deputy prime minister, Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly (sometimes referred to as
the National Assembly)

Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court

Leaders:
Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented
by Governor General Sir Clement Athelston ARRINDELL (since 19 September 1983,
previously Governor General of the Associated State since November 1981);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Dr. Kennedy Alphonse SIMMONDS
(since 19 September 1983, previously Premier of the Associated State since
February 1980); Deputy Prime Minister Michael Oliver POWELL (since NA)

Political parties and leaders: People's Action Movement (PAM), Kennedy
Simmonds; St. Kitts and Nevis Labor Party (SKNLP), Lee Moore; Nevis
Reformation Party (NRP), Simeon Daniel; Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM),
Vance Amory

Suffrage: universal adult at age NA

Elections:
House of Assembly--last held 21 March 1989
(next to be held by 21 March 1994);
seats--(14 total, 11 elected) PAM 6, SKNLP 2, NRP 2, CCM 1

Communists: none known

Member of: ACP, CARICOM, Commonwealth, FAO, IBRD, IMF, ISO, OAS, OECS, UN

Diplomatic representation: Minister-Counselor (Deputy Chief of Mission),
Charge d'Affaires ad interim Erstein M. EDWARDS; Chancery at Suite 540,
2501 M Street NW, Washington DC 20037; telephone (202) 833-3550;
US--none

Flag: divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a broad black band
bearing two white five-pointed stars; the black band is edged in yellow; the
upper triangle is green, the lower triangle is red

- Economy
Overview: The economy has historically depended on the growing and
processing of sugarcane and on remittances from overseas workers. In
recent years, tourism and export-oriented manufacturing have assumed
larger roles.

GDP: $119 million, per capita $3,240; real growth rate 6%
(1988 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.9% (1987)

Unemployment rate: 20-25% (1987)

Budget: revenues $38.5 million; expenditures $45.0 million,
including capital expenditures of $15.8 million (1988)

Exports: $30.3 million (f.o.b., 1988); commodities--sugar,
manufactures, postage stamps; partners--US 44%, UK 30%, Trinidad and
Tobago 12% (1987)

Imports: $94.7 million (c.i.f., 1988); commodities--foodstuffs,
intermediate manufactures, machinery, fuels; partners--US 35%, UK 18%,
Trinidad and Tobago 10%, Canada 6%, Japan 4% (1987)

External debt: $27.6 million (1988)