:Sao Tome and Principe Government
Long-form name:
Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe
Type:
republic
Capital:
Sao Tome
Administrative divisions:
2 districts (concelhos, singular - concelho); Principe, Sao Tome
Independence:
12 July 1975 (from Portugal)
Constitution:
5 November 1975, approved 15 December 1982
Legal system:
based on Portuguese law system and customary law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
Independence Day, 12 July (1975)
Executive branch:
president, prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
unicameral National People's Assembly (Assembleia Popular Nacional)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Leaders:
Chief of State:
President Miguel TROVOADA (since 4 April 1991)
Head of Government:
Prime Minister Noberto COSTA ALEGRE (since 16 May 1992)
Political parties and leaders:
Party for Democratic Convergence-Reflection Group (PCD-GR), Prime Minister
Daniel Lima Dos Santos DAIO, secretary general; Movement for the Liberation
of Sao Tome and Principe (MLSTP), Carlos da GRACA; Christian Democratic
Front (FDC), Alphonse Dos SANTOS; Democratic Opposition Coalition (CODO),
leader NA; other small parties
Suffrage:
universal at age 18
Elections:
President:
last held 3 March 1991 (next to be held NA March 1996); results - Miguel
TROVOADA was elected without opposition in Sao Tome's first multiparty
presidential election
National People's Assembly:
last held 20 January 1991 (next to be held NA January 1996); results -
PCD-GR 54.4%, MLSTP 30.5%, CODO 5.2%, FDC 1.5%, other 8.3%; seats - (55
total) PCD-GR 33, MLSTP 21, CODO 1; note - this was the first multiparty
election in Sao Tome and Principe
Member of:
ACP, AfDB, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, ILO, IMF, INTERPOL,
ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation:
Ambassador Joaquim Rafael BRANCO; Chancery (temporary) at 801 Second Avenue,
Suite 603, New York, NY 10017; telephone (212) 697-4211
US:
Ambassador to Gabon is accredited to Sao Tome and Principe on a nonresident
basis and makes periodic visits to the islands
:Sao Tome and Principe Government
Flag:
three horizontal bands of green (top), yellow (double width), and green with
two black five-pointed stars placed side by side in the center of the yellow
band and a red isosceles triangle based on the hoist side; uses the popular
pan-African colors of Ethiopia
:Sao Tome and Principe Economy
Overview:
The economy has remained dependent on cocoa since the country gained
independence nearly 15 years ago. Since then, however, cocoa production has
gradually deteriorated because of drought and mismanagement, so that by 1987
output had fallen to less than 50% of its former levels. As a result, a
shortage of cocoa for export has created a serious balance-of-payments
problem. Production of less important crops, such as coffee, copra, and palm
kernels, has also declined. The value of imports generally exceeds that of
exports by a ratio of 4:1. The emphasis on cocoa production at the expense
of other food crops has meant that Sao Tome has to import 90% of food needs.
It also has to import all fuels and most manufactured goods. Over the years,
Sao Tome has been unable to service its external debt, which amounts to
roughly 80% of export earnings. Considerable potential exists for
development of a tourist industry, and the government has taken steps to
expand facilities in recent years. The government also implemented a
Five-Year Plan covering 1986-90 to restructure the economy and reschedule
external debt service payments in cooperation with the International
Development Association and Western lenders.
GDP:
exchange rate conversion - $46.0 million, per capita $400; real growth rate
1.5% (1989)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
36% (1989)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues $10.2 million; expenditures $36.8 million, including capital
expenditures of $22.5 million (1989)
Exports:
$4.4 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.)
commodities:
cocoa 85%, copra, coffee, palm oil
partners:
FRG, GDR, Netherlands, China
Imports:
$21.3 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.)
commodities:
machinery and electrical equipment 54%, food products 23%, other 23%
partners:
Portugal, GDR, Angola, China
External debt:
$147 million (1990 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate 7.1% (1986)
Electricity:
5,000 kW capacity; 10 million kWh produced, 80 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
light construction, shirts, soap, beer, fisheries, shrimp processing
Agriculture:
dominant sector of economy, primary source of exports; cash crops - cocoa
(85%), coconuts, palm kernels, coffee; food products - bananas, papaya,
beans, poultry, fish; not self-sufficient in food grain and meat
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $8 million; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $89 million
Currency:
dobra (plural - dobras); 1 dobra (Db) = 100 centimos
:Sao Tome and Principe Economy
Exchange rates:
dobras (Db) per US$1 - 260.0 (November 1991), 122.48 (December 1988), 72.827
(1987), 36.993 (1986)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
:Sao Tome and Principe Communications
Highways:
300 km (two-thirds are paved); roads on Principe are mostly unpaved and in
need of repair
Ports:
Sao Tome, Santo Antonio
Civil air:
10 major transport aircraft
Airports:
2 total, 2 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications:
minimal system; broadcast stations - 1 AM, 2 FM, no TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean
INTELSAT earth station