pendence:
none (overseas department of France)
Constitution:
28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:
French legal system
National holiday:
National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
Political parties and leaders:
Guianese Socialist Party (PSG), Gerard HOLDER; Rally for the Republic (RPR),
Paulin BRUNE; Union of the Center Rally (URC); Union for French Democracy
(UDF), Claude Ho A CHUCK; Guyana Democratic Front (FDG), Georges OTHILY
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Elections:
French National Assembly:
last held 24 September 1989 (next to be held March 1993); results - percent
of vote by party NA; seats - (2 total) PSG 1, RPR 1
French Senate:
last held 24 September 1989 (next to be held September 1998); results -
percent of vote by party NA; seats - (1 total) PSG 1
Regional Council:
last held 22 March 1992 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by
party NA; seats - (31 total) PSG 16
Executive branch:
French president, commissioner of the republic
Legislative branch:
unicameral General Council and a unicameral Regional Council
Judicial branch:
Court of Appeals (highest local court based in Martinique with jurisdiction
over Martinique, Guadeloupe, and French Guiana)
Leaders:
Chief of State:
President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981)
Head of Government: Prefect Jean-Francois CORDET (since NA 1992)
Member of:
FZ, WCL
Diplomatic representation in US:
as an overseas department of France, the interests of French Guiana are
represented in the US by France

*French Guiana, Government

US diplomatic representation:
none (overseas department of France)
Flag:
the flag of France is used

*French Guiana, Economy

Overview:
The economy is tied closely to that of France through subsidies and imports.
Besides the French space center at Kourou, fishing and forestry are the most
important economic activities, with exports of fish and fish products
(mostly shrimp) accounting for more than 60% of total revenue in 1987. The
large reserves of tropical hardwoods, not fully exploited, support an
expanding sawmill industry that provides sawn logs for export. Cultivation
of crops - rice, cassava, bananas, and sugarcane - is limited to the coastal
area, where the population is largely concentrated. French Guiana is heavily
dependent on imports of food and energy. Unemployment is a serious problem,
particularly