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General Information Area: 444 sq km (171 sq miles). Population: 152,700 (1996). Population Density: 344.0 per sq km. Capital: Willemstad. Population: 2345 (1992). GEOGRAPHY: Curaçao, the largest island in the Netherlands Antilles, is geographically part of the Dutch Leeward Islands, also known as the Dutch Antilles. It is flat, rocky and fairly barren owing to its low rainfall. There are many excellent beaches. Government: Part of the Netherlands Antilles; dependency of the Netherlands. The Netherlands Antilles consist of Curaçao, Bonaire, St Maarten, St Eustatius and Saba. The capital of the island group is Willemstad, Curaçao. Head of State: HM Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, represented locally by Governor Jaime M Saleh since 1990. Head of Government: Prime Minister Miguel Arcangel Pourier since 1999. Language: Dutch is the official language. Papiamento (a mixture of Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese, English, Arawak Indian and several African languages) is the lingua franca; English and Spanish are also widely spoken. Religion: The majority of the population is Roman Catholic, with Protestant minorities, both evangelical and other low-church denominations. There is also a Baha’i temple and a synagogue. Time: GMT - 4. Electricity: 110/220 volts AC, 50Hz. Communications:   Telephone Good IDD service to Europe. Country code: 599. Outgoing international code: 00. Mobile telephone TDMA network exists. GSM 900 network operated by Setel NV has just been established. Handsets can be hired at the airport post office. There is a five per cent tax. Internet There is an Internet cafe in Willemstad. Local ISPs include IBM and Curanet. Telegram Facilities available in most large hotels and in the post office in Willemstad. Post Airmail to Western Europe takes four to six days. Press English-language newspapers include the Daily Herald and the Business Journal. BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change. BBC (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice): MHz 15.19 12.10 6.195 5.975 Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov): MHz 13.79 9.455 6.130 5.995 From www.columbusguides.com, Copyright © 2004 Highbury Columbus Travel Publishing Terms and Conditions apply.