Chapter 97
Industries: sugar processing, tourism, cotton, salt, copra, clothing, footwear, beverages
Industrial production growth rate: NA %
Electricity - capacity: 15,000 kW (1995)
Electricity - production: 42 million kWh (1995)
Electricity - consumption per capita: NA kWh
Agriculture - products: sugarcane, rice, yams, vegetables, bananas; fishing potential not fully exploited
Exports: total value: $35.4 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: machinery, food, electronics, beverages and tobacco partners: US 46.6%, UK 26.4%, Caricom nations 9.8% (1994)
Imports: total value : $112.4 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: machinery, manufactures, food, fuels partners: US 45%, Caricom nations 18.8%, UK 12.5%, Canada 4.2%, Japan 4.2%, (1994)
Debt - external: $45.3 million (1994 est.)
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
@Saint Kitts and Nevis:Communications
Telephones: 3,800 (1986 est.)
Telephone system: good interisland VHF/UHF/SHF radiotelephone connections and international link via Antigua and Barbuda and Saint Martin (Guadeloupe and Netherlands Antilles) domestic : interisland links are handled by VHF/UHF/SHF radiotelephone international: international calls are carried by radiotelephone to Antigua and Barbuda and from there switched to submarine cable or to Intelsat, or carried to Saint Martin (Guadeloupe and Netherlands Antilles) by radiotelephone and switched to Intelsat
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 25,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 4
Televisions: 9,500 (1993 est.)
@Saint Kitts and Nevis:Transportation
Railways: total: 58 km narrow gauge: 58 km 0.762-m gauge on Saint Kitts to serve sugarcane plantations (1995)
Highways: total : 310 km paved: 132 km unpaved: 178 km (1995 est.)
Ports and harbors: Basseterre, Charlestown
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 2 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: Royal Saint Kitts and Nevis Police Force, Coast Guard
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49 : NA
Military manpower - fit for military service: males: NA
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: transshipment points for South American drugs destined for the US ______________________________________________________________________
SAINT LUCIA
@Saint Lucia:Geography
Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates: 13 53 N, 60 68 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total: 620 sq km land: 610 sq km water : 10 sq km
Area - comparative: 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 158 km
Maritime claims: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone : 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season from January to April, rainy season from May to August
Terrain: volcanic and mountainous with some broad, fertile valleys
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Gimie 950 m
Natural resources: forests, sandy beaches, minerals (pumice), mineral springs, geothermal potential
Land use: arable land: 8% permanent crops : 21% permanent pastures: 5% forests and woodland: 13% other: 53% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: hurricanes and volcanic activity
Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil erosion, particularly in the northern region
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
@Saint Lucia:People
Population: 150,630 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years : 35% (male 26,430; female 26,018) 15-64 years: 60% (male 44,117; female 45,922) 65 years and over: 5% (male 3,091; female 5,052) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.14% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 23.31 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 5.71 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: -6.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 17.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.36 years male : 67.74 years female: 75.23 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.44 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality: noun : Saint Lucian(s) adjective: Saint Lucian
Ethnic groups: black 90%, mixed 6%, East Indian 3%, white 1%
Religions: Roman Catholic 90%, Protestant 7%, Anglican 3%
Languages: English (official), French patois
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school total population: 67% male: 65% female : 69% (1980 est.)
@Saint Lucia:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Saint Lucia
Data code: ST
Government type: parliamentary democracy
National capital: Castries
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 of the UK (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General William George MALLET (since 1 June 1996) head of government : Prime Minister Vaughn LEWIS (since 31 March 1996) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister elections: none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (an 11-member body, six appointed on the advice of the prime minister, three on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and two after consultation with religious, economic, and social groups) and the House of Assembly (17 seats; members are elected by popular vote from single member constituencies to serve five-year terms) elections: House of Assembly - last held 27 April 1992 (next to be held NA May 1997) 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 Vincent and the Grenadines
Political parties and leaders: United Workers' Party (UWP), Vaughn LEWIS; Saint Lucia Labor Party (SLP), Kenneth ANTHONY; Saint Lucia Freedom Party (SLFP), Martinus FRANCOIS
International organization participation: ACCT (associate), ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), NAM, OAS, OECS, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Joseph Edsel EDMUNDS chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 telephone: [1] (202) 364-6792 through 6795 FAX: [1] (202) 364-6728 consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an embassy in Saint Lucia; the Ambassador to Saint Lucia resides in Bridgetown (Barbados)
Flag description: blue with a gold isosceles triangle below a black arrowhead; the upper edges of the arrowhead have a white border
Economy
Economy - overview: Though foreign investment in manufacturing and information processing in recent years has increased Saint Lucia's industrial base, the economy remains vulnerable due to its heavy dependence on banana production, which is subject to periodic droughts and tropical storms. Indeed, the destructive effect of Tropical Storm Iris in mid-1995 caused the loss of 20% of the year's banana crop. Increased competition from Latin American bananas will probably further reduce market prices, exacerbating Saint Lucia's need to diversify its economy in coming years, e.g., by further expanding tourism, manufacturing, and construction.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $695 million (1996 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 4.3% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $4,400 (1996 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture : 13.8% industry: 17.4% services: 68.8% (1992 est.)
