Chapter 128

Chapter 1283,543 wordsPublic domain

unicameral Legislative Assembly (20 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms; six elected from a common roll and 14 are village representatives) elections: last held 7 June 2008 (next to be held in 2011) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - 20 independents

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court of New Zealand; High Court of Niue

Political parties and leaders:

Alliance of Independents or AI; Niue People's Action Party or NPP [Young VIVIAN]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

International organization participation:

ACP, FAO, IFAD, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand)

Flag description:

yellow with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the flag of the UK bears five yellow five-pointed stars - a large star on a blue disk in the center and a smaller star on each arm of the bold red cross

Economy Niue

Economy - overview:

The economy suffers from the typical Pacific island problems of geographic isolation, few resources, and a small population. Government expenditures regularly exceed revenues, and the shortfall is made up by critically needed grants from New Zealand that are used to pay wages to public employees. Niue has cut government expenditures by reducing the public service by almost half. The agricultural sector consists mainly of subsistence gardening, although some cash crops are grown for export. Industry consists primarily of small factories to process passion fruit, lime oil, honey, and coconut cream. The sale of postage stamps to foreign collectors is an important source of revenue. The island in recent years has suffered a serious loss of population because of emigration to New Zealand. Efforts to increase GDP include the promotion of tourism and a financial services industry, although the International Banking Repeal Act of 2002 resulted in the termination of all offshore banking licenses. Economic aid from New Zealand in 2002 was US$2.6 million. Niue suffered a devastating typhoon in January 2004, which decimated nascent economic programs. While in the process of rebuilding, Niue has been dependent on foreign aid.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$7.6 million (2000 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$10.01 million (2003)

GDP - real growth rate:

6.2% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$5,800 (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 23.5% industry: 26.9% services: 49.5% (2003)

Labor force:

663 (2001)

Labor force - by occupation:

note: most work on family plantations; paid work exists only in government service, small industry, and the Niue Development Board

Unemployment rate:

12% (2001)

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $15.07 million expenditures: $16.33 million (FY0405)

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

4% (2005)

Agriculture - products:

coconuts, passion fruit, honey, limes, taro, yams, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes; pigs, poultry, beef cattle

Industries:

tourism, handicrafts, food processing

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Electricity - production:

4 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

3.72 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

20 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

26.57 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Exports:

$201,400 (2004)

Exports - commodities:

canned coconut cream, copra, honey, vanilla, passion fruit products, pawpaws, root crops, limes, footballs, stamps, handicrafts

Exports - partners:

New Zealand mainly, Fiji, Cook Islands, Australia (2006)

Imports:

$9.038 million (2004)

Imports - commodities:

food, live animals, manufactured goods, machinery, fuels, lubricants, chemicals, drugs

Imports - partners:

New Zealand mainly, Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Australia, US (2006)

Economic aid - recipient:

$2.6 million from New Zealand (2002)

Debt - external:

$418,000 (2002 est.)

Currency (code):

New Zealand dollar (NZD)

Currency code:

NZD

Exchange rates:

New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar - 1.3811 (2007), 1.5408 (2006), 1.4203 (2005), 1.5087 (2004), 1.7221 (2003)

Communications Niue

Telephones - main lines in use:

1,100 (2002 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

400 (2002)

Telephone system:

domestic: single-line telephone system connects all villages on island international: country code - 683 (2001)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

1,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (1997)

Televisions:

Internet country code:

.nu

Internet hosts:

382,599 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

900 (2002)

Transportation Niue

Airports:

1 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 120 km paved: 120 km (2008)

Ports and terminals:

none; offshore anchorage only

Military Niue

Military branches:

no regular indigenous military forces; Police Force

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of New Zealand

Transnational Issues Niue

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

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@Norfolk Island

Introduction Norfolk Island

Background:

Two British attempts at establishing the island as a penal colony (1788-1814 and 1825-55) were ultimately abandoned. In 1856, the island was resettled by Pitcairn Islanders, descendants of the Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian companions.

