Chapter 90
Legislative branch: unicameral General Council: elections last held NA April 1994 (next to be held NA April 2000); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (19 total, 15 from Saint Pierre, 4 from Miquelon) Socialist Party (PS) holds majority of seats French Senate: elections last held NA September 1995 (next to be held NA September 2004); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (1 total) RPR 1 French National Assembly: elections last held 21 and 28 March 1993 (next to be held NA June 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (1 total) UDF 1
Judicial branch: Superior Tribunal of Appeals (Tribunal Superieur d'Appel)
Political parties and leaders: Socialist Party (PS); Rassemblement pour la Republique (RPR); Union pour la Democratie Francaise (UDF)
International organization participation: FZ, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in US: none (territorial collectivity of France)
US diplomatic representation: none (territorial collectivity of France)
Flag: a yellow sailing ship rides on a dark blue background with a black wave line under the ship; on the hoist side, a vertical band is divided into three parts: the top part is red with a green diagonal cross extending to the corners overlaid by a white cross dividing the square into four sections; the middle part has a white background with an ermine pattern; the third part has a red background with two stylized yellow lions outlined in black, one on top of the other; the flag of France is used for official occasions
Economy -------
Economic overview: The inhabitants have traditionally earned their livelihood by fishing and by servicing fishing fleets operating off the coast of Newfoundland. The economy has been declining, however, because the number of ships stopping at Saint Pierre has dropped steadily over the years. In 1992, an arbitration panel awarded the islands an exclusive economic zone of 12,348 sq km to settle a longstanding territorial dispute with Canada, although it represents only 25% of what France had sought. The islands are heavily subsidized by France. Imports come primarily from Canada and France.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $68 million (1994 est.)
GDP real growth rate: NA%
GDP per capita: $10,000 (1994 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Labor force: 2,980 (1994) by occupation: NA
Unemployment rate: 9.6% (1994)
Budget: revenues: $28 million expenditures: $28 million, including capital expenditures of $7.8 million (1992 est.)
Industries: fish processing and supply base for fishing fleets; tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity: capacity: 10,000 kW production: 50 million kWh consumption per capita: 6,013 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: vegetables; cattle, sheep, pigs; fish catch of 20,500 metric tons (1989)
Exports: $13.74 million (f.o.b., 1994) commodities: fish and fish products, fox and mink pelts partners: US 58%, France 17%, UK 11%, Canada, Portugal (1990)
Imports: $42 million (c.i.f., 1994) commodities: meat, clothing, fuel, electrical equipment, machinery, building materials partners: Canada, France, US, Netherlands, UK
External debt: $NA
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.0056 (January 1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421 (1991)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation --------------
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 120 km paved: 60 km unpaved: 60 km (1985 est.)
Ports: Saint Pierre
Merchant marine: none
Airports: total: 2 with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2 note: new airport to open June 1996 (1995 est.)
Communications --------------
Telephones: 3,300 (1992 est.)
Telephone system: domestic: NA international: radiotelephone communication with most countries in the world; 1 earth station in French domestic satellite system
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 3, shortwave 0
Radios: 6,300 (1990 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 0
Televisions: 2,000 (1992 est.)
Defense -------
Defense note: defense is the responsibility of France
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@Saint Vincent and the Grenadines --------------------------------
Map ---
Location: 13 15 N, 61 12 W -- Caribbean, islands in the Caribbean Sea, north of Trinidad and Tobago
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
Geography ---------
Location: Caribbean, islands in the Caribbean Sea, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates: 13 15 N, 61 12 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total area: 340 sq km land area: 340 sq km comparative area: twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 84 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)
Terrain: volcanic, mountainous lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Soufriere 1,234 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use: arable land: 38% permanent crops: 12% meadows and pastures: 6% forest and woodland: 41% other: 3%
Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1989 est.)
