The 1997 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency

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      Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952) head of government: Governor and President of the Executive Council John OWEN (since 15 September 1995) cabinet: Executive Council (three members appointed by the governor, four members elected by the Legislative Assembly) elections : none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; the governor is appointed by the queen

      Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly (18 seats, 3 official members and 15 elected by popular vote; members serve four-year terms) elections: last held 20 November 1996 (next to be held NA November 2000) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - National Team coalition 9, independents 6

      Judicial branch: Grand Court; Cayman Islands Court of Appeal

      Political parties and leaders: no formal political parties

      International organization participation: Caricom (observer), CDB,

       Interpol (subbureau), IOC

      Diplomatic representation in the US: none (dependent territory of the

       UK)

      Diplomatic representation from the US: none (dependent territory of the UK)

      Flag description: blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Caymanian coat of arms on a white disk centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms includes a pineapple and turtle above a shield with three stars (representing the three islands) and a scroll at the bottom bearing the motto HE HATH FOUNDED IT UPON THE SEAS

      Economy

      Economy - overview: With no direct taxation, the Islands are a thriving offshore financial center; 28,000 foreign companies do business with the 600 registered banks and trust companies; banking assets exceed $500 billion. Tourism is also a mainstay, accounting for about 70% of GDP and 75% of foreign currency earnings. The tourist industry is aimed at the luxury market and caters mainly to visitors from North America. Total tourist arrivals exceeded one million visitors in 1995 and again in 1996. About 90% of the islands' food and consumer goods must be imported. The Caymanians enjoy one of the highest outputs per capita and one of the highest standards of living in the world.

      GDP: purchasing power parity - $860 million (1996 est.)

      GDP - real growth rate: 4.5% (1996 est.)

      GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $23,800 (1996 est.)

      GDP - composition by sector: agriculture : 1.4% industry: 3.2% services: 95.4% (1994 est.)

      Inflation rate - consumer price index: 2.5% (1995 est.)

      Labor force: total: 8,061 by occupation: service workers 18.7%, clerical 18.6%, construction 12.5%, finance and investment 6.7%, directors and business managers 5.9% (1979)

      Unemployment rate: 7% (1992)

      Budget: revenues: $141.5 million expenditures: $160.7 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1991)

      Industries: tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction, construction materials, furniture

      Industrial production growth rate: NA%

      Electricity - capacity: 71,000 kW (1994)

      Electricity - production: NA kWh

      Electricity - consumption per capita: 7,487 kWh (1994 est.)

      Agriculture - products: vegetables, fruit; livestock; turtle farming

      Exports: total value : $10 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: turtle products, manufactured consumer goods partners : mostly US

      Imports: total value: $329 million (c.i.f., 1995 est.) commodities: foodstuffs, manufactured goods partners: US, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, Netherlands Antilles, Japan

      Debt - external: $15 million (1986)

      Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA

      Currency: 1 Caymanian dollar (CI$) = 100 cents

      Exchange rates: Caymanian dollars (CI$) per US$1 - 0.83 (3 November 1995), 0.85 (22 November 1993)

      Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

      @Cayman Islands:Communications

      Telephones: 21,584 (1993 est.)

      Telephone system:

       domestic: NA

       international: 1 submarine coaxial cable; satellite earth station - 1

       Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

      Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 1, shortwave 0

      Radios: 28,200 (1992 est.)

      Television broadcast stations: 1 (1995)

      Televisions: 6,000 (1992 est.)

      @Cayman Islands:Transportation

      Railways: 0 km

      Highways: total: 406 km paved: 304 km unpaved : 102 km

      Ports and harbors: Cayman Brac, George Town

      Merchant marine: total: 42 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 736,004 GRT/1,153,058 DWT ships by type : bulk 5, cargo 10, chemical tanker 2, container 4, oil tanker 4, refrigerated cargo 11, roll-on/roll-off cargo 5, vehicle carrier 1 note : a flag of convenience registry; Greece owns 7 ships, US 7, UK 5, India 1, Japan 1, Norway 1, Sweden 1, Switzerland 1, and United Arab Emirates 1 (1996 est.)

      Airports: 3 (1996 est.)

      Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (1996 est.)

      Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m : 1 (1996 est.)

      Military

      Military branches: Royal Cayman Islands Police Force (RCIPF)

      Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK

      Transnational Issues

      Disputes - international: none

      Illicit drugs: vulnerable to drug money-laundering and drug transshipment ______________________________________________________________________

      CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

      Introduction

      Current issues: in 1996 the Central African Republic experienced three mutinies by dissident elements of the armed forces which demanded back pay as well as political and military reforms; continuing violence in 1997 between the government and rebel military and civilian groups over pay issues, living conditions, and lack of opposition party representation in the government has destroyed many businesses in the capital, reducing tax revenues and exacerbating the government's problems in meeting expenses

      @Central СКАЧАТЬ