Chapter 40

Overview: Although possessing many natural resources and considerable potential for agricultural development, Guinea is one of the poorest countries in the world. The agricultural sector contributes about 40% to GDP and employs more than 80% of the work force, while industry accounts for 27% of GDP. Guinea possesses over 25% of the world's bauxite reserves; exports of bauxite and alumina accounted for about 70% of total exports in 1989. National product: GDP - exchange rate conversion - $3 billion (1990 est.) National product real growth rate: 4.3% (1990 est.) National product per capita: $410 (1990 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 19.6% (1990 est.) Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues $449 million; expenditures $708 million, including capital expenditures of $361 million (1990 est.) Exports: $788 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.) commodities: alumina, bauxite, diamonds, coffee, pineapples, bananas, palm kernels partners: US 33%, EC 33%, USSR and Eastern Europe 20%, Canada Imports: $692 million (c.i.f., 1990 est.) commodities: petroleum products, metals, machinery, transport equipment, foodstuffs, textiles, and other grain partners: US 16%, France, Brazil External debt: $2.6 billion (1990 est.) Industrial production: growth rate NA%; accounts for 27% of GDP Electricity: 113,000 kW capacity; 300 million kWh produced, 40 kWh per capita (1989) Industries: bauxite mining, alumina, gold, diamond mining, light manufacturing and agricultural processing industries Agriculture: accounts for 40% of GDP (includes fishing and forestry); mostly subsistence farming; principal products - rice, coffee, pineapples, palm kernels, cassava, bananas, sweet potatoes, timber; livestock - cattle, sheep and goats; not self-sufficient in food grains Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $227 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1,465 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $120 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $446 million Currency: 1 Guinean franc (FG) = 100 centimes Exchange rates: Guinean francs (FG) per US$1 - 675 (1990), 618 (1989), 515 (1988), 440 (1987), 383 (1986) Fiscal year: calendar year

*Guinea, Communications

Railroads: 1,045 km; 806 km 1.000-meter gauge, 239 km 1.435-meter standard gauge Highways: 30,100 km total; 1,145 km paved, 12,955 km gravel or laterite (of which barely 4,500 km are currently all-weather roads), 16,000 km unimproved earth (1987) Inland waterways: 1,295 km navigable by shallow-draft native craft Ports: Conakry, Kamsar Airports: total: 15 usable: 15 with permanent-surface runways: 4 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 3 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 10 Telecommunications: poor to fair system of open-wire lines, small radiocommunication stations, and new radio relay system; 15,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 3 AM 1 FM, 1 TV; 65,000 TV sets; 200,000 radio receivers; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

*Guinea, Defense Forces

Branches: Army, Navy (acts primarily as a coast guard), Air Force, Presidential Guard, Republican Guard, paramilitary National Gendarmerie, National Police Force Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,403,776; fit for military service 708,078 (1993 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $29 million, 1.2% of GDP (1988)

*Guinea-Bissau, Geography

Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean between Guinea and Senegal Map references: Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 36,120 km2 land area: 28,000 km2 comparative area: slightly less than three times the size of Connecticut Land boundaries: total 724 km, Guinea 386 km, Senegal 338 km Coastline: 350 km Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on 12 November 1991 rendered its decision on the Guinea-Bissau/Senegal maritime boundary in favor of Senegal Climate: tropical; generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds Terrain: mostly low coastal plain rising to savanna in east Natural resources: unexploited deposits of petroleum, bauxite, phosphates, fish, timber Land use: arable land: 11% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 43% forest and woodland: 38% other: 7% Irrigated land: NA km2 Environment: hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry season

*Guinea-Bissau, People

Population: 1,072,439 (July 1993 est.) Population growth rate: 2.38% (1993 est.) Birth rate: 41.26 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate: 17.45 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate: 122.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 47.03 years male: 45.38 years female: 48.73 years (1993 est.) Total fertility rate: 5.6 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality: noun: Guinea-Bissauan(s) adjective: Guinea-Bissauan Ethnic divisions: African 99% (Balanta 30%, Fula 20%, Manjaca 14%, Mandinga 13%, Papel 7%), European and mulatto less than 1% Religions: indigenous beliefs 65%, Muslim 30%, Christian 5% Languages: Portuguese (official), Criolo, African languages Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990) total population: 36% male: 50% female: 24% Labor force: 403,000 (est.) by occupation: agriculture 90%, industry, services, and commerce 5%, government 5% note: population of working age 53% (1983)

