Dominican Republic and Haiti: Country Studies

acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) one to one.
Religion: Roman Catholicism official religion according to
1860 concordat with Vatican. Voodoo more widely practiced
than Catholicism, could be considered national religion. Much
overlap of believers, with most voodooists considering
themselves Roman Catholics. Although church joined in
several antivoodoo campaigns in course of Haiti's history, its
opposition to folk religion more sporadic and ambivalent than
that of Protestant missionaries, who condemn voodoo as
diabolical. Rapid growth of Protestantism since 1950; some
estimates 25 percent of population Protestant in late 1990s.
Economy
Gross Domestic Product (GDP): From 1991 coup to 1994, real
GDP plunged 30 percent and per capita GDP dropped from
US$320 to US$260. In late 1990s, US$225 per capita GDP
made Haiti poorest country in Western Hemisphere.
Agriculture: Employed 66 percent of total workforce of almost
3 million in 1990s and accounted for some 25 to 30 percent of
GDP and less than 10 percent of exports. In late 1990s,
agriculture sector produced only 20 percent of Haiti's domestic
food requirements. Constantly deteriorating rural
infrastructure, primitive farming techniques, migration out of
rural areas, deforestation, and natural disasters, including
Hurricane Georges in September 1998, have taken a toll.
Industry: Manufacturing 14 percent of GDP in 1991, suffered
following Jean-Bertrand Aristide's overthrow and ensuing
embargo imposed by United Nations (UN) and Organization
of American States (OAS) . Of 180 companies operating in four
free zones (more than 150 of these, mostly United Statescontrolled,
engaged in assembly production), 130 closed
factories after 1991 coup. Some thirty plants reopened after
reestablishment of constitutional government in October 1994.
Plants generated about 60,000 jobs producing processed foods,
electrical and electronic equipment, textiles, clothing, toys,
sporting goods, and handicrafts. Assembly industry prospects
hampered by underdeveloped infrastructure, illiterate
workforce, scarce managerial personnel, and highest utility
costs in Caribbean. Chronic political instability prompted
many firms to relocate to more stable Caribbean areas, mostly
to free zone in neighboring Dominican Republic. By late
253