People Saint Lucia
Population:168,458 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 29.8% (male 25,941/female 24,319)15-64 years: 65% (male 53,916/female 55,582)65 years and over: 5.2% (male 3,186/female 5,514) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 25.2 yearsmale: 24.4 yearsfemale: 26.1 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:1.29% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:19.68 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:5.08 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:-1.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.07 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.58 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 13.17 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 14.29 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 11.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 73.84 yearsmale: 70.29 yearsfemale: 77.65 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.18 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality: noun: Saint Lucian(s) adjective: Saint Lucian
Ethnic groups:black 90%, mixed 6%, East Indian 3%, white 1%
Religions:Roman Catholic 67.5%, Seventh Day Adventist 8.5%, Pentecostal 5.7%,Anglican 2%, Evangelical 2%, other Christian 5.1%, Rastafarian 2.1%,other 1.1%, unspecified 1.5%, none 4.5% (2001 census)
Languages:English (official), French patois
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over has ever attended schooltotal population: 90.1%male: 89.5%female: 90.6% (2001 est.)
Government Saint Lucia
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Saint Lucia
Government type:parliamentary democracy
Capital:name: Castriesgeographic coordinates: 14 01 N, 61 00 Wtime difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
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 (since 6 February 1952),represented by Governor General Dame Pearlette LOUISY (sinceSeptember 1997)head of government: Prime Minister Sir John COMPTON (since 15December 2006)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice ofthe prime ministerelections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the governor general isappointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, theleader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalitionis usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputyprime minister appointed by the governor general
Legislative branch:bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (11 seats; 6 membersappointed on the advice of the prime minister, 3 on the advice ofthe leader of the opposition, and 2 after consultation withreligious, economic, and social groups) and the House of Assembly(17 seats; members are elected by popular vote from single-memberconstituencies to serve five-year terms)elections: House of Assembly - last held 11 December 2006 (next tobe held in December 2011)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 Vincentand the Grenadines)
Political parties and leaders:National Alliance or NA [George ODLUM]; Saint Lucia Freedom Partyor SFP [Martinus FRANCOIS]; Saint Lucia Labor Party or SLP [KennethANTHONY]; Sou Tout Apwe Fete Fini or STAFF [Christopher HUNTE];United Workers Party or UWP [Sir John COMPTON]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACCT, ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt(signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OIF, OPANAL, OPCW,UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Sonia Merlyn JOHNNY chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 telephone: [1] (202) 364-6792 through 6795 FAX: [1] (202) 364-6723 consulate(s) general: Miami, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:the US does not have an embassy in Saint Lucia; the US Ambassadorto Barbados is accredited to Saint Lucia
Flag description:blue, with a gold isosceles triangle below a black arrowhead; theupper edges of the arrowhead have a white border
Economy Saint Lucia
Economy - overview:Changes in the EU import preference regime and the increasedcompetition from Latin American bananas have made economicdiversification increasingly important in Saint Lucia. The islandnation has been able to attract foreign business and investment,especially in its offshore banking and tourism industries. Themanufacturing sector is the most diverse in the Eastern Caribbeanarea, and the government is trying to revitalize the bananaindustry. Economic fundamentals remain solid, even thoughunemployment needs to be cut.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$866 million (2002 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$825 million
GDP - real growth rate:5.1% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$4,800 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 7% industry: 20% services: 73% (2002 est.)
Labor force: 43,800 (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 21.7% industry: 24.7% services: 53.6% (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate:20% (2003 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.9% (2005 est.)
Budget:revenues: $141.2 millionexpenditures: $146.7 million; including capital expenditures of$25.1 million (2000 est.)
Agriculture - products:bananas, coconuts, vegetables, citrus, root crops, cocoa
Industries:clothing, assembly of electronic components, beverages, corrugatedcardboard boxes, tourism; lime processing, coconut processing
Industrial production growth rate:-8.9% (1997 est.)
Electricity - production:281 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:261.4 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption:2,520 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2003 est.)