Geography Norfolk Island

Location:

Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia

Geographic coordinates:

29 02 S, 167 57 E

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 34.6 sq km land: 34.6 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

about 0.2 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

32 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate:

subtropical; mild, little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain:

volcanic formation with mostly rolling plains

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Bates 319 m

Natural resources:

fish

Land use:

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005)

Irrigated land:

Natural hazards:

typhoons (especially May to July)

Environment - current issues:

Geography - note:

most of the 32 km coastline consists of almost inaccessible cliffs, but the land slopes down to the sea in one small southern area on Sydney Bay, where the capital of Kingston is situated

People Norfolk Island

Population:

2,128 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 20.2% 15-64 years: 63.9% 65 years and over: 15.9% (2007 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.006% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Death rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

Infant mortality rate:

total: NA male: NA female: NA (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: NA male: NA female: NA (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

NA (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

Nationality:

noun: Norfolk Islander(s) adjective: Norfolk Islander(s)

Ethnic groups:

descendants of the Bounty mutineers, Australian, New Zealander, Polynesian

Religions:

Anglican 31.8%, Roman Catholic 11.5%, Uniting Church in Australia 10.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3.2%, other Christian 5.6%, none 19.9%, unspecified 16.6% (2006 census)

Languages:

English (official), Norfolk - a mixture of 18th century English and ancient Tahitian

Literacy:

Education expenditures:

Government Norfolk Island

Country name:

conventional long form: Territory of Norfolk Island conventional short form: Norfolk Island

Dependency status:

self governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Attorney-General's Department

Government type:

Capital:

name: Kingston geographic coordinates: 29 03 S, 167 58 E time difference: UTC+11.5 (16.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

none (territory of Australia)

Independence:

none (territory of Australia)

National holiday:

Bounty Day (commemorates the arrival of Pitcairn Islanders), 8 June (1856)

Constitution:

Norfolk Island Act of 1979, as amended in 2005

Legal system:

based on the laws of Australia, local ordinances and acts; English common law applies in matters not covered by either Australian or Norfolk Island law

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by the Australian governor general head of government: Acting Administrator Owen WALSH (since October 2007) cabinet: Executive Council is made up of four of the nine members of the Legislative Assembly; the council devises government policy and acts as an advisor to the administrator elections: the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia

Legislative branch:

unicameral Legislative Assembly (9 seats; members elected by electors who have nine equal votes each but only four votes can be given to any one candidate; to serve three-year terms) elections: last held 21 March 2007 (next to be held by 28 March 2010) election results: seats - independents 9 (note - no political parties)

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court; Court of Petty Sessions

Political parties and leaders:

none

Political pressure groups and leaders:

none

International organization participation:

UPU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (territory of Australia)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (territory of Australia)

Flag description:

three vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and green with a large green Norfolk Island pine tree centered in the slightly wider white band

Economy Norfolk Island

Economy - overview:

Tourism, the primary economic activity, has steadily increased over the years and has brought a level of prosperity unusual among inhabitants of the Pacific islands. The agricultural sector has become self-sufficient in the production of beef, poultry, and eggs.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$NA

Labor force:

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 10% industry and services: 90%

Budget:

revenues: $4.6 million expenditures: $4.8 million (FY99/00)

Fiscal year:

1 July - 30 June

Agriculture - products:

Norfolk Island pine seed, Kentia palm seed, cereals, vegetables, fruit; cattle, poultry

Industries:

tourism, light industry, ready mixed concrete

Electricity - production:

NA kWh

Electricity - consumption:

NA kWh

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 0% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2002)

Exports:

$1.5 million f.o.b. (FY91/92)

Exports - commodities:

postage stamps, seeds of the Norfolk Island pine and Kentia palm, small quantities of avocados

Exports - partners:

Australia, other Pacific island countries, NZ, Asia, Europe (2006)

Imports:

$17.9 million c.i.f. (FY91/92)

Imports - commodities:

Imports - partners:

Australia, other Pacific island countries, NZ, Asia, Europe (2006)

Economic aid - recipient:

