Chapter 42
Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: lies on edge of hurricane belt; hurricane season lasts from June to November international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling
Geographic note: the administration of the islands of the Grenadines group is divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada
People ------
Population: 94,961 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 43% (male 20,975; female 20,246) 15-64 years: 52% (male 26,089; female 23,068) 65 years and over: 5% (male 2,112; female 2,471) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.55% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 29.13 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 5.74 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -17.87 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.13 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female all ages: 1.07 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 11.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.89 years male: 68.39 years female: 73.44 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.78 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Grenadian(s) adjective: Grenadian
Ethnic divisions: black African
Religions: Roman Catholic, Anglican, other Protestant sects
Languages: English (official), French patois
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1970 est.) total population: 98% male: 98% female: 98%
Government ----------
Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Grenada
Data code: GJ
Type of government: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Saint George's
Administrative divisions: 6 parishes and 1 dependency*; Carriacou and Petit Martinique*, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Mark, Saint Patrick
Independence: 7 February 1974 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 7 February (1974)
Constitution: 19 December 1973
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), a hereditary monarch, is represented by Governor General Reginald Oswald PALMER (since 6 August 1992) head of government: Prime Minister Keith MITCHELL (since 22 June 1995) was appointed from members of the House of Assembly by the governor general cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the governor general on advice of the prime minister
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament Senate: consists of a 13-member body, 10 appointed by the government and three by the leader of the opposition House of Representatives: elections last held on 20 June 1995 (next to be held by NA October 2000); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (15 total) NDC 5, GULP 2, NNP 8
Judicial branch: West Indies Associate States Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: National Democratic Congress (NDC), George BRIZAN; Grenada United Labor Party (GULP), Sir Eric GAIRY; The National Party (TNP), Ben JONES; New National Party (NNP), Keith MITCHELL; Maurice Bishop Patriotic Movement (MBPM), Terrence MARRYSHOW; New Democratic Party (NDP), James MITCHELL; Unity Labor Party (ULP), Vincent BEACHE
International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Denneth MODESTE chancery: 1701 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 265-2561
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: the ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Grenada; Charge d'Affaires Dennis CARTER embassy: Point Salines, Saint George's mailing address: P. O. Box 54, Saint George's, Grenada, W.I. telephone: [1] (809) 444-1173 through 1178 FAX: [1] (809) 444-4820
Flag: a rectangle divided diagonally into yellow triangles (top and bottom) and green triangles (hoist side and outer side) with a red border around the flag; there are seven yellow five-pointed stars with three centered in the top red border, three centered in the bottom red border, and one on a red disk superimposed at the center of the flag; there is also a symbolic nutmeg pod on the hoist-side triangle (Grenada is the world's second-largest producer of nutmeg, after Indonesia); the seven stars represent the seven administrative divisions
Economy -------
Economic overview: The economy is essentially agricultural and centers on the traditional production of spices and tropical plants. Agriculture accounts for about 10% of GDP and 80% of exports and employs 24% of the labor force. Tourism is the leading foreign exchange earner, followed by agricultural exports. Manufacturing remains relatively undeveloped, but is growing due to a favorable private investment climate since 1983. The economy achieved an impressive average annual growth rate of 5.5% in 1986-91 but has slowed since 1992. The new MITCHELL government has moved forward with a plan to eliminate personal income tax in the hope of spurring domestic consumption.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $284 million (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 3% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $3,000 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 10.2% industry: 40.3% services: 49.5% (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (1995 est.)
Labor force: 36,000 by occupation: services 31%, agriculture 24%, construction 8%, manufacturing 5%, other 32% (1985)
Unemployment rate: 14% (1995 est.)
Budget: revenues: $75.7 million (1996 est.) expenditures: $126.7 million, including capital expenditures of $51 million (1996 est.)
Industries: food and beverages, textiles, light assembly operations, tourism, construction
Industrial production growth rate: 1.8% (1992 est.)
