ution

_#_Legal system: based on US

_#_National holiday: Transfer Day (from Denmark to US), 31 March
(1917)

_#_Executive branch: US president, governor, lieutenant governor

_#_Legislative branch: unicameral Senate

_#_Judicial branch: US District Court handles civil matters over
$50,000, felonies (persons 15 years of age and over), and federal 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 A.
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 6 November 1990 (next to be held 3 November
1992);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(15 total) number of seats by party NA;

US House of Representatives--last held 6 November 1990
(next to be held 3 November 1992);
results--the Virgin Islands elects one nonvoting representative

_#_Member of: ECLAC (associate), IOC

_#_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, most food being imported.
International business and financial services are a small but growing
component of the economy. The world's largest petroleum refinery is at
Saint Croix.

_#_GDP: $1.0 billion, per capita $9,000; real growth rate NA% (1985)

_#_Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%

_#_Unemployment rate: