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NAVIGATION
Montserrat
GOVERNMENT
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Country name:
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conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Montserrat |
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Dependency status:
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overseas territory of the UK |
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Government type:
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NA |
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Capital:
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Plymouth (abandoned in 1997 due to volcanic activity; interim government buildings have been built at Brades Estate, in the Carr's Bay/Little Bay vicinity at the northwest end of Montserrat) |
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Administrative divisions:
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3 parishes; Saint Anthony, Saint Georges, Saint Peter |
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Independence:
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none (overseas territory of the UK) |
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National holiday:
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Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June (1926) |
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Constitution:
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present constitution came into force 19 December 1989 |
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Legal system:
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English common law and statutory law |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Anthony LONGRIGG (since NA May 2001)
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party usually becomes chief minister head of government: Chief Minister John OSBORNE (since 5 April 2001) cabinet: Executive Council consists of the governor, the chief minister, three other ministers, the attorney general, and the finance secretary |
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral Legislative Council (11 seats, 9 popularly elected; members serve five-year terms)
note: expanded in 2001 from 7 to 9 elected members with attorney general and financial secretary sitting as ex-officio members elections: last held NA April 2001 (next to be held by November 2006) note: in 2001, the Elections Commission instituted a single constituency/voter-at-large system whereby all eligible voters cast ballots for all nine seats of the Legislative Council election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NPLM 7, NPP 2 |
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Judicial branch:
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Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based in Saint Lucia, one judge of the Supreme Court is a resident of the islands and presides over the High Court) |
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Political parties and leaders:
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National Progressive Party or NPP [Reuben T. MEADE]; New People's Liberation Movement or NPLM [John A. OSBORNE] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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NA |
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International organization participation:
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Caricom, CDB, ECLAC (associate), ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), OECS, WCL |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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none (overseas territory of the UK) |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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none (overseas territory of the UK) |
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Flag description:
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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
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Economy - overview:
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Severe volcanic activity, which began in July 1995, has put a damper on this small, open economy. A catastrophic eruption in June 1997 closed the airports and seaports, causing further economic and social dislocation. Two-thirds of the 12,000 inhabitants fled the island. Some began to return in 1998, but lack of housing limited the number. The agriculture sector continued to be affected by the lack of suitable land for farming and the destruction of crops. Prospects for the economy depend largely on developments in relation to the volcano and on public sector construction activity. The UK has launched a three-year $122.8 million aid program to help reconstruct the economy. Half of the island is expected to remain uninhabitable for another decade. |
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $31 million (1999 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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-1.5% (1999 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $2,400 (1999 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 5%
industry: 14% services: 81% (1996 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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NA% |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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5% (1998) (1998) |
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Labor force:
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4,521 (1992); note - lowered by flight of people from volcanic activity |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA% |
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Unemployment rate:
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6% (1998 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $31.4 million
expenditures: $31.6 million, including capital expenditures of $8.4 million |
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Industries:
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tourism, rum, textiles, electronic appliances |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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NA% |
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Electricity - production:
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5 million kWh (2000) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0% other: 0% (2000) nuclear: 0% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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4.65 million kWh (2000) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2000) |
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh (2000) |
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Agriculture - products:
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cabbages, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, peppers; livestock products |
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Exports:
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$1.5 million (1998) |
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Exports - commodities:
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electronic components, plastic bags, apparel, hot peppers, live plants, cattle |
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Exports - partners:
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US, Antigua and Barbuda (1993) |
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Imports:
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$26 million (1998) |
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Imports - commodities:
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machinery and transportation equipment, foodstuffs, manufactured goods, fuels, lubricants, and related materials |
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Imports - partners:
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US, UK, Trinidad and Tobago, Japan, Canada (1993) |
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Debt - external:
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$8.9 million (1997) (1997) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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Country Policy Plan (2001) is a three-year program for spending $122.8 million in British budgetary assistance |
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Currency:
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East Caribbean dollar (XCD) |
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Currency code:
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XCD |
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Exchange rates:
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East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7000 (fixed rate since 1976) |
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Fiscal year:
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1 April - 31 March |