Exports:$82 million (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:bananas 41%, clothing, cocoa, vegetables, fruits, coconut oil
Exports - partners:France 29.3%, US 17.4%, China 17%, UK 13.1%, Brazil 6.2% (2005)
Imports:$410 million (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:food 23%, manufactured goods 21%, machinery and transportationequipment 19%, chemicals, fuels
Imports - partners:US 24.1%, Trinidad and Tobago 15.5%, Netherlands 14.5%, Venezuela5.6%, UK 5.6%, France 4.7% (2005)
Debt - external:$257 million (2004)
Economic aid - recipient:$-21.5 million (2004)
Currency (code):East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Currency code:XCD
Exchange rates:East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7(2003), 2.7 (2002), 2.7 (2001)
Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
Communications Saint Lucia
Telephones - main lines in use:51,100 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:93,000 (2004)
Telephone system:general assessment: adequate systemdomestic: system is automatically switchedinternational: country code - 1-758; direct microwave radio relaylink with Martinique and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines;tropospheric scatter to Barbados; international calls beyond thesecountries are carried by Intelsat from Martinique
Radio broadcast stations:AM 2, FM 7, shortwave 0 (2004)
Radios:111,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (of which one is a commercial broadcast station and one is a community antenna television or CATV channel) (2004)
Televisions:32,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.lc
Internet hosts:21 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):15 (2000)
Internet users:55,000 (2005)
Transportation Saint Lucia
Airports:2 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 22,438 to 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)
Roadways:total: 910 kmpaved: 48 kmunpaved: 862 km (2000)
Ports and terminals:Castries, Cul-de-Sac, Vieux-Fort
Military Saint Lucia
Military branches:no regular military forces; Royal Saint Lucia Police Force(includes Special Service Unit, Coast Guard) (2006)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 42,742 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 33,539 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 1,651 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:NA
Transnational Issues Saint Lucia
Disputes - international:joins other Caribbean states to counter Venezuela's claim that AvesIsland sustains human habitation, a criterion under UNCLOS, whichpermits Venezuela to extend its EEZ/continental shelf over a largeportion of the Caribbean Sea
Illicit drugs:transit point for South American drugs destined for the US andEurope
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
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@Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Introduction Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Background:First settled by the French in the early 17th century, the islandsrepresent the sole remaining vestige of France's once vast NorthAmerican possessions.
Geography Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Location:Northern North America, islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, southof Newfoundland (Canada)
Geographic coordinates:46 50 N, 56 20 W
Map references:North America
Area:total: 242 sq kmland: 242 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmnote: includes eight small islands in the Saint Pierre and theMiquelon groups
Area - comparative:1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:120 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:cold and wet, with much mist and fog; spring and autumn are windy
Terrain:mostly barren rock
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Morne de la Grande Montagne 240 m
Natural resources: fish, deepwater ports
Land use: arable land: 12.5% permanent crops: 0% other: 87.5% (2005)
Irrigated land:NA
Natural hazards:persistent fog throughout the year can be a maritime hazard
Environment - current issues: recent test drilling for oil in waters around Saint Pierre and Miquelon may bring future development that would impact the environment
Geography - note: vegetation scanty
People Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Population:7,026 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 23.5% (male 843/female 807)15-64 years: 65.7% (male 2,342/female 2,272)65 years and over: 10.8% (male 348/female 414) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 34.1 yearsmale: 33.7 yearsfemale: 34.5 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:0.17% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:13.52 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:6.83 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:-4.98 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.07 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 7.38 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 8.46 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 6.24 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 78.61 yearsmale: 76.27 yearsfemale: 81.06 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.01 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women)adjective: French
Ethnic groups:Basques and Bretons (French fishermen)
Religions:Roman Catholic 99%
Languages:French (official)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99%male: 99%female: 99% (1982 est.)
Government Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Country name:conventional long form: Territorial Collectivity of Saint Pierreand Miquelonconventional short form: Saint Pierre and Miquelonlocal long form: Departement de Saint-Pierre et Miquelonlocal short form: Saint-Pierre et Miquelon
Dependency status:self-governing territorial collectivity of France
Government type:NA
Capital:name: Saint-Pierregeographic coordinates: 46 46 N, 56 11 Wtime difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; endsfirst Sunday in November; note - these new dates become effective in2007
Administrative divisions:none (territorial collectivity of France); note - there are nofirst-order administrative divisions as defined by the USGovernment, but there are two communes - Saint Pierre, Miquelon atthe second order
Independence:none (territorial collectivity of France; has been under Frenchcontrol since 1763)
National holiday:Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Constitution:4 October 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:French law with special adaptations for local conditions, such ashousing and taxation
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May1995), represented by Prefect Yves FAUQUEUR (since 28 August 2006)head of government: President of the General Council MarcPLANTAGENEST (since NA)cabinet: NAelections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-yearterm; election last held, 21 April 2002 (first round) and 5 May 2002(second round) (next to be held in 2007); prefect appointed by theFrench president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior;president of the General Council is elected by the members of thecouncil
Legislative branch:unicameral General Council or Conseil General (19 seats - 15 fromSaint Pierre and 4 from Miquelon; members are elected by popularvote to serve six-year terms)elections: elections last held 19 and 26 March 2000 (next to be heldin April 2006)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -PS 12, PRG 2, UDF-RPR 5note: Saint Pierre and Miquelon elect 1 seat to the French Senate;elections last held 26 September 2004 (next to be held in September2013); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP1; Saint Pierre and Miquelon also elects 1 seat to the FrenchNational Assembly; elections last held, first round - 9 June 2002,second round - 16 June 2002 (next to be held NA 2007); results -percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UDF 1
Judicial branch:Superior Tribunal of Appeals or Tribunal Superieur d'Appel
Political parties and leaders:Left Radical Party or PRG; Rassemblement pour la Republique or RPR(now UMP); Socialist Party or PS; Union pour la Democratie Francaiseor UDF
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:UPU, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (territorial collectivity of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (territorial collectivity of France)
Flag description:a yellow sailing ship facing the hoist side rides on a dark bluebackground with yellow wavy lines under the ship; on the hoist side,a vertical band is divided into three parts: the top part (calledikkurina) is red with a green diagonal cross extending to thecorners overlaid by a white cross dividing the rectangle into foursections; the middle part has a white background with an erminepattern; the third part has a red background with two stylizedyellow lions outlined in black, one above the other; these threeheraldic arms represent settlement by colonists from the BasqueCountry (top), Brittany, and Normandy; the flag of France is usedfor official occasions
Economy Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Economy - overview:The inhabitants have traditionally earned their livelihood byfishing and by servicing fishing fleets operating off the coast ofNewfoundland. The economy has been declining, however, because ofdisputes with Canada over fishing quotas and a steady decline in thenumber of ships stopping at Saint Pierre. In 1992, an arbitrationpanel awarded the islands an exclusive economic zone of 12,348 sq kmto settle a longstanding territorial dispute with Canada, althoughit represents only 25% of what France had sought. The islands areheavily subsidized by France to the great betterment of livingstandards. The government hopes an expansion of tourism will boosteconomic prospects. Recent test drilling for oil may pave the wayfor development of the energy sector.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$48.3 millionnote: supplemented by annual payments from France of about $60million (2003 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):NA
GDP - real growth rate:NA%
GDP - per capita (PPP):$7,000 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Labor force: 3,261 (1999)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 18% industry: 41% services: 41% (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate:10.3% (1999)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.1% (1991-96 average)
Budget:revenues: $70 millionexpenditures: $60 million; including capital expenditures of $24million (1996 est.)
Agriculture - products:vegetables; poultry, cattle, sheep, pigs; fish
Industries:fish processing and supply base for fishing fleets; tourism
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:44.15 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:41.06 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption:480 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2003 est.)
Exports:$7 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:fish and fish products, soybeans, animal feed, mollusks andcrustaceans, fox and mink pelts
Exports - partners:Spain 33.6%, Belgium 21.8%, India 18.3%, France 9.4%, US 7.5% (2005)
Imports:$70 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:meat, clothing, fuel, electrical equipment, machinery, buildingmaterials
Imports - partners:France 51.3%, Canada 31.8%, Belgium 4.1% (2005)
Debt - external:$NA
Economic aid - recipient:approximately $60 million in annual grants from France
Currency (code):euro (EUR)
Currency code:EUR
Exchange rates:euros per US dollar - 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003),1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Telephones - main lines in use:4,800 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:NA
Telephone system:general assessment: adequatedomestic: NAinternational: country code - 508; radiotelephone communication withmost countries in the world; 1 earth station in French domesticsatellite system
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:4,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 0 (there are, however, two repeaters which rebroadcast programs from France, Canada, and the US) (1997)
Televisions:4,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.pm
Internet hosts:0 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:NA
Transportation Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Airports:2 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 21,524 to 2,437 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)
Ports and terminals:Saint-Pierre
Military Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
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@Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Introduction Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Background:Resistance by native Caribs prevented colonization on St. Vincentuntil 1719. Disputed between France and the United Kingdom for mostof the 18th century, the island was ceded to the latter in 1783.Between 1960 and 1962, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines was aseparate administrative unit of the Federation of the West Indies.Autonomy was granted in 1969 and independence in 1979.