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 natural hazards: hurricanes; Soufriere volcano on the island of Saint Vincent is a constant threat international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ship Pollution, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Desertification
Geographic note: the administration of the islands of the Grenadines group is divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada
People ------
Population: 118,344 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 33% (male 19,742; female 19,106) 15-64 years: 62% (male 36,576; female 36,381) 65 years and over: 5% (male 2,702; female 3,837) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.64% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 19.36 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 5.4 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -7.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female all ages: 1 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 16.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.94 years male: 71.43 years female: 74.49 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.04 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Saint Vincentian(s) or Vincentian(s) adjective: Saint Vincentian or Vincentian
Ethnic divisions: African descent, white, East Indian, Carib Indian
Religions: Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Seventh-Day Adventist
Languages: English, French patois
Literacy: age 15 and over has ever attended school (1970 est.) total population: 96% male: 96% female: 96%
Government ----------
Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Data code: VC
Type of government: constitutional monarchy
Capital: Kingstown
Administrative divisions: 6 parishes; Charlotte, Grenadines, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, 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), a hereditary monarch, represented by Governor General David JACK (since 29 September 1989) head of government: Prime Minister James F. MITCHELL (since 30 July 1984); the governor general appoints the leader of the majority party to the position of prime minister; Deputy Prime Minister Carlyle DOUGAN (since 17 September 1995) was appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly: elections last held 21 February 1994 (next to be held NA July 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (21 total, 15 elected representatives and 6 appointed senators) NDP 12, ULP 3
Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based on Saint Lucia)
Political parties and leaders: New Democratic Party (NDP), James F. MITCHELL; United People's Movement (UPM), Adrian SAUNDERS; National Reform Party (NRP), Joel MIGUEL; Unity Labor Party (ULP),Vincent BEACHE - formed by the coalition of Saint Vincent Labor Party (SVLP) and the Movement for National Unity (MNU)
International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Kingsley C.A. LAYNE chancery: 1717 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite 102, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 462-7806, 7846 FAX: [1] (202) 462-7807
US diplomatic representation: the US does not have an embassy in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; the Ambassador to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines resides in Bridgetown (Barbados)
Flag: three vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold (double width), and green; the gold band bears three green diamonds arranged in a V pattern
Economy -------
Economic overview: Agriculture, dominated by banana production, is the most important sector of the economy. The services sector, based mostly on a growing tourist industry, is also important. The government has been relatively unsuccessful at introducing new industries, and high unemployment rates of 35%-40% continue. The continuing dependence on a single crop represents the biggest obstacle to the islands' development; tropical storms wiped out substantial portions of crops in both 1994 and 1995.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $240 million (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 0.4% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $2,060 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 24% industry: 33.1% services: 42.9% (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): -0.2% (1995)
Labor force: 67,000 (1984 est.) by occupation: agriculture, industry, services, other (1980 est.)
Unemployment rate: 35%-40% (1994 est.)
Budget: revenues: $80 million expenditures: $118 million, including capital expenditures of $39 million (1996 est.)
Industries: food processing, cement, furniture, clothing, starch
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity: capacity: 16,600 kW production: 50 million kWh consumption per capita: 436 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: bananas, coconuts, sweet potatoes, spices; small numbers of cattle, sheep, pigs, goats; small fish catch used locally
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe
Exports: $57.1 million (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: bananas, eddoes and dasheen (taro), arrowroot starch, tennis racquets partners: UK 54%, Caricom countries 34%, US 10%
Imports: $134.6 million (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, chemicals and fertilizers, minerals and fuels partners: US 36%, Caricom countries 21%, UK 18%, Trinidad and Tobago 13%
External debt: $74.9 million (1993)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.7000 (fixed rate since 1976)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation --------------
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 1,100 km paved: 330 km unpaved: 770 km
Ports: Kingstown
Merchant marine: total: 611 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,690,104 GRT/9,367,014 DWT ships by type: bulk 106, cargo 305, chemical tanker 20, combination bulk 9, combination ore/oil 4, container 33, liquefied gas tanker 4, livestock carrier 5, oil tanker 58, passenger 1, passenger-cargo 1, refrigerated cargo 35, roll-on/roll-off cargo 25, short-sea passenger 2, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 2 note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 24 countries among which are Croatia 42, Russia 14, Slovenia 9, China 9, Germany 2, Serbia 2, Hong Kong 2, Latvia 1, Ukraine 1, and Poland 1 (1995 est.)
