1986 Edition

Agriculture

animal husbandry predominates; main crops — horticultural crops, grains, potatoes, sugar beets; food shortages — grains, fats, oils

corn, pulses

Aid

donor — ODA and OOF economic aid commitments (1970-83), $11.0 billion

bilateral ODA and OOF commitments (1970-79), economic— Western (non-US) countries $353 million

Airfields

38 total, 38 usable; 5 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m, 8 with runways 1, 220-2,439 m

29 total, 28 usable; 19 with permanent-surface runways; 12 with runways 2,440-3,659 m, 4 with runways 1, 220-2,439 m

1 total, 7 usable; 7 with permanent-surface runways; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m, 2 with runways 1, 220-2,439 m

Bonaire

Union Party of Bonaire (UPB), Charles E. R. Ellis; Democratic Party of Bonaire, Jopie Abraham; New Democratic Action (ADEN)

Branches

Royal Nepalese Army, Royal Nepalese Army Air Service, Nepalese Police Force

executive (Queen and Cabinet of Ministers), which is responsible to bicameral parliament (States General) consisting of a First Chamber (75 indirectly elected members) and a Second Chamber (150 directly elected members); independent judiciary; coalition governments are usual

Royal Netherlands Army, Royal Netherlands Navy/Marine Corps, Royal Netherlands Air Force

federal executive power rests nominally with Governor (appointed by the Crown); actual power exercised by eightmember Council of Ministers or cabinet presided over by Minister-President; legislative power rests with 22-member Legislative Council; independent court system under control of Chief Justice of Supreme Court of Justice (administrative functions under Minister of Justice); each island territory has island council headed by Lieutenant Gover-

administered by High Commissioner, responsible to French Ministry for Overseas France and Council of Government; 46-seat Territorial Assembly

Budget

(1985 est.) revenues, $47.4 billion; expenditures, $56.4 billion; deficit, $9.0 billion

(1984) central government revenues, $616 million; central government expenditures, $656 million

Capital

Amsterdam, but government resides at The Hague

Willemstad on Curacao

Noumea

Civil air

5 major and 1 1 minor transport aircraft

98 major transport air craft

5 major transport aircraft

Coastline

451 km People

364 km People

2,254 km People

Communists

CPN claims about 27,000 members

small leftist groups

number unknown; Palita extreme left party; some politically active Communists deported during 1950s; small number of North Vietnamese

Covernment leaders

Domenico Felip MARTINA, Prime Minister (since January 1986); Dr. Rene ROMER, Governor (since 1983)

Crude steel

8.0 million metric ton capacity (1984); 5.7 million metric tons produced, 394 kg per capita (1984)

Curasao

Movement for a New Antilles (MAN), Domenico Felip Martina; Democratic Party (DP), Augustin Diaz; People's National Party (PNP), Maria Liberia-Peters; Frente Obrero de Liberacion (FOL), Wilson "Papa" Godett; Social Democratic Party (PSD), Efraim Cintje

Elections

must be held at least every four years for lower house (next scheduled for 21 May 1986); following an amendment to the constitution that took effect in 1983, elections are held for the upper house every four years (most recent August 1983) Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA), Chairman Pieter Bukman; Labor (PvdA), Max van den Berg; Liberal ( VVD), Jan Kamminga; Democrats 66 (D'66), Jacob Kohnstamm; Communist (CPN), Henk Hoekstra; Pacifist Socialist (PSP), Bram van der Lek; Political Reformed (SGP), Hette G. Abma; Reformed Political Union (GPV), Jan van der Jagt; Radical Party (PPR), Herman Verbeek; Democratic Socialist 70(DS'70), Z. Hartog; Rightist Peoples Party (RVP), Hendrik Koekoek; Reformed Political Federation (RPF), P. Lamgeler; Center Party (CP), H. Janmatt; Evangelical People's Party (EVP), J. Renes

federal elections mandatorily held every four years, last regular held 22 November 1985; island council elections every four years, last held 25 April 1983 Political parties and leaders: political parties are indigenous to each island:

Assembly elections every five years, last in November 1984; referendum on New Caledonian independence scheduled for 1987

Electric power

19,546,000 kW capacity (1985); 63.632 billion kWh produced (1985), 4,398 kWh per capita

433,000 kW capacity (1985); 1.312 billion kWh produced (1985), 5,560 kWh per capita

Ethnic divisions

99% Dutch, 1% Indonesian and other

85% mixed African; remainder Carib Indian, European, Latin, and Oriental

Melanesian 42.5%, European 37.1%, Wallisian 8.4%, Polynesian 3.8%, Indonesian 3.6%, Vietnamese 1.6%

Exports

$65.8 billion (f.o.b., 1984); foodstuffs, machinery, chemicals, petroleum products, natural gas, textiles

$4.4 billion (f.o.b., 1983); 98% petroleum products, phosphate New Caledonia

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications

calendar year Communications

Fishing

catch 328,000 metric tons (1983); exports of fish and fish products, $416. 1 million (1982); imports, $150.2 million (1982)

GNP

$123.8 billion (1984), $8,500 per capita; 59.3% consumption, 18.4% investment, 16.8% government, 0.5% inventories, 5.0% net foreign demand, 1.7% real GNP growth (1984)

$1.35 billion (1983), $9,140 per capita; real growth rate, 1.0% (1984)

Government leader

Fernand WIBAUX, French High Commissioner and President of the Council of Government (since 1985); Kanak Provisional Government — Jean-Marie TJIBAOU, President (since December 1984)

Government leaders

BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard, Queen (since April 1980); Ruud LUBBERS, Prime Minister (since November 1982)

Highways

5,270 km total (1985); 2,322 km paved, 556 km gravel or crushed stone, 1,829 km improved and unimproved earth; additionally 241 km of seasonally motorable tracks

108,360 km total; 92,525 km paved (including 2,185 km of limited access, divided highways); 15,835 km gravel, crushed stone

950 km total; 300 km paved, 650 km gravel and earth

Imports

$62.3 billion (c.i.f., 1984); machinery, transportation equipment, crude petroleum, foodstuffs, chemicals, raw cotton, base metals and ores, pulp

$4.5 billion (c.i.f., 1983); 64% crude petroleum, food, manufactures

Infant mortality rate

8.4/1,000(1983)

Inland waterways

6,340 km, of which 35% is usable by craft of 900 metric ton capacity or larger

Labor force

5.9 million (1984); 57% services, 30% manufacturing and construction, 6% transportation and communications, 5% agriculture; 12.5% unemployed, September •

89,000 (1983); 65% government, 28% industry and commerce, 1.5% agriculture; unemployment about 16% on Curapao and about 10% on Aruba (1984 est.)

50,469 (1980 est); Javanese and Tonkinese laborers were imported for plantations and mines in preWorld War II period; immigrant labor now coming from Wallis and Futuna, Vanuatu, and French Polynesia; est. 8% unemployment Government

Land boundaries

1,022 km Water

Language

Dutch

Dutch (official); Papiamento, a Spanish-PortugueseDutch-English dialect predominates; English widely spoken; Spanish

French; Melanesian-Polynesian dialects

Legal system

civil law system incorporating French penal theory; constitution of 1815 frequently amended, reissued 1947; judicial review in the Supreme Court of legislation of lower order rather than Acts of Parliament; legal education at six law schools; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

based on Dutch civil law system, with some English common law influence; constitution adopted 1954

French law

Life expectancy

76

Limits of territorial waters (claimed)

12 nm (200 nm fishing zone)

3 nm (200 nm fishing zone)

12 nm (200 nm exclusive economic zone)

Literacy

99%

95%

Major industries

food processing, metal and engineering products, electrical and electronic machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum products, natural gas

petroleum refining on Curacao (refinery currently closed but may start up again); petroleum transshipment facilities on Curacao, Aruba, and Bonaire; tourism on Curacao, Aruba, and St. Martin; light manufacturing on Curacao and Aruba

Major trade partners

(1984) exports — 71.9% EC (29.8% FRG, 13.8% BelgiumLuxembourg, 10.5% France, 9.4% UK), 5.0% US, 1.9% Communist; imports— 53.3% EC (21.8% FRG, 11.4% Belgium-Luxembourg, 8.7% UK), 8.8% US, 5.3% Communist

exports— 46% US, 2% Canada, 1% Netherlands; imports — 35% Venezuela, 11% US, 4% Netherlands (1977)

Member of

ADB, Benelux, Council of Europe, DAC, EC, ECE, EIB, ELDO, EMS, ESCAP, ESRO, FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAC, ICAO, ICES, ICO, IDA, IDE— InterAmerican Development Bank, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, INRO, INTELSAT, International Lead and Zinc Study Group, INTERPOL, IPU, IRC, ITC, ITU, IWC— International Wheat Council (with respect to interests of the Netherlands Antilles and Suriname), NATO, OAS (observer), OECD, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WSG Economy

EC (associate), INTERPOL; associated with UN through the Netherlands; UPU, WMO Economy

EIB (associate), WFTU, WMO

Military budget

for fiscal year ending 15 July 1986, $62.0 million; 9.6% of central government budget Sec regional map V Land 40,844 km2; the size of Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island combined; 70% cultivated, 8% forest, 8% inland water, 5% waste, 9% other

for fiscal year ending 31 December 1984, $4.1 billion; about 9.2% of central government budget Netherlands Antilles Islands not shown in true geographical position Caribbean Sea Sabana *V-N. westpunt L \Curacao Sfint Martin I M Philiplburg* Sab, Stnt Eustatius. ^-V~ — V,r\ MSTADt~— -^ Kralendij WILLEMSTAD S«e rrfional map III Bonaire Land 1,821 km2; more than one and one-half times the size of New York City; 95% waste, urban, or other; 5% arable Water

Military manpower

males 15-49, 4,186,000; 2, 114,000 fit for military service; 196,000 reach military age (17) annually

males 15-49, 4,004,000; 3,397,000 fit for military service; 132,000 reach military age (20) annually

males 15-49, 58,000; 33,000 fit for military service; about 2,400 reach military age (20) annually Coral Sea lies Loyaute New Caledonia NOUMEA Coral Sea Set regional map X //• des Pins Islands of Huon and Chesterfield are not shown. Land 22,139 km2; larger than Massachusetts; 22% pasture, 15% forest, 6% arable, 57% waste or other Water

