cases; Territorial
Court handles civil matters up to $50,000 small claims, juvenile, domestic,
misdemeanors, and traffic cases

Leaders:
Chief of State and Head of Government--President George
BUSH (since 20 January 1989), represented by Governor Alexander FARRELLY
(since 5 January 1987); Lieutenant Governor Derek HODGE (since 5 January 1987)

Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party, Marilyn Stapleton;
Independent Citizens' Movement (ICM), Virdin Brown; Republican Party,
Charlotte-Poole Davis

Suffrage: universal at age 18; indigenous inhabitants are US citizens,
but do not vote in US presidential elections

Elections:
Governor--last held NA 1986 (next to be held NA 1990);
results--Alexander Farrelly (Democratic Party) defeated
Adelbert Bryan (ICM);

Senate--last held 8 November 1988 (next to be held NA);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(15 total) number of seats by party NA;

US House of Representatives--last held 8 November 1988
(next to be held 6 November 1990);
results--the Virgin Islands elects one nonvoting representative

Diplomatic representation: none (territory of the US)

Flag: white with a modified US coat of arms in the center between the
large blue initials V and I; the coat of arms shows an eagle holding
an olive branch in one talon and three arrows in the other with a superimposed
shield of vertical red and white stripes below a blue panel

- Economy
Overview: Tourism is the primary economic activity, accounting for
more than 70% of GDP and 70% of employment. The manufacturing sector consists
of textile, electronics, pharmaceutical, and watch assembly plants.
The agricultural sector is small with most food imported. International
business and financial services are a small but growing component of the
economy. The world's largest petroleum refinery is at St. Croix.

GDP: $1.03 billion, per capita $9,030; real growth rate NA% (1985)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%

Unemployment rate: 3.5% (1987)

Budget: revenues $315 million; expenditures $322 million,
including capital expenditures of NA (FY88)

Exports: $3.4 billion (f.o.b., 1985); commodities--refined
petroleum products; partners--US, Puerto Rico

Imports: $3.7 billion (c.i.f., 1985); commodities--crude oil,
foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials; partners--US, Puerto Rico

External debt: $NA

Industrial production: growth rate 12%

Electricity: 341,000 kW capacity; 507 million kWh produced