Factboot of Saint Amelia (OPEN to questions)

[Saint Amelia]

Quick Facts

Nation Name: Saint Amelia (French: Sainte-Amelie)
Official Languages: French, English (de facto), Dutch, German and Spanish are also spoken in some areas.
Capital (And largest city): Padova
Region: Caribbean Islands
Demonym: Saint Amelian
Government: Dependant Terroritory of France
- President of France: Mireille Lévesque
- Governor-General: Vincent Lacroix
- Prime Minister: Henri-Alban Camenan
Independence:
- from the United Kingdom 22 February 1979
Area:
- 616 km2 (191st) 238 sq mi - Water (%) 1.6
Population :
- 2009 census 173,765
- Density 298/km2 (41st) 672/sq mi
GDP (PPP) 2009 estimate :
- Total $1.746 billion
- Per capita $10,177
GDP (nominal) 2009 estimate
- Total $973 million
- Per capita $5,671
HDI (2009): 0.821 (high)
Currency: East Caribbean Dollar (XCD)
Time zone: (UTC−4)
Drives on the: left
ISO 3166 code: AL
Internet TLD: .al
Calling code: +1-759


Overview

Saint Amelia (French: Sainte-Amelie) is an island country in the Caribbean Islands. It covers a land area of 620 km2 (238 sq mi) and has an estimated population of 173,765 (2009 census).

The island was named after Saint Amalberga of Maubeuge by the French, the first European colonizers. They signed a treaty with the native Carib peoples in 1660. England took control of the island from 1663 to 1667; in ensuing years, it was at war with France 14 times and rule of the island changed frequently (7 times French and British each). In 1814, the British took definitive control of the island. Because it switched so often between British and French control, Saint Lucia was also known as the "Helen of the Caribbean Islands." After Saint Amelia declared independance in 1979 from the British Empire the countries economy declined and after a universial referendum it was decided that Saint Amelia would join the French Republic as a dependant terroritory.

Saint Amelia has a legal system based on British common law but this is soon to be replaced by French law. The judiciary is independent and conducts generally fair public trials. The financial sector has weathered the global financial crisis, but the recession has hurt tourism. Its major economic interests lie in its banana, orange and sugar plantations as well as tourism and finanical services with Saint Amelia being considered one of the worlds leading tax havens.

Representative government came about in 1924 (with universal suffrage from 1953). From 1958 to 1962 the island was a member of the Federation of the West Indies. Finally, on February 22, 1979, Saint Amelia became an independent state of the Commonwealth of Nations. The island nation celebrates this every year with a public holiday. It is also a member of the Caribbean Community in which it holds the posistion of Secretary-General as well as begin the centre of governance for the region.

Map

[Saint Amelia]

History

Europeans first landed on the island in either 1492 or 1502 during Spain's early exploration of the Caribbean.

The island was first settled by the French, who signed a treaty with the local Caribs in 1660. Like the English and Dutch, the French began to develop the island for the cultivation of sugar cane on extensive plantations. After the seven year war between Great Britian and the France-Spanish coalition was brought to an end by the treaty of Paris (10 February 1763) in which the signatories agreed to an exchange of colonial territories. When the British acquired the island trying to use the Caribs as labourers, they imported enslaved Africans as workers. Many of the Caribs died because of lack of immunity to Eurasian diseases, such as smallpox and measles, and as a result of being overworked and maltreated by the Europeans.

Caribbean conditions were hard, and many slaves died as well. The British continued to import slaves until they abolished the trade due to the slave and Carib revolutionary wars against them. By that time, people of ethnic African and Carib descent greatly outnumbered those of ethnic European background.

Thereafter Saint Amelia was much contested by the two European powers until the British secured it in 1814. It then became a British island colony.

