Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jean Marie LEYE (since 2 March 1994)
head of government: Prime Minister Maxime CARLOT Korman (since 16
December 1991); Deputy Prime Minister Sethy REGENVANU (since 17
December 1991)
cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the prime minister,
responsible to parliament
Legislative branch: unicameral
Parliament: elections last held 2 December 1991 (next to be held NA
November 1995); note - after election, a coalition was formed by the
Union of Moderate Parties and the National United Party to form a new
government on 16 December 1991, but political party associations are
fluid; results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (46 total) UMP
19, NUP 10, VP 10, MPP 4, TUP 1, Nagriamel 1, Friend 1
note: the National Council of Chiefs advises on matters of custom and
land
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: Vanuatu Party (VP), Donald KALPOKAS;
Union of Moderate Parties (UMP), Maxime CARLOT Korman; Melanesian
Progressive Party (MPP), Barak SOPE; National United Party (NUP),
Walter LINI; Tan Union Party (TUP), Vincent BOULEKONE; Nagriamel
Party, Jimmy STEVENS; Friend Melanesian Party, leader NA; People's
Democratic Party (PDP), Sethy REGENVANU
note: the VP, MPP, TUP, and Nagriamel Party have formed a coalition
called the United Front (UF) heading into the November 1995 elections
Member of: ACCT, ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM,
IDA, IFC, IFRCS (associate), IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user),
IOC, ITU, NAM, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US: Vanuatu does not have a mission in
the US
US diplomatic representation: the ambassador to Papua New Guinea is
accredited to Vanuatu
Flag: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a black isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) all separated by a black-edged yellow stripe in the shape of a horizontal Y (the two points of the Y face the hoist side and enclose the triangle); centered in the triangle is a boar's tusk encircling two crossed namele leaves, all in yellow
@Vanuatu:Economy
Overview: The economy is based primarily on subsistence farming which provides a living for about 80% of the population. Fishing and tourism are the other mainstays of the economy, with 43,000 visitors in 1992. Mineral deposits are negligible; the country has no known petroleum deposits. A small light industry sector caters to the local market. Tax revenues come mainly from import duties.