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)
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