TBC

[Saint Amelia]

Politics

As a French dependancy, Saint Amelia recognises Mireille Lévesque as the Head of State of Saint Amelia, represented on the island by a Governor-General (French: Gouverneur-Général), currently Vincent Lacroix. Executive power, however, is in the hands of the Prime Minister and his cabinet. The Prime Minister (French: Premier Ministre) is normally the head of the party commanding the support of the majority of the members of the House of Assembly, which has 17 seats. The other chamber of Parliament (French: Parlement), the Senate (French: Sénat), has 11 appointed members. Saint Amelia is a two-party parliamentary democracy. Prime Minister Henri-Alban Camenan of the business-friendly United Workers Party took office in 2007. The other main party is the Saint Amelia Labour Party who's leader is Antonin Béart. Saint Amelia is a full and participating member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and of the Caribbean Islands.

The island also directly elects two Senators to the French Senate although they hold mainly an observational role unless the matter at hand directly relates to Saint Amelia. The island also send two deputies to the French National Assembly. The Governor-General has mainly ceremonial powers but does have the power to appoint the judicary of the island, appoint Senators, has to approve all legislation before it becomes law and has the power to dissolve Parliament if a vote of no confidence is carried. The Governor General resides within the French High Commission (Haut commissaire de la République). France manages and deals with most of the nations foreign affairs and its defence but economic and internal affairs are left relatively untouched by domestic French policy.

Saint Amelians vote in the French Presidential Elections.

Judicial branch - St. Amelia has an independent judiciary composed of district courts and a high court. Cases may be appealed to the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeals and, ultimately, to the French courts. The island is divided into 10 administrative divisions, including the capital, Padova. Popularly elected local governments in most towns and villages perform such tasks as regulation of sanitation and markets and maintenance of cemeteries and secondary roads. St. Amelia has no army but maintains a paramilitary Special Service Unit within its police force and a coast guard.



Current Prime Minster Henri-Alban Camenan
Current Governor-General Vincent Lacroix
French High Commission
Parliament building

[Saint Amelia]

Military

Saint Ameila does not have a formal armed forces as it was abolished in the 1963 Consitution in which is stated 'Saint Amelia shall have no standing army.' However, defence is given to the Saint Amelia Police Force (Sainte-Amelie Force de Police) (includes Special Service Unit and Coast Guard). As well as being the civil police force the SAFP also has a paramilitary unit and deals with anti-terrorism, border protection, drug traffiking as well as common policing duties. The police force is led by the Commissioner of Police, currently Jean-Louis Aubert.

At Fort Ronald (An ex-British fort) a unit of the French Army is stationed usually along with a naval officer due to it being on the coastline. These units are usually used to help train the local police force as well as to provide some armed forces incase of invasion. Many French soldiers like this posting as it is a posting to a nice, hot and beautiful nation. For service, French troops are awarded the Médaille de Sainte-Amelie (Medal of Saint Amelia) by the Governor-General. French troops also take place in the islands independance parade in Padova along with the police force. Although the Fort is a tourist attraction and open to the public, part of it is sealed off for the purpose of the French military.

France also maintians an airbase in Saint Amelia named Le Mole Sanit-Nicolas (Sometimes refered to as Browner Field or simply The Mole Hill). It currently houses a number of helicopters and French aircraft. These include Cougar helicopters, Eurocopters and Mirage Aircraft.

Fort Ronald acts as a base for the French Army and overlooks the capital Padova and the neighbouring farm land from atop its perch on the hillside.

In Padova port it is a usual sight to see French naval ships harbouring as the island is used as a waypoint on their patrols. The police are armed with the SP 2022 handgun. The police uses the same ranking system as the French police.

Current number of French troops stationed in Saint Amelia is 100. There are also 4 frigates and a helicopter carrier based in St Amelia. There are also 4 Eurocopters, 4 Cougar helicopters and 5 Mirage jet fighters based at 'The Mole Hill'.

Saint Amelia is vital to French operations in the Caribbean and acts as its base and foothold. The high number of forces are due to the increasing trouble that has engulfed neighbouring countries and France's need to maintain a presence in the Caribbean.

