
Electricity - consumption:
124.4 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
Oil - consumption:
2,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
Oil - imports:
1,451 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
Current account balance:
-$149 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
Exports:
$193 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 181
Exports - commodities:
bananas, eddoes and dasheen (taro), arrowroot starch; tennis racquets
Exports - partners:
Greece 40.04%, Poland 11.78%, France 9.05%, China 8.53%, India 4.71%
(2009)
Imports:
$578 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 185
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, chemicals and fertilizers,
minerals and fuels
Imports - partners:
Singapore 16.16%, Trinidad and Tobago 13.71%, US 13.41%, China
10.9%, Italy 8.89%, Turkey 6.6%, France 5.64%, Romania 4.44% (2009)
Debt - external:
$479 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
$223 million (2004)
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 ::Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Telephones - main lines in use:
23,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 187
Telephones - mobile cellular:
121,100 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 182
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate system
domestic: islandwide, fully automatic telephone system; VHF/UHF
radiotelephone from Saint Vincent to the other islands of the
Grenadines; mobile-cellular teledensity exceeds 100 telephones per
100 persons
international: country code - 1-784; the East Caribbean Fiber Optic
System (ECFS) and Southern Caribbean fiber optic system (SCF)
submarine cables carry international calls; connectivity also
provided by VHF/UHF radiotelephone from Saint Vincent to Barbados;
SHF radiotelephone to Grenada and Saint Lucia; access to Intelsat
earth station in Martinique through Saint Lucia
Broadcast media:
St. Vincent and the Grenadines Broadcasting Corporation operates 1
television station and 5 repeater stations that give near total
coverage to the multi-island state; multi-channel cable TV service
is obtainable; a partially government-funded national radio service
broadcasts on 1 station and has 2 repeater stations; about a dozen
privately-owned radio stations and repeater stations operate (2007)
Internet country code:
.vc
Internet hosts:
211 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 192
Internet users:
76,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 168
Transportation ::Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Airports:
6 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 171
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 829 km
country comparison to the world: 185
paved: 580 km
unpaved: 249 km (2003)
Merchant marine:
total: 444
country comparison to the world: 23
by type: bulk carrier 76, cargo 274, carrier 16, chemical tanker 4,
container 21, liquefied gas 3, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 9,
petroleum tanker 10, refrigerated cargo 12, roll on/roll off 15,
specialized tanker 2
foreign-owned: 382 (Austria 2, Bangladesh 1, Belgium 6, Bermuda 1,
Bulgaria 10, China 82, Croatia 8, Cyprus 2, Czech Republic 1,
Denmark 19, Dominica 1, Egypt 4, Estonia 10, France 2, Germany 2,
Greece 63, Guyana 2, Hong Kong 4, Israel 3, Italy 5, Japan 3, Kenya
2, Latvia 15, Lebanon 4, Lithuania 10, Monaco 3, Netherlands 2,
Nigeria 1, Norway 12, Oman 1, Pakistan 1, Poland 1, Romania 1,
Russia 15, Slovenia 2, Sweden 2, Switzerland 5, Syria 13, Turkey 18,
UAE 4, UK 7, Ukraine 12, US 19, Venezuela 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Kingstown
Military ::Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Military branches:
no regular military forces; Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Police Force, Coast Guard; for national defense, Saint Vincent
relies on the Regional Security System, headquartered in Barbados
(2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 27,940 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 22,932
females age 16-49: 22,134 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 990
female: 979 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
NA
Transnational Issues ::Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Disputes - international:
joins other Caribbean states to counter Venezuela's claim that Aves
Island sustains human habitation, a criterion under UNCLOS, which
permits Venezuela to extend its EEZ/continental shelf over a large
portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and
Europe; small-scale cannabis cultivation
page last updated on January 11, 2011
======================================================================
@Samoa (Australia-Oceania)
Introduction ::Samoa
Background:
New Zealand occupied the German protectorate of Western Samoa at the
outbreak of World War I in 1914. It continued to administer the
islands as a mandate and then as a trust territory until 1962, when
the islands became the first Polynesian nation to reestablish
independence in the 20th century. The country dropped the "Western"
from its name in 1997.