Geography Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Location:Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and North AtlanticOcean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates:13 15 N, 61 12 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 389 sq km (Saint Vincent 344 sq km)land: 389 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:84 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (Mayto November)
Terrain:volcanic, mountainous
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: La Soufriere 1,234 m
Natural resources:hydropower, cropland
Land use:arable land: 17.95%permanent crops: 17.95%other: 64.1% (2005)
Irrigated land:10 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:hurricanes; Soufriere volcano on the island of Saint Vincent is aconstant threat
Environment - current issues: pollution of coastal waters and shorelines from discharges by pleasure yachts and other effluents; in some areas, pollution is severe enough to make swimming prohibitive
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:the administration of the islands of the Grenadines group isdivided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada; SaintVincent and the Grenadines is comprised of 32 islands and cays
People Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Population:117,848 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 26.7% (male 16,007/female 15,426)15-64 years: 66.9% (male 40,676/female 38,155)65 years and over: 6.4% (male 3,315/female 4,269) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 26.9 yearsmale: 26.7 yearsfemale: 27.1 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:0.26% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:16.18 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:5.98 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:-7.59 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 14.4 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 15.67 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 13.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 73.85 yearsmale: 71.99 yearsfemale: 75.77 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.83 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Saint Vincentian(s) or Vincentian(s)adjective: Saint Vincentian or Vincentian
Ethnic groups:black 66%, mixed 19%, East Indian 6%, Carib Amerindian 2%, other 7%
Religions:Anglican 47%, Methodist 28%, Roman Catholic 13%, Hindu, Seventh-DayAdventist, other Protestant
Languages:English, French patois
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over has ever attended schooltotal population: 96%male: 96%female: 96% (1970 est.)
Government Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Government type:parliamentary democracy
Capital:name: Kingstowngeographic coordinates: 13 09 N, 61 14 Wtime difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:6 parishes; Charlotte, Grenadines, Saint Andrew, Saint David, SaintGeorge, Saint Patrick
Independence:27 October 1979 (from UK)
National holiday:Independence Day, 27 October (1979)
Constitution:27 October 1979
Legal system:based on English common law
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),represented by Governor General Sir Fredrick Nathaniel BALLANTYNE(since 2 September 2002)head of government: Prime Minister Ralph E. GONSALVES (since 29March 2001)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice ofthe prime ministerelections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the governor general isappointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, theleader of the majority party is usually appointed prime minister bythe governor general; deputy prime minister appointed by thegovernor general on the advice of the prime minister
Legislative branch:unicameral House of Assembly (21 seats, 15 elected representativesand 6 appointed senators; representatives are elected by popularvote from single-member constituencies to serve five-year terms)elections: last held 7 December 2005 (next to be held 2010)election results: percent of vote by party - ULP 55.26%, NDP 44.68%;seats by party - ULP 12, NDP 3
Judicial branch:Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based on Saint Lucia; one judge ofthe Supreme Court resides in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)
Political parties and leaders:New Democratic Party or NDP [Arnhim EUSTACE]; Unity Labor Party orULP [Ralph GONSALVES] (formed by the coalition of Saint VincentLabor Party or SVLP and the Movement for National Unity or MNU)
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM,IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber),ITU, MIGA, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ellsworth I. A. JOHN 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 theGrenadines; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to SaintVincent and the Grenadines
Flag description:three vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold (double width), andgreen; the gold band bears three green diamonds arranged in a Vpattern
Economy Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Economy - overview:Economic growth in this lower-middle-income country hinges uponseasonal variations in the agricultural and tourism sectors.Tropical storms wiped out substantial portions of crops in 1994,1995, and 2002, and tourism in the Eastern Caribbean has sufferedlow arrivals following 11 September 2001. Saint Vincent is home to asmall offshore banking sector and has moved to adopt internationalregulatory standards. Saint Vincent is also a producer of marijuanaand is being used as a transshipment point for illegal narcoticsfrom South America.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$342 million (2002 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$428 million
GDP - real growth rate:4.9% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$3,600 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 10% industry: 26% services: 64% (2001 est.)
Labor force: 41,680 (1991 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 26% industry: 17% services: 57% (1980 est.)
Unemployment rate:15% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):1% (2005 est.)
Budget:revenues: $94.6 millionexpenditures: $85.8 million; including capital expenditures of $NA(2000 est.)
Agriculture - products: bananas, coconuts, sweet potatoes, spices; small numbers of cattle, sheep, pigs, goats; fish
Industries:food processing, cement, furniture, clothing, starch
Industrial production growth rate:-0.9% (1997 est.)
Electricity - production:95 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 69.3% hydro: 30.7% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:88.35 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption:1,300 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2003 est.)
