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| Country
Fact Sheet |
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Location
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Several small islands between the Caribbean
Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast
of Puerto Rico
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Capital
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Basse-Terre
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Surface
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1,780 sq km
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Population
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26,417,599 people
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Currency
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Euro (EUR)
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GDP
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Purchasing
power parity - $3.513 billion (2003 est.)
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GDP/capita
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Purchasing
power parity - $7,900 (2003 est.)
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Language
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French
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Religion
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Roman Catholic 95%, Hindu and pagan African
4%, Protestant 1%
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Government
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Guadeloupe
is administered as an overseas department
of France
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Time
Zone
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GMT -4 hour
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Telecom
Code
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+590
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Airport
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Baillif Airport (BBR) in Basse-Terne, Marie
Galante Airport (GBJ) in Grand - Bourg,
La Raizet International Airport (PTP) in
Pointe-A-Pitre, St Barthelemy Airport (SBH)
in St Barthelemy, and Grand Case Airport
(CCE) in St Martin
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Driving
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On right hand side of the road, license
required
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Electrical
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220V AC
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Political
climate
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Stable country
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| Local
Business & Service Providers |
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Financial
services
Legal and fiduciary
Financial
Technology
Business travel
Image identity Consultancy
Corporate incentives
Automotive services
Accommodations
Lifestyle |
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| History |
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Guadeloupe
was among the islands charted by Columbus in 1493.
French colonies were established in 1635. The
British made brief attempts to occupy the islands
during the 18th and 19th centuries, but they have
always remained under French control. In 1946,
the islands were given the status of Overseas
Departments. Following President Mitterands decentralisation
policy in the 1980s, Guadeloupe became an administrative
region in its own right and is represented in
the French National Assembly by four Deputies.
However, Guadeloupe's political life has been
characterised by apathy and disillusionment among
the electorate. Since the 1990s, elections have
barely attracted more than 15 per cent of the
population. All four major parties maintain branches
on Guadeloupe, although the Socialist party is
split between official and dissident factions
and the fierce enmity between them allowed the
right to take control of the Regional Council
in 1992: since 1992 this has been run by Lucette
Michaux-Chévry, who is also a deputy in
the French National Assembly. The most recent
poll for the General Council, held in March 2004,
returned Jacques Gillot as president of the Council
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