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 3% (1996 est.)
Labor force: total: 43,800 by occupation: agriculture 43.4%, services 38.9%, industry and commerce 17.7% (1983 est.)
Unemployment rate: 25% (1995 est.)
Budget: revenues: $361.5 million expenditures: $311 million, including capital expenditures of $104 million (1995 est.)
Industries: clothing, assembly of electronic components, beverages, corrugated cardboard boxes, tourism, lime processing, coconut processing
Industrial production growth rate: NA %
Electricity - capacity: 34,000 kW (1995)
Electricity - production: NA kWh
Electricity - consumption per capita: 801 kWh (1995 est.)
Agriculture - products: bananas, coconuts, vegetables, citrus, root crops, cocoa
Exports: total value: $104.1 million (f.o.b., 1995) commodities: bananas 60%, clothing, cocoa, vegetables, fruits, coconut oil partners: UK 56%, US 22%, Caricom countries 19% (1991)
Imports: total value: $270.5 million (f.o.b., 1995) commodities: manufactured goods 21%, machinery and transportation equipment 21%, food and live animals, chemicals, fuels partners: US 34%, Caricom countries 17%, UK 14%, Japan 7%, Canada 4% (1991)
Debt - external: $115 million (1996)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.7000 (February 1997; fixed rate since 1976)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
@Saint Lucia:Communications
Telephones: 26,000 (1992 est.)
Telephone system: domestic: system is automatically switched international: direct microwave radio relay link with Martinique and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; tropospheric scatter to Barbados; international calls beyond these countries are carried by Intelsat from Martinique
Radio broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 1, shortwave 0
Radios: 104,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 3 ( two commercial stations and one cable)
Televisions: 26,000 (1992 est.)
@Saint Lucia:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 760 km paved: 500 km unpaved : 260 km
Ports and harbors: Castries, Vieux Fort
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 3 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: Royal Saint Lucia Police Force, Coast Guard
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49 : NA
Military manpower - fit for military service: males: NA
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $5 million (1991); note - for police forces
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 2% (1991)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: transit point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe ______________________________________________________________________
SAINT PIERRE AND MIQUELON
(territorial collectivity of France)
@Saint Pierre and Miquelon:Geography
Location: Northern North America, islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, south of Newfoundland (Canada)
Geographic coordinates: 46 50 N, 56 20 E
Map references: North America
Area: total: 242 sq km land: 242 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes eight small islands in the Saint Pierre and the Miquelon groups
Area - comparative: 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 120 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 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: 13% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland: 4% other: 83% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: persistent fog throughout the year can be a maritime hazard
Environment - current issues: NA
Environment - international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography - note: vegetation scanty
@Saint Pierre and Miquelon:People
Population: 6,862 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over : NA
Population growth rate: 0.76% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 12.63 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 5.59 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.59 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 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 total population: NA male(s)/female
Infant mortality rate: 9.26 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population : 76.64 years male: 75.07 years female: 78.53 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.62 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality: noun: Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women) adjective: French
Ethnic groups: Basques and Bretons (French fishermen)
Religions: Roman Catholic 99%
Languages: French
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (1982 est.)
@Saint Pierre and Miquelon:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Territorial Collectivity of Saint Pierre and Miquelon conventional short form: Saint Pierre and Miquelon local long form: Departement de Saint-Pierre et Miquelon local short form: Saint-Pierre et Miquelon
Data code: SB
Dependency status: self-governing territorial collectivity of France
Government type: NA
National capital: Saint-Pierre
Administrative divisions: none (territorial collectivity of France) note : there are no first-order administrative divisions approved by the US Government, but there are two communes - St. Pierre, Miquelon
Independence: none (territorial collectivity of France; has been under French control since 1763)
National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July
Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system: French law with special adaptations for local conditions, such as housing and taxation
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President of France Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995), represented by Prefect Jean-Francois CARENCO (since NA) head of government : President of the General Council Bernard LE SOAVEC (since NA 1996) cabinet: NA elections: prefect appointed by the president of France on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the General Council is elected by the members of the council
Legislative branch: unicameral General Council or Conseil General (19 seats, 15 from Saint Pierre and 4 from Miquelon; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) elections: elections last held NA April 1994 (next to be held NA April 2000) election results : percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPR 15, other 4 note: Saint Pierre and Miquelon elect 1 seat to the French Senate; elections last held NA September 1995 (next to be held NA September 2004); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPR 1; Saint Pierre and Miquelon also elects 1 seat to the French National Assembly; elections last held 21 and 28 March 1993 (next to be held 25 May-1 June 1997 - special election); results - percent of vote by party - UDF 73.78%; seats by party - UDF 1
Judicial branch: Superior Tribunal of Appeals or Tribunal Superieur d'Appel
Political parties and leaders: Socialist Party or PS; Rassemblement pour la Republique or RPR; Union pour la Democratie Francaise or UDF
International organization participation: FZ, 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 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
Economy - 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 - $74 million (1996 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: NA%
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $11,000 (1996 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Inflation rate - consumer price index: NA%
Labor force: total: 2,980 (1994) by occupation : NA
Unemployment rate: 9.3% (1995)
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: NA kW
Electricity - production: NA kWh
Electricity - consumption per capita: NA kWh
Agriculture - products: vegetables; cattle, sheep, pigs; fish catch of 14,800 metric tons (1994)
Exports: total value: $5 million (f.o.b., 1995) commodities : fish and fish products, fox and mink pelts partners: US 58%, France 17%, UK 11%, Canada, Portugal (1990)
Imports: total value: $70.2 million (c.i.f., 1995) commodities: meat, clothing, fuel, electrical equipment, machinery, building materials partners : Canada, France, US, Netherlands, UK
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.4169 (January 1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Saint Pierre and Miquelon:Communications
Telephones: 3,650 (1994 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: 3,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 0 (programs from France, Canada, and the US are rebroadcast)
Televisions: 2,000 (1992 est.)
@Saint Pierre and Miquelon:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total : 114 km paved: 69 km unpaved: 45 km (1994 est.)
Ports and harbors: Saint Pierre
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 3 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2
Military
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: focus of maritime boundary dispute between Canada and France; in 1992 an arbitration panel awarded the islands an exclusive economic zone area of 12,348 sq km to settle the dispute ______________________________________________________________________
SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES the Grenadines]
@Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: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 : 340 sq km land: 340 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: 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
Climate: tropical; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)
Terrain: volcanic, mountainous
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Soufriere 1,234 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use: arable land: 10% permanent crops: 18% permanent pastures: 5% forests and woodland: 36% other: 31% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: hurricanes; Soufriere volcano on the island of Saint Vincent is a constant 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, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Desertification
Geography - note: the administration of the islands of the Grenadines group is divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada
@Saint Vincent and the Grenadines:People
Population: 119,092 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 32% (male 19,208; female 18,571) 15-64 years: 63% (male 37,555; female 37,166) 65 years and over: 5% (male 2,719; female 3,873) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.62% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 19.07 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 5.35 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: -7.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years : 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 16.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.22 years male: 71.71 years female: 74.78 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.01 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality: noun: Saint Vincentian(s) or Vincentian(s) adjective: Saint Vincentian or Vincentian
Ethnic groups: black, white, East Indian, Carib Amerindian
Religions: Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Seventh-Day Adventist
Languages: English, French patois
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school total population : 96% male: 96% female: 96% (1970 est.)
@Saint Vincent and the Grenadines:Government
Country name: conventional long form : none conventional short form: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Data code: VC
Government type: constitutional monarchy
National 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