Airports: total: 6 with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2 with paved runways under 914 m: 4 (1995 est.)
Communications --------------
Telephones: 6,189 (1983 est.)
Telephone system: domestic: islandwide, fully automatic telephone system; VHF/UHF radiotelephone from Saint Vincent to the other islands of the Grenadines international: VHF/UHF radiotelephone from Saint Vincent to Barbados; new SHF radiotelephone to Grenada and to Saint Lucia; access to Intelsat earth station in Martinique through Saint Lucia
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 76,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 cable
Televisions: 20,600 (1992 est.)
Defense -------
Branches: Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force, Coast Guard
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: NA males fit for military service: NA
Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
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@San Marino ----------
Map ---
Location: 43 46 N, 12 25 E -- Southern Europe, an enclave in central Italy
Flag ----
Description: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and light blue with the national coat of arms superimposed in the center; the coat of arms has a shield (featuring three towers on three peaks) flanked by a wreath, below a crown and above a scroll bearing the word LIBERTAS (Liberty)
Geography ---------
Location: Southern Europe, an enclave in central Italy
Geographic coordinates: 43 46 N, 12 25 E
Map references: Europe
Area: total area: 60 sq km land area: 60 sq km comparative area: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 39 km border country: Italy 39 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
International disputes: none
Climate: Mediterranean; mild to cool winters; warm, sunny summers
Terrain: rugged mountains lowest point: Fiume Ausa 55 m highest point: Monte Titano 749 m
Natural resources: building stone
Land use: arable land: 17% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 83%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: NA international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution
Geographic note: landlocked; smallest independent state in Europe after the Holy See and Monaco; dominated by the Apennines
People ------
Population: 24,521 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 16% (male 1,978; female 1,967) 15-64 years: 68% (male 8,401; female 8,249) 65 years and over: 16% (male 1,648; female 2,278) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.82% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 10.81 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 7.79 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 5.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female all ages: 0.96 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 81.32 years male: 77.34 years female: 85.3 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.52 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Sammarinese (singular and plural) adjective: Sammarinese
Ethnic divisions: Sammarinese, Italian
Religions: Roman Catholic
Languages: Italian
Literacy: age 10 and over can read and write (1976 est.) total population: 96% male: 97% female: 95%
Government ----------
Name of country: conventional long form: Republic of San Marino conventional short form: San Marino local long form: Repubblica di San Marino local short form: San Marino
Data code: SM
Type of government: republic
Capital: San Marino
Administrative divisions: 9 municipalities (castelli, singular - castello); Acquaviva, Borgo Maggiore, Chiesanuova, Domagnano, Faetano, Fiorentino, Monte Giardino, San Marino, Serravalle
Independence: 301 AD (by tradition)
National holiday: Anniversary of the Foundation of the Republic, 3 September
Constitution: 8 October 1600; electoral law of 1926 serves some of the functions of a constitution
Legal system: based on civil law system with Italian law influences; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: co-chiefs of state: Captain Regent Piero Paolo GASPERONI and Captain Regent Pietro BUGLI (for the period 1 April-30 September 1996) were elected by the Great and General Council for a six-month term head of government: Secretary of State for Foreign and Political Affairs Gabriele GATTI (since NA July 1986) was elected for a five-year term by the Great and General Council; election last held NA 1993 (next to be held NA 1998) cabinet: Congress of State was elected for a five-year term by the Great and General Council note: the popularly elected parliament (Great and General Council) selects two of its members to serve as the Captains Regent (Co-Chiefs of State) for a six-month period; they preside over meetings of the Great and General Council and its cabinet (Congress of State) which has ten other members, all selected by the Great and General Council; assisting the Captains Regent are three Secretaries of State - Foreign Affairs, Internal Affairs, and Finance - and several additional secretaries; the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs has assumed many of the prerogatives of a prime minister