$NA

Debt - external:

$NA

Currency (code):

Australian dollar (AUD)

Currency code:

AUD

Exchange rates:

Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 1.2137 (2007), 1.3285 (2006), 1.3095 (2005), 1.3598 (2004), 1.5419 (2003)

Communications Norfolk Island

Telephones - main lines in use:

2,532; note - a mix of analog (2500) and digital (32) circuits (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

0; note - proposed cellular service disallowed in August 2002 island referendum (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: adequate domestic: free local calls international: country code - 672; undersea coaxial cable links with Australia and New Zealand; satellite earth station - 1

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 3, shortwave 0 (2005)

Radios:

2,500 (1996)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (local programming station plus 2 repeaters that air Australian programs by satellite) (2005)

Televisions:

1,200 (1996)

Internet country code:

.nf

Internet hosts:

51 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:

700 (2002 est.)

Transportation Norfolk Island

Airports:

1 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 80 km paved: 53 km unpaved: 27 km (2008)

Ports and terminals:

none; loading jetties at Kingston and Cascade

Military Norfolk Island

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of Australia

Transnational Issues Norfolk Island

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

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@Northern Mariana Islands

Introduction Northern Mariana Islands

Background:

Under US administration as part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific, the people of the Northern Mariana Islands decided in the 1970s not to seek independence but instead to forge closer links with the US. Negotiations for territorial status began in 1972. A covenant to establish a commonwealth in political union with the US was approved in 1975, and came into force on 24 March 1976. A new government and constitution went into effect in 1978.

Geography Northern Mariana Islands

Location:

Oceania, islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines

Geographic coordinates:

15 12 N, 145 45 E

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 477 sq km land: 477 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes 14 islands including Saipan, Rota, and Tinian

Area - comparative:

2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

1,482 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical marine; moderated by northeast trade winds, little seasonal temperature variation; dry season December to June, rainy season July to October

Terrain:

southern islands are limestone with level terraces and fringing coral reefs; northern islands are volcanic

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Agrihan 965 m

Natural resources:

arable land, fish

Land use:

arable land: 13.04% permanent crops: 4.35% other: 82.61% (2005)

Irrigated land:

Natural hazards:

active volcanoes on Pagan and Agrihan; typhoons (especially August to November)

Environment - current issues:

contamination of groundwater on Saipan may contribute to disease; clean-up of landfill; protection of endangered species conflicts with development

Geography - note:

strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean

People Northern Mariana Islands

Population:

86,616 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 18.4% (male 8,342/female 7,594) 15-64 years: 79.9% (male 27,996/female 41,245) 65 years and over: 1.7% (male 740/female 699) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 29.9 years male: 32 years female: 28.9 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.377% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

19.04 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

2.31 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

7.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.68 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.06 male(s)/female total population: 0.75 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 6.72 deaths/1,000 live births male: 6.68 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.76 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 76.5 years male: 73.89 years female: 79.26 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.18 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

Nationality:

noun: NA (US citizens) adjective: NA

Ethnic groups:

Asian 56.3%, Pacific islander 36.3%, Caucasian 1.8%, other 0.8%, mixed 4.8% (2000 census)

Religions:

Christian (Roman Catholic majority, although traditional beliefs and taboos may still be found)

Languages:

Philippine languages 24.4%, Chinese 23.4%, Chamorro 22.4%, English 10.8%, other Pacific island languages 9.5%, other 9.6% (2000 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97% male: 97% female: 96% (1980 est.)