Geography ::Samoa
Location:
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way
between Hawaii and New Zealand
Geographic coordinates:
13 35 S, 172 20 W
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 2,831 sq km
country comparison to the world: 177
land: 2,821 sq km
water: 10 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
403 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; rainy season (November to April), dry season (May to
October)
Terrain:
two main islands (Savaii, Upolu) and several smaller islands and
uninhabited islets; narrow coastal plain with volcanic, rocky,
rugged mountains in interior
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Silisili 1,857 m
Natural resources:
hardwood forests, fish, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 21.13%
permanent crops: 24.3%
other: 54.57% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
occasional typhoons; active volcanism
volcanism: Savai'I Island (elev. 1,858 m, 6,096 ft), which last
erupted in 1911, is historically active
Environment - current issues:
soil erosion, deforestation, invasive species, overfishing
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
occupies an almost central position within Polynesia
People ::Samoa
Population:
192,001
country comparison to the world: 184
note: prior estimates used official net migration data by sex, but a
highly unusual pattern for 1993 lead to a significant imbalance in
the sex ratios (more men and fewer women) and a seeming reduction in
the female population; the revised total was calculated using a 1993
number that was an average of the 1992 and 1994 migration figures
(July 2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 37.6% (male 42,117/female 40,603)
15-64 years: 56.7% (male 65,541/female 59,292)
65 years and over: 5.7% (male 5,538/female 6,907) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 21.8 years
male: 21.7 years
female: 21.9 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.605% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
Birth rate:
22.92 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
Death rate:
5.36 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
Net migration rate:
-11.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 216
Urbanization:
urban population: 23% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.7% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 23.21 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 89
male: 27.42 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 18.78 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.13 years
country comparison to the world: 126
male: 69.28 years
female: 75.13 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.32 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Samoan(s)
adjective: Samoan
Ethnic groups:
Samoan 92.6%, Euronesians (persons of European and Polynesian blood)
7%, Europeans 0.4% (2001 census)
Religions:
Congregationalist 34.8%, Roman Catholic 19.6%, Methodist 15%,
Latter-Day Saints 12.7%, Assembly of God 6.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist
3.5%, Worship Centre 1.3%, other Christian 4.5%, other 1.9%,
unspecified 0.1% (2001 census)
Languages:
Samoan (Polynesian) (official), English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.7%
male: 99.6%
female: 99.7% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 13 years (2001)
Education expenditures:
5.4% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 50
Government ::Samoa
Country name:
conventional long form: Independent State of Samoa
conventional short form: Samoa
local long form: Malo Sa'oloto Tuto'atasi o Samoa
local short form: Samoa
former: Western Samoa
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Apia
geographic coordinates: 13 50 S, 171 44 W
time difference: UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
+1hr, begins last Sunday in September; ends first Sunday in April
Administrative divisions:
11 districts; A'ana, Aiga-i-le-Tai, Atua, Fa'asaleleaga,
Gaga'emauga, Gagaifomauga, Palauli, Satupa'itea, Tuamasaga,
Va'a-o-Fonoti, Vaisigano
Independence:
1 January 1962 (from New Zealand-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday:
Independence Day Celebration, 1 June (1962); note - 1 January 1962
is the date of independence from the New Zealand-administered UN
trusteeship; it is observed in June
Constitution:
1 January 1962
Legal system:
based on English common law and local customs; judicial review of
legislative acts with respect to fundamental rights of the citizen;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: TUIATUA Tupua Tamasese Efi (since 20 June 2007)
head of government: Prime Minister Sailele Malielegaoi TUILA'EPA
(since 1998); Deputy Prime Minister MISA Telefoni (since 2001)
cabinet: Cabinet consists of 12 members appointed by the chief of
state on the prime minister's advice
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: chief of state elected by the Legislative Assembly to
serve a five-year term (no term limits); election last held on 15