SP 2022

Military expenditures - dollar figure: $5 million (fiscal year 91/92)

Military expenditures - percent of gross domestic product: 2 % (fiscal year 91/92)

Saint Amelia Paramilitary Unit
]Police on parade
Current Commissioner of Police - Jean-Louis Aubert
Graduates on Passing Out Parade.
Common Police Vehicle - twin cab Toyota vans
French frigate on patrol near Saint Amelia
French frigate stationed in Saint Amelia
The French President reviews French troops stationed in Saint Amelia in 2009
French troops watch as a helicopter takes off from Browner Field
Saint Amelian Police Officers
Paramilitary unit on drug raids in 2010

[Saint Amelia]

Education
The Saint Amelian educational system is highly centralized, organized, and ramified. It is divided into three different stages:

- primary education (enseignement primaire)
- secondary education (enseignement secondaire)
- higher education (enseignement supérieur)

Despite most education taking place at public state schools some private schools do exist but many children who can afford try to attend school in France.

The Education Act provides for free and compulsory education in Saint Amelia from the ages of 5 to 15. Public spending on education was at 5.8% among the 2002-2005 GDP. Saint Amelia has one university; University of Saint Amelia, and a few medical schools, the oldest of which is the Padova Health Sciences University. The St. Amelia University Hospital is the main hospital in St. Amelia and is a teaching hospital.

Before lessons all school days begin with a school prayer and singing of the national anthem. All classrooms contain a flag of Saint Amelia. Certain classes are compulsory such as; French literature, French language, English literature, English language, Maths, Biology, Chemistry and Physics and these form the basis of the childs education. They also take classes in drama, art, music, citizenship, classical history, world history, Saint Amelian history, French history, religous studies, physical education, latin, Spanish, German, Dutch, Geography and Home Studies. However, not all of these lessons will be carried on and can be dropped.

The grading system uses the A, B, C, D, E, F system to mark and grade work.

University of Saint Amelia - Padova

[Saint Amelia]

Sport
Sport plays a major part in Saint Amelia with the most popular being cricket and football although rugby is also very popular. The nations biggest stadium is the Padova stadium and the nation has its own demostic leagues for cricket, football and also for rugby (union and league). The nation has produced some very good football players who currently play in the French domestic league and further afield, one of the most famous being Pascal Lurvel. Basketball, volleyball, boxing and baseball are all growing in popularity.

The Saint Amelian national teams always play an annual friendly against the French side. The national team is sometimes referred to as the 'Parrots' after the national bird of Saint Amelia and is managed by Tony Garnier. The team regularly play against other Caribbean nations and has yet to qualify for the World Cup.

The national football league is called the Saint Amelia Football League (SAFL) and consists of ten teams. There are 3 domestic leagues and then a number of amatuer leagues with hundreds of teams competing at a local level.

One of the favoured pastimes of Saint Amelia is beach cricket, beach volleyball, football and rugby.

Padova Stadium

The national football team during training.

Pascal Lurvel

Saint Amelia wicket keeper during a 20/20 match

Saint Amelia during a test match

Locals play beach cricket, it is one of the favoured past times of Saint Amelia

Pierre Reno
Tony Garnier

[Saint Amelia]

French Flag
As a dependancy of France the French national tricolour is often seem in Saint Amelia and is flown alongside the Saint Amelian flag.

Flag
The flag of Saint Amelia features a yellow circle in the centre of a light blue background. In the top left corner the French flag is featured. The blue represents the sea and the sky while the circle represents both the Sun and the island itself.

[Saint Amelia]

Health

Public expenditure on health was at 3.3 % of the GDP in 2004, whereas private expenditure was at 1.8 %. Health expenditure was at US$ 302 (PPP) per capita in 2004. Infant mortality was at 12 per 100,000 births in 2005. There is one public hospital and one private hospital in St. Amelia. There was a second, but it was burnt down in a fire in the early hours of September 9, 2009.

