1988 Edition

Administrative divisions

10 administrative regions

Boundary disputes

Essequibo area claimed by Venezuela; Suriname claims area between New (Upper Courantyne) and Courantyne/Kutari rivers (all headwaters of the Courantyne)

none; claims Navassa Island (US possession)

El Salvador

Branches

Executive President, who appoints and heads a cabinet; unicameral legislature (53-member National Assembly) elected by proportional representation every five years

Capital

Georgetown

Climate

tropical; hot, humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; two rainy seasons (May to mid-August, mid-November to mid-January)

tropical; semiarid where mountains in east cut off trade winds

subtropical in lowlands, temperate in mountains

Coastline

459 km

1,771 km

820 km

Communists

est. 100 hardcore within PPP; top echelons of PPP and PYO (Progressive Youth Organization, militant wing of the PPP) include many Communists, but rank and file is conservative and non-Communist; small but unknown number of orthodox Marxist-Leninists within PNC, some of whom formerly belonged to the PPP

Comparative area

about the size of Maryland

slightly larger than Tennessee

Contiguous zone

24 nm

24 nm

Continental shelf

outer edge of continental margin or 200 nm

to depth of exploitation

200 meters or to depth of exploitation

Elections

last held in December 1985 Haiti Political parties and leaders: People's National Congress (PNC), Hugh Desmond Hoyte; People's Progressive Party (PPP), Cheddi Jagan; Working People's Alliance (WPA), Rupert Roopnarine, Eusi Kwayana, Moses Bhagwan; United Force (UF), Feilden Singh; Vanguard for Liberation and Democracy (VLD; also known as Liberator Party), Ganraj Kumar, Dr. J. K. Makepeace Richmond; Democratic Labor Movement (DLM), Dr. Paul Tennassee

Environment

flash floods a constant threat during rainy seasons; water pollution

lies in middle of hurricane belt; hurricanes have caused extensive damage; occasional flooding and earthquakes; deforestation

subject to frequent, but generally mild, earthquakes; damaging hurricanes along Caribbean coast; deforestation; soil erosion

Ethnic divisions

51% East Indian, 43% black and mixed, 4% Amerindian, 2% European and Chinese

95% black, 5% mulatto and European

90% mestizo (mixed Indian and European), 7% Indian, 2% black, 1% white

Exclusive fishing zone

200 nm

Extended economic zone

200 nm

200 nm

Government leaders

Hugh Desmond HOYTE, President (since August 1985); Hamilton GREEN, Prime Minister (since August 1985)

Infant mortality rate

41/1,000 (1985)

107/1,000 (1983)

78/1,000 (1984)

Labor force

268,000 (1985); 44.5% industry and commerce, 33.8% agriculture, 21.7% services; public sector employment amounts to 60-80% of the total labor force; unemployment and underemployment 30% (1985 est.)

2.3 million (1982); 66% agriculture, 25% services, 9% industry; significant unemployment; shortage of skilled labor, unskilled labor abundant

1.3 million (1985); 62% agriculture, 20% services, 9% manufacturing, 3% construction, 6% other; 25% unemployed, 25% underemployed

Land area

214,970 km2; land area: 196,850 km2 Comparative area about the size of Idaho

Land boundaries

2,575 km total

1,530 km total

Land boundary

361 km with Dominican Republic

Land use

3% arable land; NEGL% permanent crops; 6% meadows and pastures; 83% forest and woodland; 8% other; includes 1% irrigated

20% arable land; 13% permanent crops; 18% meadows and pastures; 4% forest and woodland; 45% other; includes 3% irrigated

14% arable land; 2% permanent crops; 30% meadows and pastures; 34% forest and woodland; 20% other; includes 1% irrigated

Language

English, Amerindian dialects

French (official) spoken by only 10% of population; all speak Creole

Spanish, Indian dialects

Legal system

based on English common law with certain admixtures of RomanDutch law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Life expectancy

70

45

58.7

Literacy

85%

23%

56%

Member of

CARICOM, CDB, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB, IBA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDE — Inter-American Development Bank, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IRC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), PAHO, SELA, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO

National holiday

Republic Day, 23 February

Nationality

noun — Guyanese (sing., pi.); adjective — Guyanese

noun — Haitian(s); adjective — Haitian

noun — Honduran(s); adjective— Honduran

Organized labor

34% of labor force

less than 1% of labor force

40% of urban labor force, 20% of rural work force (1985)

Other political or pressure groups

Trades Union Congress (TUC); Working People's Vanguard Party (WPVP); Guyana Council of Indian Organizations (GCIO); Civil Liberties Action Committee (CLAC); the latter two organizations are small and active but not well organized

Population

765,844 (July 1987), average annual growth rate 0.03%

6,187,115 (July 1987), average annual growth rate 1.78% Haiti (continued)

