[governance] The CIA Facts on Puerto Rico - 1 Intelsat; submarine cable to US

[Jim Fleming]

http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/rq.html

general assessment: modern system integrated with that of the US by
high-capacity submarine cable and Intelsat with high-speed data capability
domestic: digital telephone system; cellular telephone service
international: country code - 1-787, 939; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat; submarine cable to US

Populated for centuries by aboriginal peoples, the island was claimed by the
Spanish Crown in 1493 following Columbus' second voyage to the Americas. In
1898, after 400 years of colonial rule that saw the indigenous population
nearly exterminated and African slave labor introduced, Puerto Rico was
ceded to the US as a result of the Spanish-American War. Puerto Ricans were
granted US citizenship in 1917. Popularly-elected governors have served
since 1948. In 1952, a constitution was enacted providing for internal self
government. In plebiscites held in 1967, 1993, and 1998, voters chose to
retain commonwealth status.

chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001)
head of government: Governor Anibal ACEVEDO-VILA (since 2 January 2005)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor with the consent of the
legislature
elections: US president and vice president elected on the same ticket for
four-year terms; governor elected by popular vote for a four-year term;
election last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held November 2008)
election results: Anibal ACEVEDO-VILA (PPD) elected governor; percent of
vote - 48.4%

bicameral Legislative Assembly consists of the Senate (at least 27 seats -
currently 29; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve
four-year terms) and the House of Representatives (51 seats; members are
directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held November
2008); House of Representatives - last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held
November 2008)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - PNP 43.4%, PPD 40.3%,
PIP 9.4%; seats by party - PNP 17, PPD 9, PIP 1; House of Representatives -
percent of vote by party - PNP 46.3%, PPD 43.1%, PIP 9.7%; seats by party -
PNP 32, PPD 18, PIP 1
note: Puerto Rico elects, by popular vote, a resident commissioner to serve
a four-year term as a nonvoting representative in the US House of
Representatives; aside from not voting on the House floor, he enjoys all the
rights of a member of Congress; elections last held 2 November 2004 (next to
be held November 2008); results - percent of vote by party - PNP 48.6%;
seats by party - PNP 1; Luis FORTUNO elected resident commissioner

Puerto Rico has one of the most dynamic economies in the Caribbean region. A
diverse industrial sector has far surpassed agriculture as the primary locus
of economic activity and income. Encouraged by duty-free access to the US
and by tax incentives, US firms have invested heavily in Puerto Rico since
the 1950s. US minimum wage laws apply. Sugar production has lost out to
dairy production and other livestock products as the main source of income
in the agricultural sector. Tourism has traditionally been an important
source of income, with estimated arrivals of nearly 5 million tourists in
1999. Growth fell off in 2001-03, largely due to the slowdown in the US
economy, and has recovered in 2004.

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