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General Information
Area: 27,750 sq km (10,714 sq miles).
Population: 7,180,294 (official estimate 2000).
Population Density: 258.7 per sq km.
Capital: Port-au-Prince. Population: 884,472 (official estimate 1996).
GEOGRAPHY: Haiti is situated in the Caribbean and comprises the forested mountainous western end of the island of Hispaniola, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Its area includes the Île de la Gonâve, in the Gulf of the same name; among other islands is La Tortue off the north peninsula. Haiti’s coastline is dotted with magnificent beaches, between which stretches lush subtropical vegetation, even covering the slopes which lead down to the shore. Port-au-Prince is a magnificent natural harbour at the end of a deep horseshoe bay.
Government: Republic. Gained independence from France in 1804. Head of State: President Jean-Bertrand Aristide since 2001. Head of Government: Prime Minister Jean-Marie Chérestal since 2001.
Language: The official languages are French and Creole. English is spoken in tourist areas.
Religion: The official religion is Roman Catholic (75 per cent) with Protestant minorities. Voodooism (an African religion) is still found in Haiti, despite the largely Christian population. Voodooism is a folk religion, manifested by a series of complex ritual drawings, songs and dances.
Time: GMT - 5.
Electricity: 115-125 volts AC, 60Hz.
Communications:
Telephone
IDD available. Country code: 509. There are no area codes. The internal service, operated by Telecommunications d’Haiti (Teleco), is reasonable. There are telephone booths in the towns which take cards.
Mobile telephone
The GSM network is run by Haïtel. Handsets can be hired locally.
Internet
Internet cafes can be found in towns and cities. ISPs include Compa (website: www.compa.net), Hintelfocus (website: www.haitiworld.com) and Netcom (website: www.dnetwork.net).
Post
Airmail to Europe takes up to a week. The main post office in Port-au-Prince, Cité de l’Exposition, is in place d’Italie. Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0800-2000, Sat 0830-1200. Letters posted after 0900 will not be despatched until the following working day.
Press
The two main dailies, Le Matin and Le Nouvelliste, are published in French.
BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change.
BBC (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice):
Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov):
Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.
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