Tropico
| |
| Flag of Tropico | |
| Motto: "For the Motherland" | |
| Region | American Continent |
|---|---|
| Capital | Tropicana |
| Official Language(s) | Spanish |
| Leader | Governor Julio Cornelius |
| Population | 0.255 billion |
| Currency | Peseta |
| NS Sunset XML | |
The Republic of Tropico is a small autonomous nation within Hispania positioned in northern Brazil. It was founded in 1735, at the height of Hispanian naval power, and is the only colony ever established by the nation. Once directly ruled by the monarchy at home, it has gradually moved towards autonoumy from the motherland, but remains technically a part of the greater Kingdom of Hispania. It is home to a quarter of a billion people, all of which are full citizens of both Tropico and Hispania.
Politics & Economics
Tropico is led by the Colonial Congress, a body similar to the National Congress in Hispania. It has 255 representatives, elected every three years. A second election is held every six years for the position of Governor. Currently, Julio Cornelius is governor, and has been for the last two decades. Tropico has a functioning internal democracy, although nationalist parties are heavily regulated by Hispania, declaring that independence is not an option, and only continued autonoumy is considered. There are two major parties in Tropico, and a large number of smaller parties. Tropico does not participate in foriegn affairs.
El Partido Socialista de Tropico
The socialist party of Tropico supports much of what the Hispanic socialist catholic party does. It holds the majority of the seats in Tropico, and despite what many claim is an ideological conflict between socialism and imperialism, it has thrived. Supports a continuation of Tropico as an autonomous state within Hispania, and is headed by Julio Conrelius.
El Partido Tropicano
A Centrist party, which supports moderate policies. Not as popular as the Socialists, it nevertheless maintains a strong electoral showing, and exists as the second largest party in Tropico. Supports the creation of a tax-free status for Tropicano residents, and encouraging the industrialization of Tropico.
The main industries are fishing (accounting for three-quarters of foreign exports), gold mining and timber. There is very little manufacturing. Tourism, especially eco-tourism, is growing. However, agriculture remains to most powerful industry, and the huge sugur and tropical fruit plantations provide Hispania and Tropico with millions of pesetas worth of income each year. Despite this, Tropico depends on heavy subsidies from the Hispanic mainland, and unemployment is a huge problem. Hispania has decided to encourage investment in the region by offering tax incentives to companies who open branches in Tropico, though a heavy political fallout is occuring as many people complain about outsourcing to Tropico, where workers are paid an average of $6,500 a year, compared to Hispania's $20,000.
A major problem plauging Tropico today is illegal immigration. Many drug dealers, poor migrant workers, and other "undesirables", escape into the loosely guarded border and then take advantage fo the loose restrictions on travel between Hispania and Tropico to reach the European mainland. Officials say that Tropico is the gateway for 30% of all South American drugs that reach Europe, and this is becomign a huge problem in modern days.
History
At the time the first Europeans arrived in the area around 1500, Tropico was inhabited by Arawak and Carib tribes of Amerindians. Although Tropico was first sighted by Christopher Columbus during his third voyage (in 1498), it was not settled by Europeans until the Hispanic voyages in 1735, who established three separate colonies; Guyana (1735), Tropcio (1736), and Demerara (1736). Of these, Tropico grew the quickest, and the region as whole became known as Tropico. The land was claimed for the Hispanic crown by Admiral Alvaro Vivec, and his family remains in Tropico today, and is th eonly influential noble family who is based entirely in Tropico. The Amerindians bred with the Europeans, and very few pure Tropicans can claim a pure Amerindian or Hispanic bloodline. Self rule came in 1836, and autonomy in 1908. Tropican residents have long enjoyed a very leniant imperialist rule, going years at a time without even hearing for the Hispanic kings, but Hispania remains possessive of its only New World colony, and refuses to give it its independence. In any case, life is quite good for the average Tropican, and in the latest referendum, only 15% supported independence.
Tropico has had a quiet history, with no revolts, and due to the leniancy of the Hispanic crown, little to complain about. The few violent Amerindian tribes were quickly subdued by 1750, and Tropico has enjoyed peace since.
Geography
Tropico consists of two main geographical regions: a coastal strip where the majority of the people live, and dense, near-inaccessible rainforest which gradually rises to the modest peaks of the Tumac-Humac mountains along the frontier. The highest peak is Bellevue de l'Inini (851 m). Other mountains include Mont Machalou (782 m), Pic Coudreau (711 m) and Mont St Marcel (635 m), Mont Favard (200 m) and Montagne du Mahury (156 m). Several small islands are found off the coast, the three Iles du Salut Salvation Islands which includes Devil's Island and the isolated Ile de Connetable bird sanctury further along the coast.
The capital and the surrounding urban sprawl, called Tropicana, is home to half of the populace, and is the largest port city in Tropico.
