by November 2006) note: in 2001, the Elections Commission instituted a
single constituency/voter-at-large system whereby all eligible voters cast
ballots for all nine seats of the Legislative Council election results:
Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based in Saint Lucia,
one judge of the Supreme Court is a resident of the islands and presides
over the High Court)

Political parties and leaders: National Progressive Party or NPP [Reuben
T. MEADE]; New People's Liberation Movement or NPLM [John A. OSBORNE]

Political pressure groups and leaders: NA

International organization participation: Caricom, CDB, ECLAC
(associate), ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), OECS, WCL

Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas territory of
the UK)

Flag description: blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side
quadrant and the Montserratian coat of arms centered in the outer half
of the flag; the coat of arms features a woman standing beside a yellow
harp with her arm around a black cross

Economy Montserrat

Economy - overview: Severe volcanic activity, which began in July 1995,
has put a damper on this small, open economy. A catastrophic eruption in
June 1997 closed the airports and seaports, causing further economic and
social dislocation. Two-thirds of the 12,000 inhabitants fled the island.
Some began to return in 1998, but lack of housing limited the number. The
agriculture sector continued to be affected by the lack of suitable land
for farming and the destruction of crops. Prospects for the economy
depend largely on developments in relation to the volcano and on public
sector construction activity. The UK has launched a three-year $122.8
million aid program to help reconstruct the economy. Half of the island
is expected to remain uninhabitable for another decade.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $31 million (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate: -1.5% (1999 est.)

GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,400 (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 5.4% industry: 13.6% services:
81% (1996 est.)

Population below poverty line: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5% (1998)

Labor force: 4,521 (1992); note - lowered by flight of people from
volcanic activity

Labor force - by occupation