Long-form name:
none
Type:
dependent territory of the UK
Capital:
The Valley
Administrative divisions:
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Independence:
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Constitution:
1 April 1982
Legal system:
based on English common law
National holiday:
Anguilla Day, 30 May
Executive branch:
British monarch, governor, chief minister, Executive Council (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
unicameral House of Assembly
Judicial branch:
High Court
Leaders:
Chief of State:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Brian G.
J. CANTY (since NA 1989)
Head of Government:
Chief Minister Emile GUMBS (since March 1984, served previously from
February 1977 to May 1980)
Political parties and leaders:
Anguilla National Alliance (ANA), Emile GUMBS; Anguilla United Party (AUP),
Hubert HUGHES; Anguilla Democratic Party (ADP), Victor BANKS
Suffrage:
universal at age 18
Elections:
House of Assembly:
last held 27 February 1989 (next to be held February 1994); results -
percent of vote by party NA; seats - (11 total, 7 elected) ANA 3, AUP 2, ADP
1, independent 1
Member of:
CARICOM (observer), CDB
Diplomatic representation:
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Flag:
two horizontal bands of white (top, almost triple width) and light blue with
three orange dolphins in an interlocking circular design centered in the
white band; a new flag may have been in use since 30 May 1990
:Anguilla Economy
Overview:
Anguilla has few natural resources, and the economy depends heavily on
lobster fishing, offshore banking, tourism, and remittances from emigrants.
In recent years the economy has benefited from a boom in tourism.
Development plans center around the improvement of the infrastructure,
particularly transport and tourist facilities, and also light industry.
GDP:
exchange rate conversion - $23 million, per capita $3,300; real growth rate
8.2% (1988 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.5% (1988 est.)
Unemployment rate:
5.0% (1988 est.)
Budget:
revenues $13.8 million; expenditures $15.2 million, including capital
expenditures of $2.4 million (1992 est.)
Exports:
$NA
commodities:
lobster and salt
partners:
NA
Imports:
$NA
commodities:
NA
partners:
NA
External debt:
$NA
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%
Electricity:
2,000 kW capacity; 6 million kWh produced, 867 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
tourism, boat building, salt, fishing (including lobster)
Agriculture:
pigeon peas, corn, sweet potatoes, sheep, goats, pigs, cattle, poultry
Economic aid:
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $38
million
Currency:
East Caribbean dollar (plural - dollars); 1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed rate since 1976)
Fiscal year:
NA
:Anguilla Communications
Highways:
60 km surfaced
Ports:
Road Bay, Blowing Point
Civil air:
no major transport aircraft
Airports:
3 total, 3 usable; 1 with permanent-surface runways of 1,100 m (Wallblake
Airport)
Telecommunications:
modern internal telephone system; 890 telephones; broadcast stations - 3 AM,
1 FM, no TV; radio relay link to island of Saint Martin
:Anguilla Defense Forces
Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
:Antarctica Geography
Total area:
14,000,000 km2 (est.)
Land area:
about 14,000,000 km2
Comparative area:
slightly less than 1.5 times the size of the US; second-smallest continent
(after Australia)
Land boundaries:
none, but see entry on Disputes
Coastline:
17,968 km
Maritime claims:
none, but see entry on Disputes
Disputes:
Antarctic Treaty defers claims (see Antarctic Treaty Summary below);
sections (some overlapping) claimed by Argentina, Australia, Chile, France
(Adelie Land), New Zealand (Ross Dependency), Norway (Queen Maud Land), and
UK; the US and Russia do not recognize the territorial claims of other
nations and have made no claims themselves (but reserve the right to do so);
no formal claims have been made in the sector between 90. west and 150.
west, where, because of floating ice, Antarctica is unapproachable from the
sea
Climate:
severe low temperatures vary with latitude, elevation, and distance from the
ocean; East Antarctica is colder than West Antarctica because of its higher
elevation; Antarctic Peninsula has the most moderate climate; higher
temperatures occur in January along the coast and average slightly below
freezing
Terrain:
about 98% thick continental ice sheet and 2% barren rock, with average
elevations between 2,000 and 4,000 meters; mountain ranges up to 4,897
meters high; ice-free coastal areas include parts of southern Victoria Land,
Wilkes Land, the Antarctic Peninsula area, and Ross Island on McMurdo Sound;
glaciers form ice shelves along about half of the coastline, and floating
ice shelves constitute 11% of the area of the continent
Natural resources:
none presently exploited; iron, chromium, copper, gold, nickel, platinum,
and other minerals, and coal and hydrocarbons have been found in small,
uncommercial quantities
Land use:
no arable land and no plant growth; ice 98%, barren rock 2%
Environment:
mostly uninhabitable; katabatic (gravity-driven) winds blow coastward from
the high interior; frequent blizzards form near the foot of the plateau; a
circumpolar ocean current flows clockwise along the coast as do cyclonic
storms that form over the ocean; during summer more solar radiation reaches
the surface at the South Pole than is received at the Equator in an
equivalent period; in October 1991 it was reported that the ozone shield,
which protects the Earth's surface from harmful ultraviolet radiation, had
dwindled to its lowest level ever over Antarctica; active volcanism on
Deception Island and isolated areas of West Antarctica; other seismic
activity rare and weak
Note:
the coldest, windiest, highest, and driest continent
:Antarctica People