ERRAND (since 21 May 1981);

Head of Government--Commissioner of the Republic Jean-Pierre LACROIX
(since NA August 1988)

Political parties and leaders: Guianese Socialist Party (PSG),
Gerard Holder; Rally for the Republic (RPR), Paulin Brune;
Guyanese Democratic Action (ADG), Andre Lecante; Union for French
Democracy (UDF), Claude Ho A Chuck; National Front, Guy Malon;
Popular and National Party of Guiana (PNPG), Claude Robo;
National Anti-Colonist Guianese Party (PANGA), Michel Kapel

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:
Regional Council--last held 16 March 1986 (next to be
held March 1991);
results--PSG 43%, RPR 27.7%, ADG 12.2%, UDF 8.9%, FN 3.7%,
PNPG 1.4%, others 3.1%;
seats--(31 total) PSG 15, RPR 9, ADG 4, UDF 3;

French Senate--last held 24 September 1989 (next to be held
September 1992);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(1 total) PSG 1;

French National Assembly--last held 24 September 1989 (next to be
held September 1992);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(2 total) PSG 1, RPR 1

Communists: Communist party membership negligible

Member of: WFTU

Diplomatic representation: as an overseas department of France
the interests of French Guiana are represented in the US by France

Flag: the flag of France is used

- 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 about two-thirds of total revenue in 1985. 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--are 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
among younger workers, with an unemployment rate of 15%.

GDP: $210 million, per capita $3,230; real growth rate NA% (1982)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.1% (1987)

Unemployment rate: 15% (1987)

Budget: revenues $735 million; expenditures $735 million, including
capital expenditures of NA (1987)

Exports: $37.0 million (f.o.b., 1986); commodities--shrimp, timber,
rum, rosewood essence;
partners--US 41%, Japan 18%, France 9% (1984)

Imports: $297.7