1984 Edition

Agriculture

main crops — coffee, sugarcane, rice, corn, sorghum

Aid

economic — bilateral commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-82), from US, $270 million; ODA and OOF from other Western countries (1970-81), $203 million; militaryUS (FY70-82), $3 million

Airfields

15 total, 13 usable; 3 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m, 6 with runways 1,2202,439 m

Branches

lifetime President; unicameral legislature (59-member National Assembly) has very limited powers; judiciary appointed by President

Army, Navy, Air Corps, Volunteers for National Security

Budget

1982 revenue, $176 million; expenditure, $366 million

Capital

Port-au-Prince

Civil air

4 major transport aircraft

Communists

United Haitian Communist Party (PUCH), illegal and in exile; domestic strength unknown; party leaders in exile

Elections

constitution as amended in 1983 named Duvalier President for Life and granted him authority to name his successor; most recent legislative election held February 1984 Political parties and leaders: National Unity Party, inactive government party; Haitian Christian Democratic Party, Sylvio Claude (inactive); Haitian Christian Socialist Party, Gregoire Eugene (inactive)

Electric power

175,000 kW capacity (1983); 300 million kWh produced (1983), 55 kWh per capita

Exports

$171 million (f.o.b., 1982); coffee, light industrial products, bauxite, essential oils, sisal

Fiscal year

1 October-30 September Communications

GNP

$1.5 billion (1982), $300 per capita; real growth rate 1982, -1%

Government leader

Jean-Claude DUVALIER, President for Life

Highways

3,680 km total; 600 km paved, 900 km otherwise improved, 1,830 km unimproved

Imports

$284 million (f.o.b., 1982); consumer durables, foodstuffs, industrial equipment, petroleum products, construction materials

Inland waterways

negligible; about 100 km navigable

Legal system

based on Roman civil law system; constitution adopted 1964 and amended 1971 and 1983; legal education at State University in Port-au-Prince and private law colleges in Cap-Haitien, Les Cayes, GonaTves, and Jeremie; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Major industries

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

Major trade partners

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

Member of

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

Military budget

estimated for fiscal year ending 30 September 1983, $15.8 million; about 4.2% of central government budget

Military manpower

males 15-49, 1,300,000; 724,000 fit for military service; about 62,000 reach military age (18) annually

Monetary conversion rate

5 gourdes= US$1 (February 1984)

National holiday

Independence Day, 1 January

Official name

Republic of Haiti

Organized labor

less than 1% of labor force Government

Other political or pressure groups

none

Political subdivisions

five departments (despite constitutional provision for nine)

Ports

2 major (Port-au-Prince, Cap Haitien), 12 minor

Railroads

80 km 0.760-meter narrow gauge, single-track, privately owned industrial line; 8 km dual-gauge 0.760to 1.065-meter gauge, government line, dismantled

Suffrage

universal over age 18

Telecommunications

all domestic facilities still inadequate, international facilities slightly better; 34,900 telephones (0.7 per 100 popl.); 34 AM and 11 FM stations; 2 TV stations; 1 Atlantic Ocean satellite station Defense Forces

Type

republic

Voting strength

(1984 legislative elections) Assembly comprised of regime loyalists