MONTSERRAT (dependent territory of the UK) GEOGRAPHY Total area: 100 km2; land area: 100 km2 Comparative area: about 0.6 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: none Coastline: 40 km Maritime claims: Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm; Territorial sea: 3 nm Climate: tropical; little daily or seasonal temperature variation Terrain: volcanic islands, mostly mountainous, with small coastal lowland Natural resources: negligible Land use: arable land 20%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 10%; forest and woodland 40%; other 30% Environment: subject to severe hurricanes from June to November Note: located 400 km southeast of Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Sea PEOPLE Population: 12,504 (July 1991), growth rate 1.0% (1991) Birth rate: 16 births/1,000 population (1991) Death rate: 10 deaths/1,000 population (1991) Net migration rate: 4 migrants/1,000 population (1991) Infant mortality rate: 9 deaths/1,000 live births (1991) Life expectancy at birth: 74 years male, 80 years female (1991) Total fertility rate: 2.2 children born/woman (1991) Nationality: noun--Montserratian(s); adjective--Montserratian Ethnic divisions: mostly black with a few Europeans Religion: Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Seventh-Day Adventist, other Christian denominations Language: English Literacy: 97% (male 97%, female 97%) age 15 and over having ever attended school (1970) Labor force: 5,100; community, social, and personal services 40.5%, construction 13.5%, trade, restaurants, and hotels 12.3%, manufacturing 10.5%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 8.8%, other 14.4% (1983 est.) Organized labor: 30% of labor force, three trade unions with 1,500 members (1984 est.) GOVERNMENT Long-form name: none Type: dependent territory of the UK Capital: Plymouth Administrative divisions: 3 parishes; Saint Anthony, Saint Georges, Saint Peter Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK) Constitution: 1 January 1960 Legal system: English common law and statute law National holiday: Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen (second Saturday of June) Executive branch: monarch, governor, Executive Council (cabinet), chief minister Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council Judicial branch: Supreme Court Leaders: Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor David TAYLOR (since NA 1990); Head of Government--Chief Minister John A. OSBORNE (since NA 1978) Political parties and leaders: People's Liberation Movement (PLM), John OSBORNE; Progressive Democratic Party (PDP), Howell BRAMBLE; United National Front (UNF), Dr. George IRISH; National Development Party (NDP), Bertrand OSBORNE Suffrage: universal at age 18 Elections: Legislative Council--last held on 25 August 1987 (next to be held NA 1992); results--percent of vote by party NA; seats--(11 total, 7 elected) PLM 4, NDP 2, PDP 1 Communists: probably none Member of: CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC (associate), ICFTU, OECS, WCL Diplomatic representation: none (dependent territory of the UK) Flag: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Montserratian coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms features a woman standing beside a yellow harp with her arm around a black cross ECONOMY Overview: The economy is small and open with economic activity centered on tourism and construction. Tourism is the most important sector and accounted for 20% of GDP in 1986. Agriculture accounted for about 4% of GDP and industry 10%. The economy is heavily dependent on imports, making it vulnerable to fluctuations in world prices. Exports consist mainly of electronic parts sold to the US. GDP: $54.2 million, per capita $4,500; real growth rate 12% (1988 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.6% (1988) Unemployment rate: 3.0% (1987) Budget: revenues $12.1 million; expenditures $14.3 million, including capital expenditures of $3.2 million (1988) Exports: $2.3 million (f.o.b., 1988 est.); commodities--electronic parts, plastic bags, apparel, hot peppers, live plants, cattle; partners--NA Imports: $30 million (c.i.f., 1988 est.); commodities--machinery and transportation equipment, foodstuffs, manufactured goods, fuels, lubricants, and related materials; partners--NA External debt: $2.05 million (1987) Industrial production: growth rate 8.1% (1986); accounts for 10% of GDP Electricity: 5,270 kW capacity; 12.2 million kWh produced, 980 kWh per capita (1990) Industries: tourism; light manufacturing--rum, textiles, electronic appliances Agriculture: accounts for 4% of GDP; small-scale farming; food crops--tomatoes, onions, peppers; not self-sufficient in food, especially livestock products Economic aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-88), $75 million Currency: East Caribbean dollar (plural--dollars); 1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1--2.70 (fixed rate since 1976) Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March COMMUNICATIONS Highways: 280 km total; about 200 km paved, 80 km gravel and earth Ports: Plymouth Airports: 1 with permanent-surface runway 1,036 m Telecommunications: 3,000 telephones; stations--8 AM, 4 FM, 1 TV DEFENSE FORCES Branches: Police Force Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK