Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (judges are elected by a Council made up of legislative and executive members with the president presiding)
Political parties and leaders: Rene BEAUCHAMPS Javier]; Liberal Party of the Dominican Republic or note: in 1983 several leftist parties, including the PCD, joined to form the Dominican Leftist Front or FID; however, they still retain individual party structures
Political pressure groups and leaders: Collective of Popular
Organizations or COP
International organization participation: ACP, Caricom
(observer), ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, ISO (subscriber), ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM (guest),
OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU,
WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Bernardo VEGA Boyrie chancery: 1715 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Mayaguez (Puerto Rico), Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico) consulate(s): Charlotte Amalie (Virgin Islands), Detroit, Houston, Jacksonville, Mobile, and Ponce (Puerto Rico)
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant) embassy: corner of Calle Cesar Nicolas Penson and Calle Leopoldo Navarro, Santo Domingo mailing address: Unit 5500, APO AA 34041-5500
Flag description: a centered white cross that extends to the edges divides the flag into four rectangles—the top ones are blue (hoist side) and red, the bottom ones are red (hoist side) and blue; a small coat of arms is at the center of the cross
Economy
Economy—overview: In December 1996, incoming President FERNANDEZ presented a bold reform package for this Caribbean economy—including the devaluation of the peso, income tax cuts, a 50% increase in sales taxes, reduced import tariffs, and increased gasoline prices—in an attempt to create a market-oriented economy that can compete internationally. Even though most reforms are stalled in the legislature, the economy grew vigorously in 1997-98, with tourism and telecommunications leading the advance. The government is working to increase electric generating capacity, a key to continued economic growth, but the privatization of the state electricity company has met numerous delays. In late September 1998, Hurricane Georges caused approximately $1.3 billion in damages, largely to agriculture and infrastructure.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$39.8 billion (1998 est.)