St. Amelia University Hospital (Public Hospital)

[Saint Amelia]

Economy
Its economy depends primarily on tourism, banana, and crops production, and light manufacturing. An educated workforce and improvements in roads, communications, water supply, sewerage, and port facilities have attracted foreign investment in tourism and in petroleum storage and transshipment. However, with the U.S., Canada, and Europe in recession, tourism declined by double digits in early 2009. Because of fluctuations in banana prices and possible World Trade Organization–imposed reductions in European Union trade preferences. The recent change in the European Union import preference regime and the increased competition from Latin American bananas have made economic diversification increasingly important in Saint Amelia. The island nation has been able to attract foreign business and investment, especially in its offshore banking and tourism industries, which is the island's main source of revenue. The island is generally seen as one of the worlds leading tax havens. The manufacturing sector is the most diverse in the Eastern Caribbean area, and the government is trying to revitalize the banana industry. Despite negative growth in 2001, economic fundamentals remain solid, and GDP growth should recover in the future.

Banana's are a vital part of the islands economy

Inflation has been relatively low, averaging 5.5 percent between 2006 and 2008. Saint Amelia’s currency is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC$), a regional currency shared among members of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECU). The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCL) issues the EC$, manages monetary policy, and regulates and supervises commercial banking activities in member countries. In 2003, the government began a comprehensive restructuring of the economy, including elimination of price controls and privatization of the state banana company. Five points were deducted from Saint Amelia’s monetary freedom score to adjust for measures that distort domestic prices.

[Saint Amelia]

Culture
The culture of Saint Amelia has been influenced by African, East Indian, French and English heritage.

[Saint Amelia]

Festivals

St. Amelia holds every year two main traditional festivals, La Woz ("The Rose", on August 30th) and La Magwit ("The Marguerite", on October 17th), organized by the two rival historic cultural associations (societés) with the same names whose affiliates comprise most of the country's population.

The Christmas season is celebrated and a number of small festivals and parades take place throughout the island. Traditionally in common with other Caribbean countries, Saint Amelia holds a carnival before Lent

Saint Amelia also celebrates a cultural festival known as Jounen Kweyol (Creole Day). This is celebrated each year on the on the last Sunday of October. On the Sunday of this week, the various towns chosen to host this festival put out the result of their grand preparations; local foods and drinks such as breadfruit, green fig, plantain, salt fish, king fish, manicou (opossum), roast pork, Johnny Cake (fried bake) and a famous dish, bouyon (fish, chicken or meat stewed with dasheen, yams, plantains, banana and dumplings), lime drinks, guava drinks and more. Most people commemorate this day by wearing the island's national wear known as the Madras. Persons who do not want to wear the extreme layers of skirts and dresses make clothing out of the special plaid material.

Saint Amelia Jazz Festival

Secular observances include an internationally-renowned Jazz Festival. Beginning in 1991, this annual festival draws crowds of music-lovers from around the world.

[Saint Amelia]

Religion
The Roman Catholic Church in St. Amelia is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope and the curia in Rome. Roman Catholics form roughly a two-thirds majority (67.5%) of the island's population of 160,765 (2005). A single archdiocese (the Archdiocese of Padova) holds jurisdiction over the country. There are also small Jewish communties as well as Islam.

Saint Anthony's - The first church built on Saint Amelia.

[Saint Amelia]

Climate and Geography

Saint Amelia is one of many small land masses composing the insular group known as the Caribbean Islands. Unlike large limestone areas such as Florida, Cuba, and the Yucatan Peninsula, or the Bahamas, which is a small island group composed of coral and sand, St. Amelia is a typical Caribbean Island formation of volcanic rock that came into existence long after much of the region had already been formed.