Electricity: capacity: 12,500 kW production: 60 million kWh consumption per capita: 639 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, mace, citrus, avocados, root crops, sugarcane, corn, vegetables
Illicit drugs: produces and exports marijuana for US markets
Exports: $24.2 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.) commodities: bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, fruit and vegetables, clothing, mace partners: Caricom 32.3%, UK 20%, US 13%, Netherlands 8.8% (1991)
Imports: $162.2 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.) commodities: food 25%, manufactured goods 22%, machinery 20%, chemicals 10%, fuel 6% (1989) partners: US 31.2%, Caricom 23.6%, UK 13.8%, Japan 7.1% (1991)
External debt: $89.1 million (1995 est.)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed rate since 1976)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation --------------
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 994 km paved: 597 km unpaved: 397 km (1988 est.)
Ports: Grenville, Saint George's
Merchant marine: none
Airports: total: 3 with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1 with paved runways under 914 m: 1 (1995 est.)
Communications --------------
Telephones: 5,650 (1988 est.)
Telephone system: automatic, islandwide telephone system domestic: interisland VHF and UHF radiotelephone links international: new SHF radiotelephone links to Trinidad and Tobago and Saint Vincent; VHF and UHF radio links to Trinidad
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 80,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1988 est.)
Televisions: 30,000 (1993 est.)
Defense -------
Branches: Royal Grenada Police Force, Coast Guard
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: NA males fit for military service: NA
Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
======================================================================
@Guadeloupe ----------
(overseas department of France)
Map ---
Location: 16 15 N, 61 35 W -- Caribbean, islands in the eastern Caribbean Sea, southeast of Puerto Rico
Flag ----
Description: three horizontal bands, a narrow green band (top), a wide red band, and a narrow green band; the green bands are separated from the red band by two narrow white stripes; a five-pointed gold star is centered in the red band toward the hoist side; the flag of France is used for official occasions
Geography ---------
Location: Caribbean, islands in the eastern Caribbean Sea, southeast of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates: 16 15 N, 61 35 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total area: 1,780 sq km land area: 1,706 sq km comparative area: 10 times the size of Washington, DC note: Guadeloupe is an archipelago of nine inhabited islands, of which Basse-Terre, Grande-Terre, and Marie-Galante are the three largest
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 306 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: subtropical tempered by trade winds; moderately high humidity
Terrain: Basse-Terre is volcanic in origin with interior mountains; Grand-Terre is low limestone formation; most of the seven other islands are volcanic in origin lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Soufriere 1,467 m
Natural resources: cultivable land, beaches and climate that foster tourism
Land use: arable land: 18% permanent crops: 5% meadows and pastures: 13% forest and woodland: 40% other: 24%
Irrigated land: 30 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: hurricanes (June to October); La Soufriere is an active volcano international agreements: NA
People ------
Population: 407,768 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 26% (male 53,118; female 51,219) 15-64 years: 66% (male 132,846; female 136,147) 65 years and over: 8% (male 14,617; female 19,821) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.2% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 17.78 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 5.59 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female all ages: 0.97 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 8.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.4 years male: 74.37 years female: 80.58 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.92 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Guadeloupian(s) adjective: Guadeloupe
Ethnic divisions: black or mulatto 90%, white 5%, East Indian, Lebanese, Chinese less than 5%
Religions: Roman Catholic 95%, Hindu and pagan African 4%, Protestant sects 1%
Languages: French (official) 99%, Creole patois
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1982 est.) total population: 90% male: 90% female: 90%
Government ----------
Name of country: conventional long form: Department of Guadeloupe conventional short form: Guadeloupe local long form: Departement de la Guadeloupe local short form: Guadeloupe
Data code: GP
Type of government: overseas department of France
Capital: Basse-Terre
Administrative divisions: none (overseas department of France)
Independence: none (overseas department of France)