Monetary conversion rate

2.9820 guilders=US$l (October 1985)

1.8 Netherlands Antillean florins (NAF)=US$1 (September 1985)

National holiday

Queen's Day, 30 April

Nationality

noun — Netherlander(s); adjective— Netherlands

noun — Netherlands Antillean(s); adjective — Netherlands Antillean

noun — New Caledonian(s); adjective — New Caledonian

Natural resources

natural gas, oil

phosphates (Curacao only), salt (Bonaire only)

Official name

Kingdom of the Netherlands

Netherlands Antilles

Territory of New Caledonia and Dependencies

Organized labor

33% of labor force Government

60-70% of labor force Government

Other political or pressure groups

large multinational firms; Federation of Netherlands Trade Union Movement (comprising Socialist and Catholic trade unions) and a Protestant trade union; Federation of Catholic and Protestant Employers Associations; the nondenominational Federation of Netherlands Enter prises; and IKV — Interchurch Peace Council

Pipelines

418 km crude oil; 965 km refined products; 10,230 km natural gas

Political parties

white-dominated Rassemblement pour la Calrdonie dans la Republique (RPCR) — Conservative; Melanesian proindependence Kanak Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS); Melanesian moderate Kanak Socialist Liberation (LKS)

Political subdivisions

1 1 provinces and 4 special municipalities governed by centrally appointed commissioners of Queen

three island territories— Bonaire, Curacao, and the Windward Islands — St. Eustatius, southern part of St. Martin (northern part is French), Saba; Aruba, formerly part of the Antilles federation, assumed separate status (under Prime Minister Jan Hendrik Albert Eman) within the Kingdom of the Netherlands on 1 January 1986

4 islands or island group dependencies — He des Pins, He Loyaute, He Huon, Island of New Caledonia

Population

14,536,000 (July 1986), average annual growth rate 0.4%

236,000 (July 1986), average annual growth rate 0.3%

152,000 (July 1986), average annual growth rate 1.2%

Ports

8 major, 10 minor

4 major (Willemstad, Oranjestad, Philipsburg, Kralendijk); 6 minor (of which 4 are significant ports for petroleum tankers)

Railroads

169 km (1985), all 0.762-meter narrow gauge; all in Terai close to Indian border; 10km from Raxaul to Blrganj is government owned

Netherlands Railways (NS) operates 2,867 km 1.435-meter standard gauge; 3,033 km total trackage; 1,810 km electrified, 1,800 km double track; 166 km privately owned

none

Religion

40% Roman Catholic, 31% Protestant, 24% unaffiliated

predominantly Roman Catholic; Protestant, Jewish, Adventist

over 60% Roman Catholic, 30% Protestant

Shortages

crude petroleum, raw cotton, base metals and ores, pulp, pulpwood, lumber, feedgrains, oilseeds

Suffrage

universal over age 18

universal age 18 and over

universal

Telecommunications

poor telephone and telegraph service; fair radiocommunication and broadcast service; international radiocommunication service is poor; 10,000 telephones (less than 0.1 per 100popl.);3 AM, no FM or TV stations Defense Forces

highly developed, well maintained, and integrated; extensive system of multiconductor cables, supplemented by radiorelay links; 8.27 million telephones (57.5 per 100 popl.); 7 AM, 38 FM, 29 TV stations; 9 submarine cables; 1 satellite station with 2 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean antennas Defense Forces

generally adequate telecom facilities; extensive interisland radio-relay links; 65,000 telephones (24.6 per 100 popl.); 12 AM, 7 FM, 3 TV stations; 2 submarine cables; 2 Atlantic Ocean satellite antennas Defense Forces Defense is responsibility of the Netherlands

Type

constitutional monarchy

autonomous territory within Kingdom of the Netherlands, enjoying complete domestic autonomy

French overseas territory; represented in French parliament by two deputies and one senator

Voting strength

(1982 election) 30. 8% PvdA (47 seats), 29.3% CDA (45 seats), 23% VVD (36 seats), 4.3% D'66 (6 seats), 2.3% PSP (3 seats), 1.9% SGP (3 seats), 1.8% CPN (3 seats), 1.7% PPR (2 seats), 1.3% RDF (2 seats), 0.8% GPF (1 seat), 0.8% CP (1 seat); 0.7% EVP (1 seat); two members of the CDA were expelled from the party in 1984 and are now serving as independents

in June 1984 the government of Prime Minister Don Martina lost its majority in the Legislative Council; an interim coalition government was appointed by the Governor; the coalition controls 15 of 22 seats in the Council and consists of members of the PNP, DP, MEP, DPWI, and UPB parties

(1984 election) Territorial Assembly— RPCR, 34 seats; LKS, 6 seats; splinter groups, 2 seats; FLNKS boycotted the election

Windward Islands

Windward Islands Democratic Party (DPWI), Leo Chance and Claude Wathey; United Federation of Antillean Workers (UFA); Windward Islands People's Movement (WIPM); and others