WIPM 1, SEA 1, DP-St.M 2,
FOL 2; no party won enough seats to form a government
note: the government of Prime Minister Miguel POURIER is a coalition
of several parties

Judicial branch: Joint High Court of Justice (judges appointed by
the monarch)

Political parties and leaders:
Sint Eustatius: Democratic Party of Sint Eustatius or DP-St. E
WESTCOTT-WILLIAMS]; Patriotic Movement of Sint Maarten or SPA
ROLLOCKS]
note: political parties are indigenous to each island

International organization participation: Caricom (observer),
ECLAC (associate), Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU, WMO, WToO
(associate)

Diplomatic representation in the US: none (represented by the
Kingdom of the Netherlands)

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Consul General James L. WILLIAMS
consulate(s) general: J.B. Gorsiraweg #1, Curacao
mailing address: P. O. Box 158, Willemstad, Curacao

Flag description: white, with a horizontal blue stripe in the
center superimposed on a vertical red band, also centered; five
white, five-pointed stars are arranged in an oval pattern in the
center of the blue band; the five stars represent the five main
islands of Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten

Economy

Economy--overview: Tourism, petroleum transshipment, and offshore
finance are the mainstays of this small economy, which is closely
tied to the outside world. The islands enjoy a high per capita
income and a well-developed infrastructure as compared with other
countries in the region. Almost all consumer and capital goods are
imported, with Venezuela, the US, and Mexico being the major
suppliers. Poor soils and inadequate water supplies hamper the
development of agriculture.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$2.4 billion (1997 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: -1.8% (1997)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$11,500 (1997 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 15%
services: 84% (1996 est.)

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.3% (1997)

Labor force: 89,000

Labor force--by occupation: government 65%, industry and commerce
28% (1983)

Unemployment rate: 14.9% (1998 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $710.8 million
expenditures: $741.6 million, including capital expenditures o