Saint Helena

Saint Helena, an overseas territory of UK is situated in the South Atlantic Ocean, comprising the administrative island of Saint Helena, and two dependencies of Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha. The island was used as a place for exile of Napoleon Bonaparte and Dinuzulu kaCetshwayo by the British. Jamestown is the capital of Saint Helena. Defense affairs of the islands are the responsibilities of the United Kingdom.

HISTORY:- Saint Helena was discovered by, a Spanish navigator in the service of Portugal, João da Nova in 1502. In 1659, the East India Company annexed the island. In 1834, the territory came under direct British Crown.

GEOGRAPHY:- Apart from the Saint Helena Island, Saint Helena comprises the Ascension Island and archipelago of Tristan da Cunha. Saint Helena is located at 15 57 S, 5 42 W, Ascension Island is located at 7 57 S, 14 22 W, and Tristan da Cunha island group is located at 37 15 S, 12 30 W in the South Atlantic Ocean between South America and Africa. The archipelago possess total 413 sq km are in which Saint Helena Island occupies 122 sq k, Ascension Island occupies 90 sq km, and Tristan da Cunha island group occupies 201 sq km. The total coastline of the archipelago is 100 km. The highest point of Tristan da Cunha is Queen Mary's Peak (2,062 m), of Ascension Island is Green Mountain (859 m) and of Saint Helena Island is Mount Actaeon (818 m), while the lowest point is the Atlantic Ocean (0 m). Saint Helena is rugged, and volcanic in nature with small scattered plateaus and plains. Ascension Island is mainly volcanic and Tristan da Cunha Island group is formed of central volcanic peak and narrow coastal plains. 

CLIMATE:- The climate of Saint Helena is mostly tropical marine, and mild, tempered by the trade winds. The Climate of Ascension Island is tropical marine, mild, and semi-arid. The climate of Tristan da Cunha Island group is temperate marine, mild, tempered by the trade winds and cooler than Saint Helena.

GOVERNMENT:- Saint Helena is an overseas territory of the United Kingdom. The constitution was adopted on 1st January 1989. The legal system is based on the English common law and the statutes. The three major branches of the government are:

Executive branch comprises the Queen Elizabeth II (chief of state), the Governor and Commander in Chief (head of government), and the Executive Council. The governor is appointed by the monarch. The Executive Council is formed of the governor, three ex-officio officers, and five elected members of the Legislative Council.

Legislative branch comprises the unicameral Legislative Council (16 seats).

Judicial branch comprises the Magistrate's Court, the Supreme Court, and the Court of Appeal.

Monarch                                                Elizabeth II

Governor and Commander in Chief       Andrew Gurr

ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS:- Saint Helena is divided into 3 areas:

Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha islands. Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha islands are the dependencies of Saint Helena.

CULTURE:- Education is free and compulsory for the age group from 5 to 15 in Saint Helana.

ECONOMY:- The economy of the archipelago mainly depends upon financial aid from the UK. The islands live on fishing, raising livestock, and sales of handicrafts. The archipelago has its own bank- the Bank of St. Helena.

GDP/PPP: (1998 est.): $18 million; per capita $2,500.

Inflation: 3.2% (1997 est.).

Unemployment: 14% (1998 est.).

Labor force: 2,486 work offshore 1,200 (1998 est.)

Budget:  

Revenues: $13.09 million

Expenditures: $32.16 million

Agriculture - products: Coffee, corn, potatoes, vegetables; timber; fish, lobster (on Tristan da Cunha); livestock

Industries: Construction, crafts (furniture, lacework, fancy woodwork), fishing, philatelic sales.

Exports: $19 million f.o.b. (2004 est.).

Exports - commodities: Fish (frozen, canned, and salt-dried skipjack, tuna), coffee, handicrafts

Exports - partners: Tanzania 37.7%, US 17.4%, Japan 15.2%, UK 8.4%, Nigeria 4.8%, Spain 4.5% (2006)

Imports: $45 million c.i.f. (2004 est.).

Imports - commodities: Food, beverages, tobacco, fuel oils, animal feed, building materials, motor vehicles and parts, machinery and parts

Imports - partners: UK 53.5%, South Africa 14.3%, Spain 10.3%, Tanzania 8.5%, US 4.6% (2006)

Monetary unit: Saint Helena pound

LANGUAGE:- English is the official language of Saint Helena.

CITIES:- The capital of the island is Jamestown.

POPULATION:- The estimated population of Saint Helena is 7,502 with an average growth rate of 0.6%.

Density per sq mi: 47

Literacy rate: 97% (1987 est.).

RACE:-

African descent 50%

White 25%

Chinese 25%

RELIGION:- The majority follows Anglican Christianity, whereas Baptist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Roman Catholic are also believed.

HEALTH:-

Birth rate: 11.45 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate: 6.58 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate: total: 18.31 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.27 years

Total fertility rate: 1.56 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA

TRANSPORTATION:-

Highways: total: 198 km (Saint Helena 138 km, Ascension 40 km, Tristan da Cunha 20 km) paved: 168 km (Saint Helena 118 km, Ascension 40 km, Tristan da Cunha 10 km) unpaved: 30 km (Saint Helena 20 km, Ascension 0 km, Tristan da Cunha 10 km) (2002).

Airports: 1 (2007).