Puerto Rico

The flag is reminiscent of that of Cuba and dates back to 1895 when both colonies were fighting for independence from Spain.

Easternmost island of the Greater Antilles, situated between the US Virgin Islands and the Dominican Republic; area 9,000 sq km/3,475 sq mi; population (2000 est) 3,808,600. The capital is San Juan. Exports include sugar, tobacco, rum, pineapples, textiles, plastics, chemicals, processed foods, vegetables, and coffee. It is a self-governing territory of the United States.

Puerto Rico was visited in 1493 by Christopher Columbus, and annexed by Spain in 1509. It was ceded to the USA after the Spanish-American War in 1898, and was known as Porto Rico (‘Rich Port’) 1898-1932. Commonwealth status with local self-government was achieved in 1952. This was confirmed in preference to independence by a referendum in 1967, but there is both an independence movement and one preferring incorporation as a state of the USA. Although legislation in favour of a further referendum was proposed and discussed 1990-91, it was later shelved. In December 1998, on the 100th anniversary of its occupation by US troops, Puerto-Rican voters rejected a move to US statehood proposed in a referendum for the third time. government.

Volcanic mountains run east-west. Much of Puerto Rico is subject to hurricanes, and is covered by tropical rainforest, including mahogany, treeferns, kapok, poinciana, coconut palm, and breadfruit, except in the drier southwest, where the vegetation includes bunch grass and cacti. The islands of Vieques and Culebra belong to Puerto Rico. The island contains the ports of Mayagüez and Ponce.

Under the constitution of 1952, the government is similar to that of a state of the USA, with a governor elected for four years, and a legislative assembly with a senate and house of representatives. Residents are US citizens, represented in the US Congress by an elected Resident Commissioner with a seat in the House of Representatives.

English (the official language) and Spanish are spoken. The principal religion is Roman Catholicism, and the currency is the US dollar.