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more about guinea
guinea |
4 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Peach \Peach\, n. [OE. peche, peshe, OF pesche F. p[^e]che, fr LL persia, L. Persicum (sc. malum) a Persian apple, a peach. Cf {Persian}, and {Parsee}.] (Bot.) A well-known high-flavored juicy fruit, containing one or two seeds in a hard almond-like endocarp or stone; also the tree which bears it ({Prunus, or Amygdalus Persica}). In the wild stock the fruit is hard and inedible. {Guinea}, or {Sierra Leone}, {peach}, the large edible berry of the {Sarcocephalus esculentus}, a rubiaceous climbing shrub of west tropical Africa. {Palm peach}, the fruit of a Venezuelan palm tree ({Bactris speciosa}). {Peach color}, the pale red color of the peach blossom. {Peach-tree borer} (Zo["o]l.), the larva of a clearwing moth ({[AE]geria, or Sannina exitiosa}) of the family {[AE]geriid[ae]}, which is very destructive to peach trees by boring in the wood, usually near the ground; also the moth itself See Illust. under {Borer}. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Guinea \Guin"ea\ (g[i^]n"[-e]), n. 1. A district on the west coast of Africa (formerly noted for its export of gold and slaves) after which the Guinea fowl, Guinea grass, Guinea peach, etc., are named 2. A gold coin of England current for twenty-one shillings sterling, or about five dollars, but not coined since the issue of sovereigns in 1817. The guinea, so called from the Guinea gold out of which it was first struck, was proclaimed in 1663, and to go for twenty shillings; but it never went for less than twenty-one shillings. --Pinkerton. {Guinea corn}. (Bot.) See {Durra}. {Guinea Current} (Geog.), a current in the Atlantic Ocean setting southwardly into the Bay of Benin on the coast of Guinea. {Guinea dropper} one who cheats by dropping counterfeit guineas. [Obs.] --Gay. {Guinea fowl}, {Guinea hen} (Zo["o]l.), an African gallinaceous bird, of the genus {Numida}, allied to the pheasants. The common domesticated species ({N. meleagris}), has a colored fleshy horn on each aide of the head, and is of a dark gray color, variegated with small white spots. The crested Guinea fowl ({N. cristata}) is a finer species. {Guinea grains} (Bot.), grains of Paradise, or amomum. See {Amomum}. {Guinea grass} (Bot.), a tall strong forage grass ({Panicum jumentorum}) introduced. from Africa into the West Indies and Southern United States. {Guinea-hen flower} (Bot.), a liliaceous flower ({Fritillaria Meleagris}) with petals spotted like the feathers of the Guinea hen. {Guinea peach}. See under {Peach}. {Guinea pepper} (Bot.), the pods of the {Xylopia aromatica}, a tree of the order {Anonace[ae]}, found in tropical West Africa. They are also sold under the name of {Piper [AE]thiopicum}. {Guinea pig}. [Prob. a mistake for Guiana pig.] a (Zo["o]l.) A small Brazilian rodent ({Cavia cobaya}), about seven inches in length and usually of a white color, with spots of orange and black. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: guinea n 1: a former British gold coin worth 21 chillings 2: ethnic slur; offensive terms for a person of Italian descent [syn: {wop}, {dago}, {Guinea}, {greaseball}] 3: a republic in eastern Africa on the Atlantic; formerly a French colony [syn: {Guinea}, {French Guinea}] 4: W African bird having dark plumage mottled with white; native to Africa but raised for food in many parts of the world [syn: {guinea fowl}, {Numida meleagris}] From The CIA World Factbook (1995) [world95]: Guinea Guinea:Geography Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone Map references: Africa Area: total area: 245,860 sq km land area: 245,860 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than Oregon Land boundaries: total 3,399 km Guinea-Bissau 386 km Cote d'Ivoire 610 km Liberia 563 km Mali 858 km Senegal 330 km Sierra Leone 652 km Coastline: 320 km Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: none Climate: generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds Terrain: generally flat coastal plain, hilly to mountainous interior Natural resources: bauxite, iron ore, diamonds, gold, uranium, hydropower fish Land use: arable land: 6% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 12% forest and woodland: 42% other: 40% Irrigated land: 240 sq km (1989 est.) Environment: current issues: deforestation; inadequate supplies of potable water; desertification soil contamination and erosion; overfishing natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry season international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Desertification Guinea:People Population: 6,549,336 (July 1995 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 44% (female 1,450,501; male 1,448,164) 15-64 years: 53% (female 1,784,420; male 1,691,502) 65 years and over: 3% (female 102,735; male 72,014) (July 1995 est.) Population growth rate: 2.43% (1995 est.) Birth rate: 43.43 births/1,000 population (1995 est.) Death rate: 19.13 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.) Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.) note: Guinea has received about 400,000 refugees from the civil wars in Liberia and Sierra Leone; the continued fighting in Sierra Leone will likely drive more refugees into Guinea in 1995; on the other hand, peace may be achieved in Liberia and permit Liberian refugees to return home Infant mortality rate: 136.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 44.6 years male: 42.31 years female: 46.95 years (1995 est.) Total fertility rate: 5.79 children born/woman (1995 est.) Nationality: noun: Guinean(s) adjective: Guinean Ethnic divisions: Peuhl 40%, Malinke 30%, Soussou 20%, smaller tribes 10% Religions: Muslim 85%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 7% Languages: French (official); each tribe has its own language Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 24% male: 35% female: 13% Labor force: 2.4 million (1983) by occupation: agriculture 80.0%, industry and commerce 11.0%, services 5.4%, civil servants 3.6% Guinea:Government Names: conventional long form: Republic of Guinea conventional short form: Guinea local long form: Republique de Guinee local short form: Guinee former: French Guinea Digraph: GV Type: republic Capital: Conakry Administrative divisions: 33 administrative regions (regions administratives, singular - region administrative); Beyla Boffa, Boke, Conakry, Coyah, Dabola, Dalaba, Dinguiraye Faranah Forecariah Fria, Gaoual Gueckedou Kankan, Kerouane Kindia, Kissidougou Koubia Koundara Kouroussa Labe, Lelouma Lola, Macenta, Mali, Mamou, Mandiana Nzerekore Pita, Siguiri Telimele Tougue, Yomou Independence: 2 October 1958 (from France) National holiday: Anniversary of the Second Republic, 3 April (1984) Constitution: 23 December 1990 (Loi Fundamentale) Legal system: based on French civil law system, customary law, and decree; legal codes currently being revised has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state and head of government: President Lansana CONTE, elected in the first multi-party election 19 December 1993; prior to the election he had ruled as head of military government since 5 April 1984 cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president Legislative branch: unicameral People's National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale Populaire): the People's National Assembly was dissolved after the 3 April 1984 coup; framework established in December 1991 for a new National Assembly with 114 seats; legislative elections, tentatively scheduled for 1994, were not held and are now rescheduled for 11 June 1995 Judicial branch: Court of Appeal (Cour d'Appel) Political parties and leaders: political parties were legalized on 1 April 1992 pro-government: Party for Unity and Progress (PUP) other: Rally for the Guinean People (RPG), Alpha CONDE; Union for a New Republic (UNR), Mamadou BAH; Party for Renewal and Progress (PRP), Siradiou DIALLO; Movement of Patriotic Democrats (MDP), Ahmed Tidiane CISSE Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB CCC, CEAO (observer), ECA, ECOWAS FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, MINURSO NAM, OAU, OIC, UN UNCTAD UNESCO, UNIDO UPU, WCL, WFTU WHO WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Elhadj Boubacar BARRY chancery: 2112 Leroy Place NW Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 483-9420 FAX: [1] (202) 483-8688 US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph A. SALOOM III embassy: 2nd Boulevard and 9th Avenue, Conakry mailing address: B. P. 603, Conakry telephone: [224] 44 15 20 through 44 15 23 FAX: [224] 44 15 22 Flag: three equal vertical bands of red (hoist side), yellow, and green; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag of Rwanda, which has a large black letter R centered in the yellow band Economy Overview: Although possessing major mineral and hydropower resources and considerable potential for agricultural development, Guinea remains one of the poorest countries in the world. The agricultural sector contributes about 40% to GDP and employs 80% of the work force, while industry accounts for 27% of GDP. Guinea possesses over 25% of the world's bauxite reserves. The mining sector accounted for 85% of exports in 1991. Long-run improvements in literacy, financial institutions, and the legal framework are needed if the country is to move out of poverty. Except in the bauxite industry, foreign investment remains minimal. National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $6.3 billion (1994 est.) National product real growth rate: 0.8% (1994 est.) National product per capita: $980 (1994 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 16.6% (1992 est.) Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues: $449 million expenditures: $708 million, including capital expenditures of $361 million (1990 est.) Exports: $622 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.) commodities: bauxite, alumina, diamonds, gold, coffee, pineapples, bananas, palm kernels partners: US 23%, Belgium 12%, Ireland 12%, Spain 12% Imports: $768 million (c.i.f., 1992 est.) commodities: petroleum products, metals, machinery, transport equipment, foodstuffs, textiles, and other grain partners: France 26%, Cote d'Ivoire 12%, Hong Kong 6%, Germany 6% External debt: 2.5 billion (1992) Industrial production: growth rate NA%; accounts for 27% of GDP Electricity: capacity: 180,000 kW production: 520 million kWh consumption per capita: 77 kWh (1993) Industries: mining - bauxite, gold, diamonds; alumina refining; light manufacturing and agricultural processing industries Agriculture: accounts for 40% of GDP (includes fishing and forestry); mostly subsistence farming; principal products - rice, coffee, pineapples, palm kernels, cassava, bananas, sweet potatoes, timber; livestock - cattle, sheep and goats; not self-sufficient in food grains Economic aid: recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $227 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.465 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $120 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $446 million Currency: 1 Guinean franc FG = 100 centimes Exchange rates: Guinean francs FG per US$1 - 810.94 (1 July 1993), 922.9 (30 September 1992), 675 (1990), 618 (1989), 515 (1988), 440 (1987), 383 (1986) Fiscal year: calendar year Guinea:Transportation Railroads: total: 1,048 km standard gauge: 241 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 807 km 1.000-m gauge Highways: total: 30,100 km paved: 1,145 km unpaved: gravel, crushed stone 12,955 km (of which barely 4,500 are currently all-weather roads); unimproved earth 16,000 km (1987) Inland waterways: 1,295 km navigable by shallow-draft native craft Ports: Boke, Conakry, Kamsar Merchant marine: none Airports: total: 15 with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 with paved runways under 914 m: 1 with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 7 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3 Guinea:Communications Telephone system: 15,000 telephones; poor to fair system of open-wire lines, small radiocommunication stations, and new radio relay system local: NA intercity: microwave radio relay and radio communication stations international: 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station Radio: broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 1, shortwave 0 radios: 200,000 Television: broadcast stations: 1 televisions: 65,000 Guinea:Defense Forces Branches: Army, Navy (acts primarily as a coast guard), Air Force, Republican Guard, Presidential Guard, paramilitary National Gendarmerie, National Police Force (Surete National) Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,478,653; males fit for military service 745,990 (1995 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $50 million, 1.6% of GDP (1994)
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