Exports:$37 million (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:bananas 39%, eddoes and dasheen (taro), arrowroot starch; tennisracquets
Exports - partners:France 50.3%, Italy 21%, Greece 11%, US 4.2% (2005)
Imports:$225 million (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, chemicals and fertilizers,minerals and fuels
Imports - partners:France 36.1%, Singapore 12.5%, Italy 11.9%, Trinidad and Tobago7.9%, US 7.2% (2005)
Debt - external:$223 million (2004)
Economic aid - recipient:$10.5 million (1995); note - EU $34.5 million (2004)
Currency (code):East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Currency code:XCD
Exchange rates:East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7(2003), 2.7 (2002), 2.7 (2001)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Telephones - main lines in use:22,500 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:70,600 (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: adequate systemdomestic: islandwide, fully automatic telephone system; VHF/UHFradiotelephone from Saint Vincent to the other islands of theGrenadinesinternational: country code - 1-784; VHF/UHF radiotelephone fromSaint Vincent to Barbados; new SHF radiotelephone to Grenada and toSaint Lucia; access to Intelsat earth station in Martinique throughSaint Lucia
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 6, shortwave 0 (2004)
Radios:77,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (plus three repeaters) (2004)
Televisions:18,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.vc
Internet hosts:94 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):15 (2000)
Internet users:8,000 (2005)
Transportation Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Airports: 6 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 1under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Roadways:total: 829 kmpaved: 580 kmunpaved: 249 km (2003)
Merchant marine:total: 589 ships (1000 GRT or over) 5,449,699 GRT/8,051,250 DWTby type: bulk carrier 106, cargo 351, chemical tanker 5, container20, liquefied gas 7, livestock carrier 1, passenger 5,passenger/cargo 15, petroleum tanker 18, refrigerated cargo 38, rollon/roll off 20, specialized tanker 3foreign-owned: 529 (Bangladesh 1, Barbados 1, Belgium 3, Bulgaria17, Canada 6, China 103, Croatia 9, Cyprus 1, Czech Republicregistered in other countries: 1 (Comoros 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Kingstown
Military Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Military branches:no regular military forces; Royal Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesPolice Force (includes Special Service Unit), Coast Guard (2005)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 31,489 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 25,787 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 1,204 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:NA
Transnational Issues Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Disputes - international:joins other Caribbean states to counter Venezuela's claim that AvesIsland sustains human habitation, a criterion under UNCLOS, whichpermits Venezuela to extend its EEZ/continental shelf over a largeportion of the Caribbean Sea
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the USand Europe; small-scale cannabis cultivation
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
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@Samoa
Introduction Samoa
Background:New Zealand occupied the German protectorate of Western Samoa atthe outbreak of World War I in 1914. It continued to administer theislands as a mandate and then as a trust territory until 1962, whenthe islands became the first Polynesian nation to reestablishindependence 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, aboutone-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates:13 35 S, 172 20 W
Map references:Oceania
Area:total: 2,944 sq kmland: 2,934 sq kmwater: 10 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:403 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; rainy season (November to April), dry season (May toOctober)
Terrain:two main islands (Savaii, Upolu) and several smaller islands anduninhabited islets; narrow coastal plain with volcanic, rocky,rugged mountains in interior
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mauga Silisili (Savaii) 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
Environment - current issues:soil erosion, deforestation, invasive species, overfishing
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, OzoneLayer Protectionsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:occupies an almost central position within Polynesia
People Samoa
Population:176,908 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 26.1% (male 23,492/female 22,653)15-64 years: 67.3% (male 74,202/female 44,894)65 years and over: 6.6% (male 5,299/female 6,368) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 25.2 yearsmale: 28.1 yearsfemale: 22 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:-0.2% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:16.43 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:6.62 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:-11.76 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.65 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.39 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 26.85 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 31.7 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 21.76 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 71 yearsmale: 68.2 yearsfemale: 73.94 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.94 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:12
HIV/AIDS - deaths:3
Nationality:noun: Samoan(s)adjective: Samoan
Ethnic groups:Samoan 92.6%, Euronesians 7% (persons of European and Polynesianblood), Europeans 0.4%
Religions:Congregationalist 34.8%, Roman Catholic 19.6%, Methodist 15%,Latter-Day Saints 12.7%, Assembly of God 6.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist3.5%, other Christian 4.5%, Worship Centre 1.3%, other 1.7%,unspecified 0.1% (2001 census)
Languages:Samoan (Polynesian), English
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99.7%male: 99.6%female: 99.7% (2003 est.)