National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system: French legal system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President (of France) Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995), represented by Prefect Michel DIEFENBACHER (since NA March 1995), who was appointed by the French Ministry of Interior head of government: President of the General Council Dominique LARIFLA (since NA); President of the Regional Council Lucette MICHAUX-CHEVRY (since 22 March 1992)
Legislative branch: unicameral General Council and unicameral Regional Council General Council: elections last held 22 March 1992 (next to be held by NA 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (43 total) FRUI.G 13, RPR/DUD 13, PPDG 8, FGPS 3, PCG 3, UPLG 1, PSG 1, independent 1 Regional Council: elections last held 31 January 1994 (next to be held by 16 March 1998); results - RPR/FGPS-dissadents 48.30%, FGPS 17.09%, FRUI.G 7.44%, PPDG 8.90%, UPLG 7.75% PCG 6.05%; seats - (41 total) RPR/FGPS-dissadents 22, FGPS/FRUI.G 9, PPDG 5, PCG 3, UPLG 2 French Senate: elections last held in September 1995 (next to be held NA September 2004); Guadeloupe elects two representatives; results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (2 total) PPDG 1, FGPS 1 French National Assembly: elections last held on 21 and 28 March 1993 (next to be held NA March 1998); Guadeloupe elects four representatives; results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (4 total) FGPS 1, RPR 1, PPDG 1, independent 1
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal (Cour d'Appel) with jurisdiction over Guadeloupe, French Guiana, and Martinique
Political parties and leaders: Rally for the Republic (RPR), Daniel BEAUBRUN; Communist Party of Guadeloupe (PCG), Christian Medard CELESTE; Socialist Party (FGPS), Georges LOUISOR; Popular Union for the Liberation of Guadeloupe (UPLG), Claude MAKOUKE; FGPS Dissidents (FRUI.G), Dominique LARIFLA; Union for French Democracy (UDF), Marcel ESDRAS; Progressive Democratic Party (PPDG), Henri BANGOU
Other political or pressure groups: Movement for Independent Guadeloupe (MPGI); General Union of Guadeloupe Workers (UGTG); General Federation of Guadeloupe Workers (CGT-G); Christian Movement for the Liberation of Guadeloupe (KLPG)
International organization participation: FZ, WCL, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in US: none (overseas department of France)
US diplomatic representation: none (overseas department of France)
Flag: three horizontal bands, a narrow green band (top), a wide red band, and a narrow green band; the green bands are separated from the red band by two narrow white stripes; a five-pointed gold star is centered in the red band toward the hoist side; the flag of France is used for official occasions
Economy -------
Economic overview: The economy depends on agriculture, tourism, light industry, and services. It is also dependent upon France for large subsidies and imports. Tourism is a key industry, with most tourists from the US. In addition, an increasingly large number of cruise ships visit the islands. The traditionally important sugarcane crop is slowly being replaced by other crops, such as bananas (which now supply about 50% of export earnings), eggplant, and flowers. Other vegetables and root crops are cultivated for local consumption, although Guadeloupe is still dependent on imported food, which comes mainly from France. Light industry consists mostly of sugar and rum production. Most manufactured goods and fuel are imported. Unemployment is especially high among the young.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $3.7 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: NA%
GDP per capita: $9,200 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 6% industry: 9% services: 85% (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.7% (1990)
Labor force: 129,700 by occupation: agriculture 15%, industry 20%, services 65% (1993)
Unemployment rate: 31.3% (1995)
Budget: revenues: $395 million expenditures: $407 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995)
Industries: construction, cement, rum, sugar, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity: capacity: 320,000 kW production: 650 million kWh consumption per capita: 1,421 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: bananas, sugarcane, tropical fruits and vegetables; cattle, pigs, goats
Exports: $130 million (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: bananas, sugar, rum partners: France 70%, Martinique 17% (1991)
Imports: $1.4 billion (c.i.f., 1993) commodities: foodstuffs, fuels, vehicles, clothing and other consumer goods, construction materials partners: France 60%, EC, US, Japan (1991)
External debt: $NA
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA note: substantial annual French subsidies
Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.0056 (January 1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421 (1991)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation --------------
Railways: total: NA km; privately owned, narrow-gauge plantation lines
Highways: total: 2,082 km (national 329 km, regional 582 km, community/local 1171 km) paved: 1,742 km unpaved: 340 km (1985 est.)
Ports: Basse-Terre, Gustavia, Marigot, Pointe-a-Pitre
Merchant marine: none
Airports: total: 9 with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1 with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2 with paved runways under 914 m: 6 (1995 est.)
Communications --------------
Telephones: 64,916 (1984 est.)