St. Amelia's physical features are strikingly beautiful. Dominated by high peaks and rain forests in the interior, the 616-square-kilometer (238-square-mile) island is known for the twin peaks of Gros Piton and Petit Piton on the southwestern coast, its soft sandy beaches, and its magnificent natural harbors. Mount Gimie, the highest peak, is located in the central mountain range and rises to 958 meters (3,143 ft) above sea level, a contrast that is also evident in the abrupt climatic transition from coastal to inland areas. The steep terrain also accentuates the many rivers that flow from central St. Amelia to the Caribbean. Fertile land holdings, which support banana farming, are scattered throughout the island.

St. Amelia coastline
Mountains overlooking the beach

St. Amelia has a tropical, humid climate moderated by northeast trade winds that allow for pleasant year-round conditions. Mean annual temperatures range from 26 °C (78.8 °F) to 32 °C (89.6 °F) at sea level and drop to an average of 13 °C (55.4 °F) in the mountain peaks. The abundant annual rainfall accumulates to approximately 2,000 millimeters (78.7 in), with most precipitation occurring during the June to December wet season. Hurricanes are the most severe climatic disturbance in this area and have been known to cause extensive damage. Although St. Amelia has historically been spared from serious hurricane destruction, Hurricane Allen decimated the agricultural sector and claimed nine lives in 1980.

Saint Amelia is in the tropical zone, although its climate is moderated by northeast trade winds. Since it's fairly close to the equator, the temperature doesn't fluctuate much between winter and summer. The dry season is from December to June, and the rainy season is from June to November. Average daytime temperatures are around
29 °C (84.2 °F), and average nighttime temperatures are around 18 °C (64.4 °F). Average annual rainfall ranges from 1,300 mm (51.2 in) on the coast to 3,810 mm (150 in) in the mountain rainforests.

Natural hazards:
- Hurricanes and volcanic activity.
The island was severely affected by Hurricane Allen in 1980, causing tourism to drop, but Saint Amelia has generally had fewer hurricanes than most other caribbean islands.

Location:
St. Amelia is located in the Caribbean Islands and its capital city is Padova. Other cities include;

Measurements:
- total area: 616 km²
- length: 43.5 km
- width: 22.5 km
- comparative area: The same as Toronto or 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
- Land boundaries: 0 km
- Coastline: 158 km

Maritime claims:
- 200 nautical miles (370.4 km; 230.2 mi)
- contiguous zone: 24 nautical miles (44.4 km; 27.6 mi)
- exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles (370.4 km; 230.2 mi)
- territorial sea: 12 nautical miles (22.2 km; 13.8 mi)

Terrain:
Volcanic and mountainous with some broad, fertile valleys.

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Gimie 950 m

Natural resources:
- Forests, sandy beaches, minerals (pumice), mineral springs, geothermal potential.

Land use:
- Arable land: 8%
- permanent crops: 21%
- permanent pastures: 5%
- forests and woodland: 13%
- other: 53% (1993 est.)
- Irrigated land: 10 km2 (4 sq mi) (1993 est.)

Environment:
Current issues: Deforestation; soil erosion, particularly in the northern region

Sulfur Springs

[Saint Amelia]

Important People

Main People
- President of France: Mireille Lévesque
- Governor-General: Vincent Lacroix
- Prime Minister and leader of the United Workers Party: Henri-Alban Camenan
- Deputy Prime Minister: François Chevènement
- Leader of the Saint Amelia Labour Party: Antonin Béart
- Commissioner of Police: Jean-Louis Aubert
- Head of the French Troops:

The Cabinet of Ministers:
- Minister of Foreign Affairs: Maurice Duvernay
- Minister of Education: Georges Patient
- Minister of Health: Jean-Étienne Antoinette
- Minister of Defence: Léon Bertrand
- Minister of Transport: Olivier Guy-Blaché

Deputies to the French National Assembly:
- Deputy: Rodolphe Alexandre
- Deputy: Alain Tien-Liong

French Senate
- French Senator: Isabelle Duris
- French Senator: Dominique Perrault