June 2007 (next to be held in 2012); following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party usually appointed prime
minister by the chief of state with the approval of the Legislative
Assembly
election results: TUIATUA Tupua Tamasese Efi unanimously elected by
the Legislative Assembly
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fono (49 seats, 47 members
elected by voters affiliated with traditional village-based
electoral districts, 2 elected by independent, mostly non-Samoan or
part-Samoan, voters who cannot, (or choose not to) establish a
village affiliation; only chiefs (matai) may stand for election to
the Fono from the 47 village-based electorates; members serve
five-year terms)
elections: election last held on 31 March 2006 (next election to be
held not later than March 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
HRPP 35, SDUP 10, independents 4
Judicial branch:
Court of Appeal; Supreme Court; District Court; Land and Titles Court
Political parties and leaders:
Human Rights Protection Party or HRPP [Sailele Malielegaoi
TUILA'EPA]; Samoa Christian Party or TCP [Tuala Tiresa MALIETOA];
Samoa Democratic United Party or SDUP [LE MAMEA Ropati]; Samoa Party
or SP [Su'a Rimoni Ah CHONG]; Samoa Progressive Political Party or
SPPP [Toeolesulusulu SIUEVA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU, ITUC, MIGA,
OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Aliioaiga Feturi ELISAIA
chancery: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400D, New York, NY 10017
telephone: [1] (212) 599-6196 through 6197
FAX: [1] (212) 599-0797
consulate(s) general: Pago Pago (American Samoa)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: US Ambassador to New Zealand is accredited to Samoa
embassy: Accident Corporation Building, 5th Floor, Matafele, Apia
mailing address: P. O. Box 3430, Matafele, Apia
telephone: [685] 21436/21631/21452/22696
FAX: [685] 22030
Flag description:
red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side quadrant bearing
five white five-pointed stars representing the Southern Cross
constellation; red stands for courage, blue represents freedom, and
white signifies purity
National anthem:
name: "O le Fu"a o le Sa"olotoga o Samoa" (The Banner of Freedom)
lyrics/music: Sauni Iiga KURESA
note: adopted 1962; the anthem is also known as "Samoa Tula'i"
(Samoa Arise)
Economy ::Samoa
Economy - overview:
The economy of Samoa has traditionally been dependent on development
aid, family remittances from overseas, agriculture, and fishing. The
country is vulnerable to devastating storms. Agriculture employs
two-thirds of the labor force and furnishes 90% of exports,
featuring coconut cream, coconut oil, and copra. The manufacturing
sector mainly processes agricultural products. One factory in the
Foreign Trade Zone employs 3,000 people to make automobile
electrical harnesses for an assembly plant in Australia. Tourism is
an expanding sector accounting for 25% of GDP; 122,000 tourists
visited the islands in 2007. In late September 2009, an earthquake
and the resulting tsunami severely damaged Samoa, and nearby
American Samoa, disrupting transportation and power generation, and
resulting in about 200 deaths. The Samoan Government has called for
deregulation of the financial sector, encouragement of investment,
and continued fiscal discipline, while at the same time protecting
the environment. Observers point to the flexibility of the labor
market as a basic strength for future economic advances. Foreign
reserves are in a relatively healthy state, the external debt is
stable, and inflation is low.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.002 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
$1.022 billion (2009 est.)
$1.059 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$550 million (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
-3.5% (2009 est.)
-3.4% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$5,200 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
$5,400 (2009 est.)
$5,600 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 11.6%
industry: 13.1%
services: 75.3% (2004 est.)
Labor force:
66,270 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
12.08% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
12.66% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$80.56 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 182
$60.13 million (31 December 2008)
Stock of broad money:
$283.2 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 178
$222.9 million (31 December 2008)
Stock of domestic credit:
$243 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 172
$208.9 million (31 December 2008)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
coconuts, bananas, taro, yams, coffee, cocoa
Industries:
food processing, building materials, auto parts
Industrial production growth rate:
2.8% (2000)
country comparison to the world: 115
Electricity - production:
109 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
Electricity - consumption:
101.4 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
Oil - consumption:
1,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
Oil - imports: