t) elected

Judicial branch: US District Court of the Virgin Islands (under Third
Circuit jurisdiction); Territorial Court (judges appointed by the governor
for 10-year terms)

Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party [Arturo WATLINGTON];
Independent Citizens' Movement or ICM [Usie RICHARDS]; Republican Party
[Gary SPRAUVE]

Political pressure groups and leaders: NA

International organization participation: ECLAC (associate), Interpol
(subbureau), IOC

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

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

Flag description: white, with a modified US coat of arms in the center
between the large blue initials V and I; the coat of arms shows a yellow
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 Virgin Islands

Economy - overview: Tourism is the primary economic activity, accounting
for more than 70% of GDP and 70% of employment. The islands normally
host 2 million visitors a year. The manufacturing sector consists of
petroleum refining, textiles, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and watch
assembly. The agricultural sector is small, with most food being imported.
International business and financial services are a small but growing
component of the economy. One of the world's largest petroleum refineries
is at Saint Croix. The islands are subject to substantial damage from
storms. The government is working to improve fiscal discipline, support
construction projects in the private sector, expand tourist facilities,
reduce crime, and protect the environment.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.8 billion (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate: NA%

GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $15,000 (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%

Labor force: 48,356 (2002 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 1%, industry 20%, services 79%
(1990 est.)

Unemployment rate: 4.9% (March 1999)

Budget: revenues: $364.4 million expenditures: $364.4 million, including
capital expenditures of $NA (1990 est.)

Industries: tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum distilling,
constru