Travelers Guide: Guadeloupe
A French Overseas Department
Joined United Nations on Oct. 24, 1945
General Facts: Guadeloupe
Capital City: Basse-Terre (12,748 pop.)
Population: 406,000 (2014 est.)
Currency: Euro
Ethnicity: Black African / French-African-Indian Ancestry 71%, from Tamil Nadu and other parts of India 15%, White 9%, Lebanese and Syrians 2%, Chinese and others 3%
Language: French (official) 99%, most locals also speak Creole
Largest Cities: Les Abymes, Baie-Mahault, Le Gosier, Petit-Bourg, Sainte-Anne, Le Moule, Sainte-Rose, Capesterre-Belle-Eau, Pointe-à-Pitre, Lamentin
Religion: Roman Catholic 86%, Protestant 5%, Hindu / African 4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2%
History
French colonization began in 1635, and in 1674, Guadeloupe became part of the domain of France.
Trade with USA
Guadeloupe maintains regular air and sea links with France and with North America. The port of Pointe-à-Pitre is supplied with items to handle goods of minerals, sugar, and cereals. The port of Basse-Terre specializes in the banana export trade. Guadeloupe’s international airport is located north of Pointe-à-Pitre, as well as airports on the smaller islands. Local steamers connect Basse-Terre and Grande-Terre with the other islands of Guadeloupe. The road system on the main islands is kept in great condition. There are no railroads in Guadeloupe.
Government
-Political status overseas department/overseas region (France) with two legislative houses (General Council/Regional Council)
-Head of state: President of France: Francois Hollande
-Heads of government Prefect (for France): Marcelle Pierrot
-President of the General Council (for Guadeloupe): Jacques Gillot
-President of the Regional Council (for Guadeloupe): Josette Borel-Lincertin
-Apart of the French Judicial System
Jacques Gillot
Josette Borel-Lincertin
Francois Hollande
Marcelle Pierrot
Daily Life
-Social rank is based on education, professional orientation, culture, and wealth.
-Children participate very early in family life and have responsibilities that vary with age and gender. School is required by law from ages two to sixteen. Education is highly valued as a means of social mobility.
Fun Facts
-Agriculture: bananas, sugarcane, tropical fruits and vegetables; cattle, pigs, goats.
-Industries: construction, cement, rum, sugar, tourism.
-Natural resources: cultivable land, beaches and climate that foster tourism.
-National Holiday: Bastille Day, 14 July
-Guadeloupe is an archipelago of eight inhabited islands in the Lesser Antilles, between the tropical Atlantic and the Caribbean Sea.
-Babies are baptized after just a few months being born
Tourist Attractions
Works Cited
"FAST FACTS." Guadeloupe Facts on Largest Cities, Populations, Symbols. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2015.
http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/namerica/caribb/guadeloupe/gpfacts.htm
"Agriculture and Fishing." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2015.
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/247616/Guadeloupe/54655/Agriculture-and-fishing#toc54664
"Guadeloupe." : Maps, History, Geography, Government, Culture, Facts, Guide & Travel/Holidays/Cities. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2015.
http://www.factmonster.com/country/guadeloupe.html
"GUADELOUPE (OVERSEAS DEPARTMENT OF GUADELOUPE) PAX GAEA WORLD POST HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT." GUADELOUPE (OVERSEAS DEPARTMENT OF GUADELOUPE) PAX GAEA WORLD POST HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Mar. 2015.
http://www.paxgaea.com/HRGuadeloupe.htmlPictures Cited
http://www.tradertech.com/trading/euro-fx
Euro. Digital image. Euro FX Currency Trading. N.p., n.d. Web.
http://www.paxgaea.com/HRGuadeloupe.html
Guadeloupe. Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2015.
http://www.paxgaea.com/images/Guadeloupe_President_of_the_General_Council_Jacques_Gillot.jpg Jacques Gillot. Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Mar. 2015.
http://www.paxgaea.com/images/Guadeloupe_President_of_the_Regional_Council_Josette_Borel_Lincertin.jpg Josette Borel Lincertin. Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Mar. 2015.
http://www.paxgaea.com/images/Guadeloupe_Prefect_Marcelle_PIERROT.jpg Guadeloupe Prefect Marcelle Pierrot. Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Mar. 2015.
http://www.paxgaea.com/images/France_President_Francois_Hollande.jpg
France President Francois Hollande. Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2015.
http://www.bestourism.com/items/di/705?title=Guadeloupe&b=117
Guadeloupe Beaches. Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Mar. 2015.
http://www.mapsofworld.com/flags/guadeloupe-flag.html Guadeloupe Flag. Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2015.
http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/namerica/caribb/gp.htm
Map of Guadeloupe. Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2015.
http://worldeventsdiary.com/bastille-day/
Bastille Day, July 14. Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2015.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Grande_Soufri%C3%A8re_(volcano)
La Grande Soufrière. Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2015.