Saint Amelia Senate
- Senator: Louis Nouvel
- Senator: Claude Mansart
- Senator: Marcel Boulle
- Senator: Hilda Nin
- Senator: François Perec
- Senator: Charles Halley
- Senator: Charles Pagnol
- Senator: Jacques Foccart
- Senator: Emilie Citroën
- Senator: André Messier
- Senator: Gérard Mulliez

House of Assembly
- Assembly Member: Marguerite Durand
- Assembly Member: Camille Moreau
- Assembly Member: Dominique Leroy
- Assembly Member: Philippe Dubois
- Assembly Member: Marie Robert
- Assembly Member: Anne-Sophie Thomas
- Assembly Member: Jean-Luc Bernard
- Assembly Member: Elisabeth Martin
- Assembly Member: Jean-Baptiste Grix
- Assembly Member: Charles Thomas
- Assembly Member: Pierre Petit
- Assembly Member: Gérard Benguigui
- Assembly Member: Marcel Bruel
- Assembly Member: Lucie Aubrac
- Assembly Member: Henri Durand
- Assembly Member: Béatrice Romand
- Assembly Member: Max Montoute

Sports People
Captain of Saint Amelia football team: Pascal Lurvel
Vice Captain: Pierre Reno
Manager: Tony Garnier

[Saint Amelia]

Photos of Saint Amelia

Prime Minister's House
PM's House
High Court
Church of Saint Dominic, PM's House in background

[Saint Amelia]

Cuisine

Food

Saint Amelian cuisine is a combination of French and British dishes. Before colonization, the Caribs and the Arawaks occupied the island, surviving on its various natural fruits and vegetables like mangoes, oranges, tangerines, avocados, and breadfruits. St Amelia is known for its famous dish banana and salt fish; breadfruit and salt fish is also popular. One famous dish, bouyon, can be cooked with fish, chicken, meat, plantains, bananas, dasheen, ground yams and dumplings. Some bouyon recipes include coconut water or coconut milk. The island's British influence is seen in the variety of spices used in its cuisine, which include garlic, cinnamon, nutmeg, cocoa, parsley, cloves, and allspice. Many St Amelians have a cold glass of water or fresh coconut water after their meals.



Criollo cooking (criollo meaning "creole" in other countries) is very popular in St Amelia. This encompasses most of what is regularly cooked in Saint Amelia, involving the extensive use of herbs, and somewhat unlike Cuban cooking, the liberal use of peppers. A typical dish would probably be a plate of du riz colée a pois (diri kolé ak pwa), which is brown rice with red kidney or pinto beans glazed with a marinade as a sauce and topped off with red snapper, tomatoes and onions. The dish can be accompanied by bouillon (bouyon), known as sancocho in some neighboring countries. Bouillon is a hearty stew consisting of various spices, potatoes, tomatoes, and meats such as goat or beef.

Rice is occasionally eaten with beans by itself, but more often than not, some sort of meat completes the dish. Chicken (poul) is frequently eaten, the same goes for goat meat (cabrit) and beef (bèf). Chicken is often boiled in its own specially made marinade consisting of lemon juice, black pepper, garlic and other seasonings. The mixture along with water is boiled with the chicken immersed in it to give the cooked chicken the unique taste it has.

The flavor base of St Amelian cooking is épis, a combination sauce made from cooked peppers, garlic, and herbs. It is used as a basic condiment for rice and beans and is also used in stews and soups.

(shredded flank steak in a tomato sauce base), black beans, yellow rice, plantains and fried yuca with beer

Beverages

Beer is one of several common alcoholic beverages consumed in St Amelia, often drank at festivals, parties, and occasionally downed with a meal. The most widely drank brand of beer in St Amelia is Prestige, a nationally popular mild lager with a taste similar to many commercialized beers such as Budweiser and Miller Light. The beer has a light and crisp yet mildly sweet taste with a vague yet strong flavor reminiscent of several American-style beers. Prestige is brewed by Brasserie Nationale d'Amelia. Prestige is the best-selling beer in St Amelia with a 98% market share and so far it's only native beer.