*Guinea-Bissau, Government

Names: conventional long form: Republic of Guinea-Bissau conventional short form: Guinea-Bissau local long form: Republica de Guine-Bissau local short form: Guine-Bissau former: Portuguese Guinea Digraph: PU Type: republic highly centralized multiparty since mid-1991; the African Party for the Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde (PAIGC) held an extraordinary party congress in December 1990 and established a two-year transition program during which the constitution will be revised, allowing for multiple political parties and a presidential election in 1993 Capital: Bissau Administrative divisions: 9 regions (regioes, singular - regiao); Bafata, Biombo, Bissau, Bolama, Cacheu, Gabu, Oio, Quinara, Tombali Independence: 10 September 1974 (from Portugal) Constitution: 16 May 1984 Legal system: NA National holiday: Independence Day, 10 September (1974) Political parties and leaders: African Party for the Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde (PAIGC), President Joao Bernardo VIEIRA, leader; Democratic Social Front (FDS), Rafael BARBOSA, leader; Bafata Movement, Domingos Fernandes GARNER, leader; Democratic Front, Aristides MENEZES, leader note: PAIGC is still the major party (of 10 parties) and controls all aspects of the government Suffrage: 15 years of age; universal Elections: National People's Assembly: last held 15 June 1989 (next to be held 15 June 1994); results - PAIGC is the only party; seats - (150 total) PAIGC 150, appointed by Regional Councils President of Council of State: last held 19 June 1989 (next to be held NA 1993); results - Gen. Joao Bernardo VIEIRA was reelected without opposition by the National People's Assembly Executive branch: president of the Council of State, vice presidents of the Council of State, Council of State, Council of Ministers (cabinet) Legislative branch: unicameral National People's Assembly (Assembleia Nacional Popular) Judicial branch: none; there is a Ministry of Justice in the Council of Ministers

*Guinea-Bissau, Government

Leaders: Chief of State and Head of Government: President of the Council of State Gen. Joao Bernardo VIEIRA (assumed power 14 November 1980 and elected President of Council of State on 16 May 1984) Member of: ACCT (associate), ACP, AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOM (observer), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMOZ, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Alfredo Lopes CABRAL chancery: 918 16th Street NW, Mezzanine Suite, Washington, DC 20006 telephone: (202) 872-4222 US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Roger A. MAGUIRE embassy: 17 Avenida Domingos Ramos, Bissau mailing address: 1067 Bissau Codex, Bissau telephone: [245] 20-1139, 20-1145, 20-1113 FAX: [245] 20-1159 Flag: two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and green with a vertical red band on the hoist side; there is a black five-pointed star centered in the red band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag of Cape Verde, which has the black star raised above the center of the red band and is framed by two corn stalks and a yellow clam shell

*Guinea-Bissau, Economy

Overview: Guinea-Bissau ranks among the poorest countries in the world, with a per capita GDP of roughly $200. Agriculture and fishing are the main economic activities. Cashew nuts, peanuts, and palm kernels are the primary exports. Exploitation of known mineral deposits is unlikely at present because of a weak infrastructure and the high cost of development. The government's four-year plan (1988-91) targeted agricultural development as the top priority. National product: GDP - exchange rate conversion - $210 million (1991 est.) National product real growth rate: 2.3% (1991 est.) National product per capita: $210 (1991 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 55% (1991 est.) Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues $33.6 million; expenditures $44.8 million, including capital expenditures of $.57 million (1991 est.) Exports: $20.4 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.) commodities: cashews, fish, peanuts, palm kernels partners: Portugal, Senegal, France, The Gambia, Netherlands, Spain Imports: $63.5 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.) commodities: capital equipment, consumer goods, semiprocessed goods, foods, petroleum partners: Portugal, Netherlands, Senegal, USSR, Germany External debt: $462 million (December 1990 est.) Industrial production: growth rate 1.0% (1989 est.); accounts for 10% of GDP (1989 est.) Electricity: 22,000 kW capacity; 30 million kWh produced, 30 kWh per capita (1991) Industries: agricultural processing, beer, soft drinks Agriculture: accounts for over 50% of GDP, nearly 100% of exports, and 90% of employment; rice is the staple food; other crops include corn, beans, cassava, cashew nuts, peanuts, palm kernels, and cotton; not self-sufficient in food; fishing and forestry potential not fully exploited Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $49 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $615 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $41 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $68 million Currency: 1 Guinea-Bissauan peso (PG) = 100 centavos Exchange rates: Guinea-Bissauan pesos (PG) per US$1 - 1987.2 (1989), 1363.6 (1988), 851.65 (1987), 238.98 (1986) Fiscal year: calendar year

*Guinea-Bissau, Communications

Highways: 3,218 km; 2,698 km bituminous, remainder earth Inland waterways: scattered stretches are important to coastal commerce Ports: Bissau Airports: total: 33 usable: 15 with permanent-surface runways: 4 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 5 Telecommunications: poor system of radio relay, open-wire lines, and radiocommunications; 3,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 2 AM, 3 FM, 1 TV