Government Samoa
Country name:conventional long form: Independent State of Samoaconventional short form: Samoalocal long form: Malo Sa'oloto Tuto'atasi o Samoalocal short form: Samoaformer: Western Samoa
Government type:mix of parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy
Capital:name: Apiageographic coordinates: 13 50 S, 171 45Wtime difference: UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
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 1962is the date of independence from the New Zealand-administered UNtrusteeship, 1 June 1962 is the date that independence is celebrated
Constitution:1 January 1962
Legal system:based on English common law and local customs; judicial review oflegislative 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: Chief Tanumafili II MALIETOA (cochief of state from1 January 1962 until becoming sole chief of state 5 April 1963)head of government: Prime Minister Sailele Malielegaoi TUILA'EPA(since 1996); note - TUILA'EPA served as deputy prime minister from1992 and assumed the duties of acting prime minister in 1996, whenformer Prime Minister TOFILAU Eti Alesana resigned in poor health;TUILA'EPA was confirmed as prime minister (November 1998) afterTOFILAU died; Deputy Prime Minister MISA Telefoni (since 2001)cabinet: Cabinet consists of 12 members, appointed by the chief ofstate on the prime minister's adviceelections: upon the death of Chief Tanumafili II MALIETOA, a newchief of state will be elected by the Legislative Assembly to servea five-year term (no term limits); following legislative elections,the leader of the majority party is usually appointed prime ministerby the chief of state with the approval of the Legislative Assembly
Legislative branch:unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fono (49 seats - 47 elected byvoters affiliated with traditional village-based electoraldistricts, 2 elected by independent, mostly non-Samoan orpart-Samoan, voters who cannot, (or choose not to) establish avillage affiliation; only chiefs (matai) may stand for election tothe Fono from the 47 village-based electorates; members servefive-year terms)elections: election last held 31 March 2006 (next election to beheld 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 TitlesCourt
Political parties and leaders:Human Rights Protection Party or HRPP [Sailele MalielegaoiTUILA'EPA]; Samoa Christian Party or TCP [Tuala Tiresa MALIETOA];Samoa Democratic United Party or SDUP [LE MAMEA Ropati]; Samoa Partyor SP [Su'a Rimoni Ah CHONG]; Samoa Progressive Political Party orSPPP [Toeolesulusulu SIUEVA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACP, AsDB, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, IPU, ITU, MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca,SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Aliioaiga Feturi ELISAIAchancery: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400D, New York, NY 10017telephone: [1] (212) 599-6196, 6197FAX: [1] (212) 599-0797
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: US Ambassador to New Zealand is accredited toSamoaembassy: Accident Compensation Board (ACB) Building, 5th Floor,Beach Road, Apiamailing address: P. O. Box 3430, Apia, 0815telephone: [685] 21436/21452/21631/22696FAX: [685] 22030
Flag description:red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side quadrant bearingfive white five-pointed stars representing the Southern Crossconstellation
Economy Samoa
Economy - overview:The economy of Samoa has traditionally been dependent ondevelopment aid, family remittances from overseas, agriculture, andfishing. 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. Themanufacturing sector mainly processes agricultural products. Thedecline of fish stocks in the area is a continuing problem. Tourismis an expanding sector, accounting for 25% of GDP; about 88,000tourists visited the islands in 2001. One factory in the ForeignTrade Zone employs 3,000 people to make automobile electricalharnesses for an assembly plant in Australia. The Samoan Governmenthas called for deregulation of the financial sector, encouragementof investment, and continued fiscal discipline, while at the sametime protecting the environment. Observers point to the flexibilityof the labor market as a basic strength for future economicadvances. Foreign reserves are in a relatively healthy state, theexternal debt is stable, and inflation is low.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$1 billion (2002 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$399 million
GDP - real growth rate:5.5% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$2,100 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 11.4% industry: 58.4% services: 30.2% (2001 est.)
Labor force: 90,000 (2000 est.)
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):3.3% (2005)
Budget:revenues: $171.3 millionexpenditures: $78.1 million; including capital expenditures of $NA(2001-02)
Agriculture - products:coconuts, bananas, taro, yams, coffee, cocoa
Industries:food processing, building materials, auto parts
Industrial production growth rate:2.8% (2000)
Electricity - production:116 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 58% hydro: 42% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:107.9 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption:1,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2003 est.)
Current account balance:$-2.428 million
Exports:$94 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:fish, coconut oil and cream, copra, taro, automotive parts,garments, beer