*Cape Verde, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Cape Verde
conventional short form:
Cape Verde
local long form:
Republica de Cabo Verde
local short form:
Cabo Verde
Digraph:
CV
Type:
republic
Capital:
Praia
Administrative divisions: 14 districts (concelhos, singular - concelho); Boa Vista, Brava, Fogo,
Maio,
Paul, Praia, Porto Novo, Ribeira Grande, Sal, Santa Catarina, Santa Cruz,
Sao Nicolau, Sao Vicente, Tarrafal
Independence:
5 July 1975 (from Portugal)
Constitution:
7 September 1980; amended 12 February 1981, December 1988, and 28 September
1990 (legalized opposition parties)
Legal system:
NA
National holiday:
Independence Day, 5 July (1975)
Political parties and leaders:
Movement for Democracy (MPD), Prime Minister Carlos VEIGA, founder and
chairman; African Party for Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV), Pedro Verona
Rodrigues PIRES, chairman
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Elections:
People's National Assembly:
last held 13 January 1991 (next to be held January 1996); results - percent
of vote by party NA; seats - (79 total) MPD 56, PAICV 23; note - this
multiparty Assembly election ended 15 years of single-party rule
President:
last held 17 February 1991 (next to be held February 1996); results -
Antonio Monteiro MASCARENHAS (MPD) received 72.6% of vote
Executive branch:
president, prime minister, deputy minister, secretaries of state, Council of
Ministers (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
unicameral People's National Assembly (Assembleia Nacional Popular)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Tribunal of Justice (Supremo Tribunal de Justia)
Leaders:
Chief of State:
President Antonio Monteiro MASCARENHAS (since 22 March 1991)
Head of Government:
Prime Minister Carlos Alberto Wahnon de Carvalho VEIGA (since 13 January
1991)
*Cape Verde, Government
Member of:
ACP, AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF,
IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOM (observer), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, UN (Cape
Verde assumed a nonpermanent seat on the Security Council on 1 January
1992), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMOZ, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Carlos Alberto Santos SILVA
chancery:
3415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone:
(202) 965-6820 consulate general:
Boston
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Joseph SEGARS
embassy:
Rua Hoji Ya Henda 81, Praia
mailing address:
C. P. 201, Praia
telephone:
[238] 61-56-16 or 61-56-17
FAX:
[238] 61-13-55
Flag:
a new flag of unknown description reportedly has been adopted; previous flag
consisted of two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and green with a
vertical red band on the hoist side; in the upper portion of the red band is
a black five-pointed star framed by two corn stalks and a yellow clam shell;
uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag of
Guinea-Bissau, which is longer and has an unadorned black star centered in
the red band
*Cape Verde, Economy
Overview:
Cape Verde's low per capita GDP reflects a poor natural resource base, a
serious, long-term drought, and a high birthrate. The economy is service
oriented, with commerce, transport, and public services accounting for 60%
of GDP. Although nearly 70% of the population lives in rural areas,
agriculture's share of GDP is only 16%; the fishing sector accounts for 4%.
About 90% of food must be imported. The fishing potential, mostly lobster
and tuna, is not fully exploited. In 1988 fishing represented only 3.5% of
GDP. Cape Verde annually runs a high trade deficit, financed by remittances
from emigrants and foreign aid. Economic reforms launched by the new
democratic government in February 1991 are aimed at developing the private
sector and attracting foreign investment to diversify the economy.
National product:
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $310 million (1990 est.)
National product real growth rate:
4% (1990 est.)
National product per capita:
$800 (1990 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
8.7% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate:
25% (1988)
Budget:
revenues $104 million; expenditures $133 million, including capital
expenditures of $72 million (1991 est.)
Exports:
$5.7 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.)
commodities:
fish, bananas, hides and skins
partners: Portugal 40%, Algeria 31%, Angola, Netherlands (1990 est.)
Imports:
$120 million (c.i.f., 1990 est.)
commodities:
foodstuffs, consumer goods, industrial products, transport equipment
partners:
Sweden 33%, Spain 11%, Germany 5%, Portugal 3%, France 3%, Netherlands, US
(1990 est.)
External debt:
$156 million (1991)
Industrial production:
growth rate 18% (1988 est.); accounts for 4% of GDP
Electricity:
15,000 kW capacity; 15 million kWh produced, 40 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
fish processing, salt mining, clothing factories, ship repair, construction
materials, food and beverage production
Agriculture:
accounts for 20% of GDP (including fishing); largely subsistence farming;
bananas are the only export crop; other crops - corn, beans, sweet potatoes,
coffee; growth potential of agricultural sector limited by poor soils and
scanty rainfall; annual food imports required; fish catch provides for both
domestic consumption and small exports
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY75-90), $93 million; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-90), $586 million; OPEC
bilateral aid (1979-89), $12 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $36
million
*Cape Verde, Economy
Currency:
1 Cape Verdean escudo (CVEsc) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates:
Cape Verdean escudos (CVEsc) per US$1 - 75.47 (January 1993), 73.10 (1992),
71.41 (1991), 64.10 (November 1990), 74.86 (December 1989), 72.01 (1988)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
*Cape Verde, Communications
Ports:
Mindelo, Praia
Merchant marine:
7 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 11,717 GRT/19,000 DWT
Airports:
total:
6
usable:
6
with permanent-surface runways:
6 with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
1
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
2
Telecommunications:
interisland microwave radio relay system, high-frequency radio to Senegal
and Guinea-Bissau; over 1,700 telephones; broadcast stations - 1 AM, 6 FM, 1
TV; 2 coaxial submarine cables; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station