4,823,818 (July 1987), average annual growth rate 3.33%

Religion

57% Christian, 33% Hindu, 9% Muslim, 1% other

75-80% Roman Catholic (of which an overwhelming majority also practice Voodoo), 10% Protestant, 10% other

about 97% Roman Catholic; small Protestant minority

Special notes

none

shares island of Hispaniola with Dominican Republic

none

Suffrage

universal adult over age 18

Terrain

mostly rolling highlands; low coastal plain; savanna in south

mostly rough and mountainous

mostly mountains in interior, narrow coastal plains

Territorial sea

12 nm

12 nm

12 nm

Total area

27,750 km2; land area: 27,560 km2

112,090 km2; land area: 111,890km2

Type

republic within Commonwealth

Voting strength

(1985 election, unofficial returns) 78% PNC (42 seats), 16% PPP (8 seats), 4% UF (2 seats), 2% WPA (1 seat)

Administrative divisions

26 provinces, 1 federal district

18 departments

Branches

interim government following the end of 29 years of Duvalier family rule; Consultative Council (45-member advisory body); Constituent Assembly (61-member body drafting new constitution); judiciary appointed by President before coup

constitution provides for elected President, unicameral legislature (134member National Congress), and national judicial branch

Capital

Port-au-Prince

Tegucigalpa

Communists

United Party of Haitian Communists (PUCH), Rene Theodore (roughly 2,000 members)

up to 1,500; Honduran leftist groups — Communist Party of Honduras (PCH), Communist Party of Honduras/Marxist-Leninist (PCMLH), Morazanist Front for the Liberation of Honduras (FMLH), People's Revolutionary Union/Popular Liberation Movement (URP/MPL), Popular Revolutionary Forces-Lorenzo Zelaya (FPR/LZ), Socialist Party of Honduras Central American Workers Revolutionary Party (PASO/PRTC)

Elections

National elections scheduled for November 1987, inauguration 7 February Political parties and leaders: Haitian Christian Democratic Party (PDCN), Sylvio Claude; Haitian Social Christian Party (PSCH), Gregoire Eugene; Movement To Install Democracy in Haiti (MIDH), Marc Bazin; National Progressive Democratic Group (RDNP), Leslie Manigat

national election for president and legislature held every four years; last election held November 1985; legislature chosen by proportional representation; 282 county councils Political parties and leaders: Liberal Party (PLH) — party president, Romualdo Bueso Penalba; faction leaders, Carlos Flores Facusse (Rodista faction), Jose Azcona Hoyo (Azconista subfaction), Jorge Bueso Arias (ALIPO faction), Jorge Arturo Reina (M-Lider faction); National Party (PNH) — party president, Rafael Leonardo Callejas; faction leaders, Juan Pablo Urrutia (MUC faction); Ricardo Zilniga Augustinus (Officialista faction), Mario Rivera Lopez (Riverista subfaction), and Rafael Leonardo Callejas (MONARCA faction); National Innovation and Unity Party (PINU) — Miguel Andonie Fernandez; Christian Democratic Party (PDCH)— Ruben Palma Carrasco

Government leader

Jose AZCONA Hoyo, President (since January 1986)

Government leaders

Lt. Gen. Henri NAMPHY, President, National Council of Government (CNG), since February 1986, two other CNG members, and 13-member cabinet

Legal system

based on Roman civil law system; currently under revision, to be completed early 1987; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

rooted in Roman and Spanish civil law; some influence of English common law; new constitution became effective in January 1982; the nine Supreme Court justices are appointed by Congress; accepts ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Member of

FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBA, IBRD, ICAO, ICO, IDA, IDB — Inter-American Development Bank, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IRC, ITU, OAS, PAHO, SELA, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTO

CACM, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICO, IDA, IDE— InterAmerican Development Bank, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, ISO, ITU, OAS, PAHO, SELA, UN, UNESCO, UPEB, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO

National holiday

Independence Day, 1 January

Independence Day, 15 September

Official name

Co-operative Republic of

Republic of Haiti

Republic of Honduras

Other political or pressure groups

United Democratic Committee (KID); Liaison Committee of Democratic Forces

National Association of Honduran Campesinos (ANACH), Honduran Council of Private Enterprise (COHEP), Confederation of Honduran Workers (CTH), National Union of Campesinos (UNC), General Workers Confederation (CGT), United Federation of Honduran Workers (FUTH), Committee for the Defense of Human Rights in Honduras (CODEH), Coordinating Committee of Popular Organizations (CCOP)

Suffrage

universal over age 18

universal and compulsory over age 18

Type

republic

republic

Voting strength

new voter registration lists being compiled

(1985 election) 1.6 million out of 1.8 million eligible voters cast ballots; PLH 51%, PNH 45%, PINU 1.5%, PDCH 1.9%, legislative seats— PLH 67, PNH 63, PINU 2, PDCH 2

Agriculture

rice, palm products, root crops, coconuts, peanuts, wood

sugarcane, rice, other food crops; food shortages — wheat flour, cooking oil, processed meat, dairy products

coffee, sugarcane, rice, corn, sorghum

Aid

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-85), $419 million; ODA and OOF from other Western countries (1970-84), $427 million