Education expenditures:

Government Northern Mariana Islands

Country name:

conventional long form: Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands conventional short form: Northern Mariana Islands abbreviation: CNMI former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Mariana Islands District

Dependency status:

commonwealth in political union with the US; federal funds to the Commonwealth administered by the US Department of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs

Government type:

commonwealth; self-governing with locally elected governor, lieutenant governor, and legislature

Capital:

name: Saipan geographic coordinates: 15 12 N, 145 45 E time difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

none (commonwealth in political union with the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are four municipalities at the second order: Northern Islands, Rota, Saipan, Tinian

Independence:

none (commonwealth in political union with the US)

National holiday:

Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978)

Constitution:

Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands effective 1 January 1978; Covenant Agreement fully effective 4 November 1986

Legal system:

based on US system, except for customs, wages, immigration laws, and taxation

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal; indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections

Executive branch:

chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001) head of government: Governor Benigno R. FITIAL (since 9 January 2006); Lieutenant Governor Timothy P. VILLAGOMEZ (since 9 January 2006) cabinet: the cabinet consists of the heads of the 10 principal departments under the executive branch who are appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the Senate; other members include Special Assistants to the governor and office heads appointed by and reporting directly to the governor elections: under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated territories, such as the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; however, they may vote in the Democratic and Republican presidential primary elections; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms (eligible for a second term); election last held 5 November 2005 (next to be held in November 2009) election results: Benigno R. FITIAL elected governor in a four-way race; percent of vote - Benigno R. FITIAL 28.07%, Heinz HOFSCHNEIDER 27.34%, Juan BABAUTA 26.6%, Froilan TENORIO 17.99%

Legislative branch:

bicameral Legislature consists of the Senate (9 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year staggered terms) and the House of Representatives (20 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms) elections: Senate - last held 3 November 2007 (next to be held in November 2009); House of Representatives - last held 3 November 2007 (next to be held in November 2009) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Covenant Party 3, Republican Party 3, Democratic Party 1, independents 2; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Republican Party 12, Covenant Party 4, Democratic Party 1, independents 3 note: the Northern Mariana Islands does not have a nonvoting delegate in the US Congress; instead, it has an elected official or "resident representative" in Washington, DC; seats by party - Republican Party 1 (Pedro A. TENORIO)

Judicial branch:

Commonwealth Supreme Court; Superior Court; Federal District Court

Political parties and leaders:

Covenant Party [Benigno R. FITIAL]; Democratic Party [Dr. Carlos S. CAMACHO]; Republican Party [Juan S. REYES]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

International organization participation:

SPC, UPU

Flag description:

blue, with a white, five-pointed star superimposed on the gray silhouette of a latte stone (a traditional foundation stone used in building) in the center, surrounded by a wreath

Economy Northern Mariana Islands

Economy - overview:

The economy benefits substantially from financial assistance from the US. The rate of funding has declined as locally generated government revenues have grown. The key tourist industry employs about 50% of the work force and accounts for roughly one-fourth of GDP. Japanese tourists predominate. Annual tourist entries have exceeded one-half million in recent years, but financial difficulties in Japan have caused a temporary slowdown. The agricultural sector is made up of cattle ranches and small farms producing coconuts, breadfruit, tomatoes, and melons. Garment production is by far the most important industry with the employment of 17,500 mostly Chinese workers and sizable shipments to the US under duty and quota exemptions.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$900 million note: GDP estimate includes US subsidy (2000 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$633.4 million (2000)

GDP - real growth rate:

NA%

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$12,500 (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Labor force:

44,470 total indigenous labor force; 2,699 unemployed; 28,717 foreign workers (2000)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Unemployment rate:

3.9% (2001)

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $193 million expenditures: $223 million (FY01/02 est.)

Fiscal year:

1 October - 30 September

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

-0.8% (2000)

Agriculture - products:

coconuts, fruits, vegetables; cattle

Industries:

tourism, construction, garments, handicrafts

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Electricity - production:

NA kWh

Electricity - consumption:

NA kWh

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Exports:

$NA

Exports - commodities:

garments

Exports - partners:

US (2006)

Imports:

$214.4 million (2001)

Imports - commodities:

food, construction equipment and materials, petroleum products

Imports - partners:

US, Japan (2006)

Economic aid - recipient:

extensive funding from US

Debt - external:

$NA

Currency (code):

US dollar (USD)

Currency code:

USD

Exchange rates:

the US dollar is used

Communications Northern Mariana Islands

Telephones - main lines in use:

21,000 (2000)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

20,500 (2004)

Telephone system: