former
Governor Roy L. SCHNEIDER (ICM) 41.1%

Legislative branch: unicameral Senate (15 seats; members are
elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)
elections: last held 3 November 1998 (next to be held NA November
2000)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--Democratic Party 6, independents 5, Republican Party 2,
Independent Citizens Movement 2
note: the Virgin Islands elect one representative to the US House of
Representatives; election last held 3 November 1998 (next to be held
NA November 2000); results--Dr. Donna GREEN (Democrat) 80%, Victor O.
FRAZER (ICM) 20%

Judicial branch: US District Court (judges are appointed by the
president); Territorial Court (judges appointed by the governor)

Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party [James O'BRYON

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

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 number of US
tourists in the first five months of 1996 was down by 55% from the
same period in 1995, the lingering result of the fierce hurricanes
of 1995. Unemployment rose sharply in 1996. The manufacturing sector
consists of textile, electronics, pharmaceutical, and watch assembly
plants. 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. A major economic problem at
the beginning of 1997 was the more than $1 billion in governmental
arrears, income tax refunds, payments to vendors, and overdue wages.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$1.2 billion (1987 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: NA%

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$12,500 (1987 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: