1986 Edition

Agriculture

main crops — bananas, coconuts, sugar, cocoa, spices

bananas, arrowroot

Aid

economic — bilateral commitments, ODA and OOF, Western (non-US) countries (1970-81), $34 million; no military aid

economic — bilateral economic commitments, ODA and OOF, from Western (nonUS) countries (1970-81), $25 million; no military aid

Airfields

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

6 total, 6 usable; 3 with permanent-surface runways, 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Area

619 km2; about one-fifth the size of Rhode Island; 50% arable, 23% wasteland and built on, 19% forest, 5% unused but potentially productive, 3% pasture Water

Branches

bicameral legislative (Senate, House of Assembly); executive, Cabinet headed by Prime Minister

Royal St. Lucia Police Force St. Vincent and the Grenadines Chateaubelaijj / '(Georgetown Saint Caribbean Sea Union Island Set regional map III Land 389 km2 (including northern Grenadines); about twice the size of Washington, D. C.; 50% arable, 44% forest, 3% pasture, 3% waste and built on Water

bicameral legislature (13-member elected House of Representatives and 6-member appointed Senate), judiciary (Supreme Court)

Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force

Budget

(FY84) revenues, $61 million; expenditures, $64 million

(1984) revenues, $32 million; expenditures, $32 million

Capital

Castries

Kingstown

Civil air

2 major transport aircraft

no major transport aircraft

Coastline

158 km People

84 km People

Communists

negligible

Elections

every five years; last election held May 1982 Political parties and leaders: United Workers' Party (UWP), John Compton; St. Lucia Labor Party (SLP), Julian Hunte; Progressive Labor Party (PLP), George Odium

every five years; last held 18 July Political parties and leaders: New Democratic Party (NDP), James "Son" Mitchell; St. Vincent Labor Party (SVLP), Hudson Tannis; United People's Movement (UPM), Renwick Rose and Oscar Allen; Movement for National Unity (MNU), Ralph Gonsalves

Electric power

20,000 kW capacity (1985); 75 million kWh produced (1985), 615 kWh per capita

16,000 kW capacity (1985); 32 million kWh produced (1985), 314 kWh per capita

Ethnic divisions

90.3% African descent, 5.5% mixed, 3.2% East Indian, 0.8% Caucasian

mainly of African Negro descent; remainder mixed, with some white, East Indian, Carib Indian

Exports

$49.7 million (f.o.b., 1983); bananas, cocoa

$42.0 million (f.o.b., 1983 prelim.); bananas, arrowroot, copra

GNP

$88.9 million (1983), $781 per capita; 3% real growth in 1984

Government leaders

John G. M. COMPTON, Prime Minister (since February 1975); Sir Allen LEWIS, Governor General (since December 1982)

James "Son" MITCHELL, Prime Minister (since 1984); Sir Joseph EUSTACE, Governor General (since February 1985)

Highways

760 km total; 500 km paved; 260 km otherwise improved

approx. 1,000 km total; 300 km paved; 400 km improved; 300 km unimproved

Imports

$106.8 million (c.i.f., 1983); foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fertilizers, petroleum products

$71.4 million (c.i.f., 1983 prelim.); foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, chemicals and fertilizers, minerals and fuels

Infant mortality rate

27.4/1,000 (1984)

Labor force

43,800 (1983 est.); 43.4% agriculture, 38.9% services, 17.7% industry and commerce; 30% unemployment (1984)

67,000 (1984 est.); about 40% unemployed (1984)

Language

English (official), French patois

English, some French patois

Legal system

based on English common law; constitution of 1960; highest judicial body is Court of Appeal of Leeward and Windward Islands

based on English common law; constitution of 1960; highest judicial body is Court of Appeal of Leeward and Windward Islands

Life expectancy

men 68.3, women 72.4

Limits of territorial waters (claimed)

3 nm (fishing 12 nm)

3 nm (fishing 12 nm)

Literacy

78%

82%

Major industries

garments, electronic components, beverages, corrugated boxes, tourism, lime processing, tropical agriculture

food processing

Major trade partners

exports — 58% UK, 16% US, 24% CARICOM; impcrts— 37% US, 13% UK, 17% CARICOM, 9% Trinidad and Tobago (1984 est.)

exports — 32% UK, 57% CARICOM, 34% Trinidad and Tobago (1983); imports 11% UK, 33% US, 32% CARICOM, 24% Trinidad and Tobago, 6% Canada (1983 est.)

Member of

CARICOM, FAO, G-77, GATT (de facto), IRRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, NAM, OAS, PAHO, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO Economy GDP. $148.1 million (1984), $1,105 per capita; 5.0% real GDP growth (1984)

CARICOM, FAO, G-77, GATT (de facto), IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IMF, IMO, OAS, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO Economy

Monetary conversion rate

2.70 East Caribbean dollars=US$l (December 1985) Communications

2.70 East Caribbean dollars=US$l (December 1985) Communications

Nationality

noun — St. Lucian(s); adjective— St. Lucian

noun — St. Vincentian(s) or Vincentian(s); adjectives — St. Vincentian or Vincentian

Natural resources

forests, beaches, minerals (pumice), mineral springs

Official name

St. Lucia

St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Organized labor

20% of labor force Government

10% of labor force Government

Political subdivisions

16 parishes

Population

123,000 (July 1986), average annual growth rate 1 . 1 %

103,000 (July 1986), average annual growth rate 0.9%

Ports

1 major (Castries), 1 minor

1 major (Kingstown), 1 minor

Railroads

none

none

Religion

90% Roman Catholic, 7% Protestant, 3% Church of England

Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic

Shortages

food, machinery, capital goods

Suffrage

universal adult over age 18

universal adult at age 18

Telecommunications

fully automatic telephone system with 9,500 telephones (8.0 per 100 popl.); direct radio-relay link with Martinique and St. Vincent and the Grenadines; interisland troposcatter link to Barbados; 3 AM stations, 1 cable TV station Defense Forces

islandwide fully automatic telephone system with 6,500 sets (4.6 per 100 pop!.); VHF/UHF interisland links to Barbados and the Grenadines; new SHF links to Grenada and St. Lucia; 2 AM stations Defense Forces

Type

independent state within Commonwealth, recognizing Elizabeth II as Chief of State

independent state within Commonwealth, recognizing Elizabeth II as Chief of State

Voting strength

(1982 election) House of Assembly— UWP, 14 seats; SLP, 2 seats; PLP, 1 seat

(1984 election) House of Assembly— NDP, 9 seats; SVLP, 4 seats