*Guinea-Bissau, Defense Forces

Branches: People's Revolutionary Armed Force (FARP; including Army, Navy, Air Force), paramilitary force Manpower availability: males age 15-49 235,931; fit for military service 134,675 (1993 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $9.3 million, 5%-6% of GDP (1987)

*Guyana, Geography

Location: Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean between Suriname and Venezuela Map references: South America, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 214,970 km2 land area: 196,850 km2 comparative area: slightly smaller than Idaho Land boundaries: total 2,462 km, Brazil 1,119 km, Suriname 600 km, Venezuela 743 km Coastline: 459 km Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200 nm or the outer edge of continental margin exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: all of the area west of the Essequibo River claimed by Venezuela; Suriname claims area between New (Upper Courantyne) and Courantyne/Koetari Rivers (all headwaters of the Courantyne) Climate: tropical; hot, humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; two rainy seasons (May to mid-August, mid-November to mid-January) Terrain: mostly rolling highlands; low coastal plain; savanna in south Natural resources: bauxite, gold, diamonds, hardwood timber, shrimp, fish Land use: arable land: 3% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 6% forest and woodland: 83% other: 8% Irrigated land: 1,300 km2 (1989 est.) Environment: flash floods a constant threat during rainy seasons; water pollution

*Guyana, People

Population: 734,640 (July 1993 est.) Population growth rate: -0.68% (1993 est.) Birth rate: 20.47 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate: 7.39 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate: -19.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate: 49.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 64.7 years male: 61.46 years female: 68.1 years (1993 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.35 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality: noun: Guyanese (singular and plural) adjective: Guyanese Ethnic divisions: East Indian 51%, black and mixed 43%, Amerindian 4%, European and Chinese 2% Religions: Christian 57%, Hindu 33%, Muslim 9%, other 1% Languages: English, Amerindian dialects Literacy: age 15 and over having ever attended scool (1990) total population: 95% male: 98% female: 96% Labor force: 268,000 by occupation: industry and commerce 44.5%, agriculture 33.8%, services 21.7% note: public-sector employment amounts to 60-80% of the total labor force (1985)

*Guyana, Government

Names: conventional long form: Co-operative Republic of Guyana conventional short form: Guyana former: British Guiana Digraph: GY Type: republic Capital: Georgetown Administrative divisions: 10 regions; Barima-Waini, Cuyuni-Mazaruni, Demerara-Mahaica, East Berbice-Corentyne, Essequibo Islands-West Demerara, Mahaica-Berbice, Pomeroon-Supenaam, Potaro-Siparuni, Upper Demerara-Berbice, Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo Independence: 26 May 1966 (from UK) Constitution: 6 October 1980 Legal system: based on English common law with certain admixtures of Roman-Dutch law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction National holiday: Republic Day, 23 February (1970) Political parties and leaders: People's National Congress (PNC), Hugh Desmond HOYTE; People's Progressive Party (PPP), Cheddi JAGAN; Working People's Alliance (WPA), Eusi KWAYANA, Rupert ROOPNARINE; Democratic Labor Movement (DLM), Paul TENNASSEE; People's Democratic Movement (PDM), Llewellyn JOHN; National Democratic Front (NDF), Joseph BACCHUS; The United Force (TUF), Manzoor NADIR; United Republican Party (URP), Leslie RAMSAMMY; National Republican Party (NRP), Robert GANGADEEN; Guyana Labor Party (GLP), Nanda GOPAUL Other political or pressure groups: Trades Union Congress (TUC); Guyana Council of Indian Organizations (GCIO); Civil Liberties Action Committee (CLAC) note: the latter two organizations are small and active but not well organized Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Elections: Executive President: last held on 5 October 1992; results - Cheddi JAGAN was elected president since he was leader of the party with the most votes in the National Assembly elections National Assembly: last held on 5 October 1992 (next to be held in 1997); results - PPP 53.4%, PNC 42.3%, WPA 2%, TUF 1.2%; seats - (65 total, 53 elected) PPP 36, PNC 26, WPA 2, TUF 1 Executive branch: executive president, first vice president, prime minister, first deputy prime minister, Cabinet Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Judicature

*Guyana, Government

Leaders: Chief of State: Executive President Cheddi JAGAN (since 5 October 1992); First Vice President Sam HINDS (since 5 October 1992) Head of Government: Prime Minister Sam HINDS (since 5 October 1992) Member of: ACP, C, CARICOM, CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LAES, LORCS, NAM, OAS, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WMO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Odeen ISHMAEL chancery: 2490 Tracy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 265-6900 consulate general: New York US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador George Jones embassy: 99-100 Young and Duke Streets, Georgetown mailing address: P. O. Box 10507, Georgetown telephone: [592] (2) 54900 through 54909 and 57960 through 57969 FAX: [592] (2) 58497 Flag: green with a red isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) superimposed on a long yellow arrowhead; there is a narrow black border between the red and yellow, and a narrow white border between the yellow and the green