St Amelia makes rum. The most known company in the country is the world-renowned Rhum Barbancourt; one of the nation's most famous exports and by international standards, the country's most popular alcoholic beverage, considered by many to be the best in the world. It is unique in that the distilleries use sugarcane juice directly instead of molasses like other types of rum. The rum is marketed in approximately 20 countries and uses a process of distillation similar to the process used to produce cognac. The liquory creamed drink called crémas is also drunk in St Amelia. It is a popular beverage usually consumed as part of dessert or simply by itself.

Clairin is another popular drink it is equivalent to moonshine and is distilled from molasses, it is distilled twice sometimes to have a higher proof of alcohol. It is widely popular and small distilleries can be found through out the country side. Clairin is at least 100 to 120 proof. Double distilled, it can easily be 150 to 190 proof. Clairin may be more popular than Rum because it is much cheaper and less labor intensive to make.

Due to its tropical climate, juice is a mainstay in St Amelia. Juices from many fruits are commonly made and can be found everywhere. Guava juice, grapefruit juice, mango juice, along with the juices of many citrus fruits (oranges, granadilla, passion fruit etc.). Juice is the de facto beverage because of its variety of flavors, easy production, and widespread accessibility. Malta is also a popular non-alcoholic drink consisting of unfermented barley with molasses added for flavor. In more urban areas of the nation, the people enjoy Americanized drinks such as an array of soft drinks, in which Coca Cola dominates all other local soft drinks. Milkshakes are also drunk regularly.

Desserts

Many types of desserts are eaten in St Amelia ranging from the mild to sweet. Sugarcane is used frequently in the making of these desserts however granulated sugar is also used often. One very popular dessert is fresco which can be whipped up quickly. Fresco is a similar to an Italian Ice, however it consists primarily of fruit syrup. The syrup is moderately thick and very sweet. It is frequently sold by street vendors. The sweet smell of this candy-like snack often attracts honeybees and a common sight on the streets is a hurried vendor handing out frescos surrounded by swirls of bees. Piene Patte is a soft sweetbread made using cinnamon, evaporated milk, and sweet potato. It is usually served cold from the refrigerator but it can be eaten at room temperature. Akasant is a thick corn milkshake with a consistency similar to that of labouille (a popular porridge made from corn). It is made using many of the same ingredients as Peine Patte consisting of evaporated milk, sugar, and corn flour. One of the country's best known appetizers are Patés, or meat patties with a crispy bread crust for the outer layer.



Typical Dishes:
Du riz a pois or Diri ak Pwa Rice and beans
Du riz a poulet or Diri ak Poule (Rice with Chicken)
Du riz a légumes or Diri ak Légumes (Rice with Légumes, a stew consisting of eggplant, carrots, spinach, and beef)
Du riz a sauce-pois or Diri ak Sos Pwa (Rice with bean sauce)
Du riz blanche a sause-pois noir or Diri Blan ak Sos Pwa Noir (White rice and black bean sauce)
Du riz djon djon or Diri ak djon djon (Rice in black mushroom sauce)
Mais Moulu or Mayi Moulen Cornmeal
Tassot et Banane Pesé or Tasso et Banane Pézé (Fried Goat and Plantains)
Cabrit or Kabrit (goat meat)
Griot (seasoned Fried Pork with scallions and peppers in a bitter orange sauce)
Chocolat des Cayes or Chokolat La Kaye (homemade cocoa)
Soup Joumou (squash soup)
Pikliz or Picklese (very spicy vinegar based coleslaw)

[Saint Amelia]

Literature

Saint Amelia has produced its fair share amont of literature. Common themes are beauty, non-materialism, social equality, freedom and liberation.

One of Saint Amelia's most famous writers is world-reknowned Edouard Gissant

[Saint Amelia]

I know this factbook isnt complete but I'm opening it up to questions to get me thinking and to help me develop my nation.

[Saint Amelia]

BUMP