Legislative branch: unicameral Great and General Council: (Consiglio Grande e Generale) elections last held 30 May 1993 (next to be held by NA May 1998); results - PDCS 41.4%, PSS 23.7%, PDP 18.6%, AP 7.7%, MD 5.3%, RC 3.3%; seats - (60 total) PDCS 26, PSS 14, PDP 11, AP 4, MD 3, RC 2
Judicial branch: Council of Twelve (Consiglio dei XII)
Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Party (PDCS), Cesare GASPERONI, secretary general; Democratic Progressive Party (PDP - formerly San Marino Communist Party (PSS)), Stefano MACINA, secretary general; San Marino Socialist Party (PSS), Maurizio RATTINI, secretary general; Democratic Movement (MD), Massimo TONTI; Popular Alliance (AP), Tito MASI; Communist Refoundation (RC), Paolo GIOVAGNOLI
International organization participation: CE, ECE, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM (guest), OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in US: San Marino does not have an embassy in the US honorary consulate(s) general: Washington and New York honorary consulate(s): Detroit
US diplomatic representation: the US does not have an embassy in San Marino; the US Consul General in Florence (Italy) is accredited to San Marino
Flag: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and light blue with the national coat of arms superimposed in the center; the coat of arms has a shield (featuring three towers on three peaks) flanked by a wreath, below a crown and above a scroll bearing the word LIBERTAS (Liberty)
Economy -------
Economic overview: The tourist sector contributes over 50% of GDP. In 1993 more than 3 million tourists visited San Marino. The key industries are banking, wearing apparel, electronics, and ceramics. Main agricultural products are wine and cheeses. The per capita level of output and standard of living are comparable to those of Italy, which supplies much of its food.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $380 million (1993 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 2.4% (1993 est.)
GDP per capita: $15,800 (1993 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.5% (1993)
Labor force: 14,874 (1993 est.) by occupation: industry 40%, agriculture 2%
Unemployment rate: 4.9% (December 1993)
Budget: revenues: $320 million expenditures: $320 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995 est.)
Industries: tourism, textiles, electronics, ceramics, cement, wine
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity: supplied by Italy
Agriculture: wheat, grapes, maize, olives; cattle, pigs, horses, meat, cheese, hides
Exports: trade data are included with the statistics for Italy; commodities: building stone, lime, wood, chestnuts, wheat, wine, baked goods, hides, and ceramics
Imports: trade data are included with the statistics for Italy; commodities: wide variety of consumer manufactures, food
External debt: $NA
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 Italian lire (Lit) = 100 centesimi; note - also mints its own coins
Exchange rates: Italian lire (Lit) per US$1 - 1,583.8 (January 1996), 1,629.2 (1995), 1,612.4 (1994), 1,573.7 (1993), 1,232.4 (1992), 1,240.6 (1991)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation --------------
Railways: 0 km; note - there is a 1.5 km cable railway connecting the city of San Marino to Borgo Maggiore
Highways: total: 220 km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Ports: none
Airports: none
Communications --------------
Telephones: 22,300 (1992 est.)
Telephone system: domestic: automatic telephone system completely integrated into Italian system international: microwave radio relay and cable connections to Italian network; no satellite earth stations
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA (1 private radio broadcast station)
Radios: 12,535 (1991 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1991 est.) note: receives broadcasts from Italy
Televisions: 7,500 (1992 est.)
Defense -------
Branches: Voluntary Military Force, Police Force
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: NA males fit for military service: NA
Defense expenditures: $3.7 million (1% of GDP) (1992 est.)
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@Sao Tome and Principe ---------------------
Map ---
Location: 1 00 N, 7 00 E -- Western Africa, island in the Atlantic Ocean, straddling the Equator, west of Gabon
Flag ----
Description: three horizontal bands of green (top), yellow (double width), and green with two black five-pointed stars placed side by side in the center of the yellow band and a red isosceles triangle based on the hoist side; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
Geography ---------
Location: Western Africa, island in the Atlantic Ocean, straddling the Equator, west of Gabon
Geographic coordinates: 1 00 N, 7 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total area: 960 sq km land area: 960 sq km comparative area: more than five times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 209 km
Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; one rainy season (October to May)