*Guyana, Economy

Overview: Guyana is one of the world's poorest countries with a per capita income less than one-fifth the South American average. After growing on average at less than 1% a year in 1986-87, GDP dropped by 5% a year in 1988-90. The decline resulted from bad weather, labor trouble in the cane fields, and flooding and equipment problems in the bauxite industry. Consumer prices rose about 100% in 1989 and 75% in 1990, and the current account deficit widened substantially as sugar and bauxite exports fell. Moreover, electric power has been in short supply and constitutes a major barrier to future gains in national output. The government, in association with international financial agencies, seeks to reduce its payment arrears and to raise new funds. The government's stabilization program - aimed at establishing realistic exchange rates, reasonable price stability, and a resumption of growth - requires considerable public administrative abilities and continued patience by consumers during a long incubation period. Buoyed by a recovery in mining and agriculture, the economy posted 6% growth in 1991 and 7% growth in 1992, according to official figures. A large volume of illegal and quasi-legal economic activity is not captured in estimates of the country's total output. National product: GDP - exchange rate conversion - $267.5 million (1992 est.) National product real growth rate: 7% (1992 est.) National product per capita: $370 (1992 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 15% (1992) Unemployment rate: 12%-15% (1991 est.) Budget: revenues $121 million; expenditures $225 million, including capital expenditures of $50 million (1990 est.) Exports: $268 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.) commodities: sugar, bauxite/alumina, rice, gold, shrimp, molasses, timber, rum partners: UK 28%, US 25%, FRG 8%, Canada 7%, Japan 6% (1989) Imports: $242.4 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.) commodities: manufactures, machinery, food, petroleum partners: US 40%, Trinidad & Tobago 13%, UK 11%, Japan 5%, Netherland Antilles 3% (1989) External debt: $2 billion including arrears (1990) Industrial production: growth rate 12% (1990 est.); accounts for about 24% of GDP Electricity: 253,500 kW capacity; 276 million kWh produced, 370 kWh per capita (1992) Industries: bauxite mining, sugar, rice milling, timber, fishing (shrimp), textiles, gold mining Agriculture: most important sector, accounting for 25% of GDP and about half of exports; sugar and rice are key crops; development potential exists for fishing and forestry; not self-sufficient in food, especially wheat, vegetable oils, and animal products

*Guyana, Economy

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $116 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $325 million; Communist countries 1970-89, $242 million Currency: 1 Guyanese dollar (G$) = 100 cents Exchange rates: Guyanese dollars (G$) per US$1 - 125.8 (January 1993) 125.0 (1992), 111.8 (1991), 39.533 (1990), 27.159 (1989), 10.000 (1988) Fiscal year: calendar year

*Guyana, Communications

Railroads: 187 km total, all single track 0.914-meter gauge Highways: 7,665 km total; 550 km paved, 5,000 km gravel, 1,525 km earth, 590 km unimproved Inland waterways: 6,000 km total of navigable waterways; Berbice, Demerara, and Essequibo Rivers are navigable by oceangoing vessels for 150 km, 100 km, and 80 km, respectively Ports: Georgetown, New Amsterdam Merchant marine: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,317 GRT/2,558 DWT Airports: total: 53 usable: 48 with permanent-surface runways: 5 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 0 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 13 Telecommunications: fair system with radio relay network; over 27,000 telephones; tropospheric scatter link to Trinidad; broadcast stations - 4 AM, 3 FM, no TV, 1 shortwave; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

*Guyana, Defense Forces

Branches: Guyana Defense Force (GDF; including the Ground Forces, Coast Guard and Air Corps), Guyana People's Militia (GPM), Guyana National Service (GNS) Manpower availability: males age 15-49 196,960; fit for military service 149,583 (1993 est.) Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP

*Haiti, Geography

Location: in the northern Caribbean Sea, about 90 km southeast of Cuba Map references: Central America and the Caribbean, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 27,750 km2 land area: 27,560 km2 comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland Land boundaries: total 275 km, Dominican Republic 275 km Coastline: 1,771 km Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: to depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: claims US-administered Navassa Island Climate: tropical; semiarid where mountains in east cut off trade winds Terrain: mostly rough and mountainous Natural resources: bauxite Land use: arable land: 20% permanent crops: 13% meadows and pastures: 18% forest and woodland: 4% other: 45% Irrigated land: 750 km2 (1989 est.) Environment: lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding and earthquakes; deforestation; soil erosion Note: shares island of Hispaniola with Dominican Republic (western one-third is Haiti, eastern two-thirds is the Dominican Republic)

*Haiti, People