Telephone system: domestic facilities inadequate domestic: NA international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); microwave radio relay to Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, and Martinique
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 8 (private stations licensed to broadcast FM 30), shortwave 0
Radios: 100,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 9
Televisions: 150,000 (1993 est.)
Defense -------
Branches: French Forces, Gendarmerie
Defense note: defense is the responsibility of France
======================================================================
@Guam ----
(territory of the US)
Map ---
Location: 13 28 N, 144 47 E -- Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines
Flag ----
Description: territorial flag is dark blue with a narrow red border on all four sides; centered is a red-bordered, pointed, vertical ellipse containing a beach scene, outrigger canoe with sail, and a palm tree with the word GUAM superimposed in bold red letters; US flag is the national flag
Geography ---------
Location: Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines
Geographic coordinates: 13 28 N, 144 47 E
Map references: Oceania
Area: total area: 541.3 sq km land area: 541.3 sq km comparative area: three times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 125.5 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical marine; generally warm and humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season from January to June, rainy season from July to December; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: volcanic origin, surrounded by coral reefs; relatively flat coralline limestone plateau (source of most fresh water) with steep coastal cliffs and narrow coastal plains in north, low-rising hills in center, mountains in south lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Lamlam 406 m
Natural resources: fishing (largely undeveloped), tourism (especially from Japan)
Land use: arable land: 11% permanent crops: 11% meadows and pastures: 15% forest and woodland: 18% other: 45%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: frequent squalls during rainy season; relatively rare, but potentially very destructive typhoons (especially in August) international agreements: NA
Geographic note: largest and southernmost island in the Mariana Islands archipelago; strategic location in western North Pacific Ocean
People ------
Population: 156,974 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 2.34% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 24.24 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 3.86 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: NA male(s)/female under 15 years: NA male(s)/female 15-64 years: NA male(s)/female 65 years and over: NA male(s)/female all ages: NA male(s)/female
Infant mortality rate: 15.17 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.29 years male: 72.42 years female: 76.13 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.25 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Guamanian(s) adjective: Guamanian
Ethnic divisions: Chamorro 47%, Filipino 25%, white 10%, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and other 18%
Religions: Roman Catholic 98%, other 2%
Languages: English, Chamorro, Japanese
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99%
Government ----------
Name of country: conventional long form: Territory of Guam conventional short form: Guam
Data code: GQ
Type of government: organized, unincorporated territory of the US with policy relations between Guam and the US under the jurisdiction of the Office of Territorial and International Affairs, US Department of the Interior
Capital: Agana
Administrative divisions: none (territory of the US)
Independence: none (territory of the US)
National holiday: Guam Discovery Day (first Monday in March) (1521); Liberation Day, 21 July
Constitution: Organic Act of 1 August 1950
Legal system: modeled on US; federal laws apply
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; US citizens, but do not vote in US presidential elections
Executive branch: chief of state: President (of the United States) William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993) head of government: Governor Carl GUTIERREZ (since 8 November 1994) and Lieutenant Governor Madeleine BORDALLO (since 8 November 1994) were elected for a four-year term by popular vote; election last held 8 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1998); results - Carl GUTIERREZ (Democrat) defeated Tommy TANAKA (Republican) with 54.6% of the vote cabinet: executive departments; heads appointed by the governor with the consent of the Guam legislature
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislature: elections last held 8 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (21 total) Democrats 14, Republican 7 US House of Representatives: elections last held 8 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1996); Guam elects one delegate; results - Robert UNDERWOOD was reelected as delegate; seats - (1 total) Democrat 1
Judicial branch: Federal District Court, judge is appointed by the president; Territorial Superior Court, judges appointed for eight-year terms by the governor
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party (controls the legislature); Republican Party (party of the Governor)
International organization participation: ESCAP (associate), IOC, SPC
Diplomatic representation in US: none (territory of the US)
US diplomatic representation: none (territory of the US)
Flag: territorial flag is dark blue with a narrow red border on all four sides; centered is a red-bordered, pointed, vertical ellipse containing a beach scene, outrigger canoe with sail, and a palm tree with the word GUAM superimposed in bold red letters; US flag is the national flag
Economy -------