Budget

revenues, $12.2 million; current expenditures, $27.4 million; investment expenditures, $27.9 million (1983 est.)

revenues, $954.4 million; expenditures, $1,531.5 million (1985 est.)

revenues, $220 million; expenditures, $357 million (1984)

Electric power

22,000 kW capacity; 28 million kWh produced, 32 kWh per capita (1986)

105,000 kW capacity; 500 million kWh produced, 650 kWh per capita (1986)

196,000 kW capacity; 332 million kWh produced, 940 kWh per capita (1986)

Exports

$8.6 million (1983); principally peanuts; also palm kernels, shrimp, fish, lumber

$214.0 million (f.o.b., 1985); bauxite, sugar, rice, shrimp, molasses, timber, rum

$206.6 million (f.o.b., 1984); mangos, coffee, light industrial products, essential oils, sisal, sugar

Fiscal year

calendar year

calendar year

1 October-30 September

Fishing

catch 6,000 metric tons (1983)

GDP

$154 million (FY83), $180 per capita, real growth rate —5.1% (1983)

$480 million (1984), $630 per capita; real growth 4.0% (1986 est.); inflation rate 4.0% (1985)

$1.8 billion (1986 est), $300 per capita; real growth rate, - 2.0% (1986)

Imports

$57.1 million (1983); foodstuffs, manufactured goods, fuels, transport equipment

$209.1 million (f.o.b., 1985); manufactures, machinery, food, petroleum

$337.9 million (f.o.b., 1984); consumer durables, foodstuffs, industrial equipment, petroleum products, construction materials

Major industries

agricultural processing, beer, soft drinks

bauxite mining, sugar and rice milling, timber, fishing (shrimp), textiles, gold mining

sugar refining, textiles, flour milling, cement manufacturing, bauxite mining, tourism, light assembly industries

Major trade partners

mostly Portugal, Spain, and other European countries

exports — 29% UK, 17% US, 17% CARICOM, 6% Canada; imports— 33% CARICOM, 21% US, 11% UK, 3% Canada (1983)

exports — 59% US; imports— 45% US (1978)

Military transfers

US (FY70-85), $5 million

Monetary conversion rate

83.528 Guinea Bissauan pesos=US$l (November 1984)

4.30 Guyanese dollars=US$l (November 1986)

5.0 gourdes=US$l (November 1986)

Natural resources

potential petroleum, bauxite, phosphates

bauxite, gold, diamonds, hardwood timber, shrimp, fish

bauxite

Airfields

54 total, 39 usable; 5 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m, 6 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

70 total, 66 usable; 6 with permanent-surface runways; 1 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

15 total, 11 usable; 3 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m, 4 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Branches

People's Revolutionary Armed Force (FARP); Army, Navy, and Air Force are separate components

Guyana Defense Force (including Maritime Corps and Air Corps), Guyana Police Force, Guyana People's Militia, Guyana National Service

Army, Navy, Air Corps

Civil air

1 major transport aircraft

5 major transport aircraft

4 major transport aircraft

Highways

3,218 km (418 km bituminous, remainder earth)

7,665 km total; 550 km paved, 5,000 km gravel, 1,525 km earth, 590 km unimproved

4,000 km total; 950 km paved, 900 km otherwise improved, 2,150 km unimproved

Inland waterways

scattered stretches are important to coastal commerce

6,000 km total of navigable waterways; Berbice, Demerara, and Essequibo rivers are navigable by oceangoing vessels for 150 km, 100 km, and 80 km, respectively

negligible; less than 100 km navigable

Military manpower

males 15-49, 194,000; 110,000 fit for military service 20O km North Atlantic Ocean GEORGETOWN New Amsterdam^ Boundary represenlalion not necessarily aulhonlal See refionil map IV

males 15-49, 195,000; 149,000 fit for military service North Atlantic Ocean Caribbean Sea

males 15-49, 1,491,000; 803,000 fit for military service; 70,000 reach military age (18) annually Honduras Puerto Corte; Caribbean Sea ^~' f ^ tstas de la Bahia Swan Islands Boundary representation is no! necessarily authoritative Sec r<|lontl mip III

Ports

1 major (Bissau)

1 major (Georgetown), 6 minor

2 major (Port-au-Prince, Cap-Hai'tien), 12 minor

Railroads

none

187 km total, all single track 0.914-meter gauge

40 km 0.760-meter narrow gauge, single-track, privately owned industrial line

Telecommunications

limited system of open-wire lines, radio-relay links, and radiocommunication stations; 3,000 telephones (0.5 per 100 popl.); 1 AM, 1 FM, no TV stations Defense Forces

fair system with radio-relay network and over 27,000 telephones (3.3 per 100 popl.); tropospheric scatter link to Trinidad; 4 AM, 3 FM, 1 shortwave, no TV stations; 1 Atlantic Ocean satellite station Defense Forces

domestic facilities barely adequate, international facilities slightly better; 36,000 telephones (0.5 per 100 popl.); 33 AM, 4 TV stations; 1 Atlantic Ocean satellite station Defense Forces