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General Information Area: 1100 sq km (424.7 sq miles). Population: 381,427 (1999). Population Density: 346.8 per sq km. Capital: Fort-de-France. Population: 94,049 (1999). GEOGRAPHY: The French Overseas Department of Martinique, a volcanic and picturesque island, is the northernmost of the Windward Caribbean group. The island is noticeably more rocky than those of the Leeward group, with beaches (of fine black or white or peppered sand) surrounded by sugar, palm, banana and pineapple plantations. Christopher Columbus called it ‘the most beautiful country in the world’ and before he named it in honour of St Martin, it was called Madinina (‘island of flowers’) by the native population. Government: Martinique is an Overseas Department of France and as such is an integral part of the French Republic. Head of State: President Jacques Chirac since 1995, represented locally by Prefect Dominique Bellion since 1998. Head of Government: Claude Lise, President of the General Council since 1992. Language: The official language is French; a Creole patois is widely used. Religion: The majority of the population is Roman Catholic. Time: GMT - 4. Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Communications:   Telephone IDD is available. Country code: 596. Outgoing international code: 19. There are both payphones and card phones on the island. Télécartes (phonecards) are sold at post offices, newsagents and kiosks. There are only card phones at the airport. Mobile telephone GSM 1800/900 networks in use. Roaming agreements in operation. Network providers include Améris (website: www.francetelecom.com), Orange Caraibe (website: www.orangecaraibe.com) and Bouygues Telecom Caraibe (website: www.bouyguestelecomcaraibe.com). Coverage extends throughout the French Antilles and in French Guiana. Fax Available in most hotels. Internet Local ISPs include Wanadoo (website: www.wanadoo.fr) and Net Antilles (website: www.antilles-net.com). Post Letters take about a week to reach Europe. Post offices are open Mon-Fri 0700-1800, and Saturday mornings. Press Newspapers are in French and vary in their political bias. The main daillies are France Antilles, Antilla, Aujourd’hui Dimanche and Carib Hedo. 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.