United Kingdom - British Virgin Islands

Status: UK overseas territory

Population: 27,000 (2005)

Time: GMT minus 4hr

Currency: US dollar

Geography

British Virgin Islands lies roughly midway between Puerto Rico and the northernmost of the Leeward Islands group in the Caribbean. It is an archipelago of more than 40 islands, 16 of which are inhabited. They are situated 96.5km east of Puerto Rico, with the US Virgin Islands between. To the east and south lie Anguilla, St Kitts and the other islands of the Lesser Antilles. Tortola is the largest island of the group.

Area: 153 sq km. The largest of the islands are: Tortola (54 sq km), Anegada (39 sq km), Virgin Gorda (21 sq km) and Jost Van Dyke (9 sq km).

Main towns: Road Town (capital, pop. 8,600 in 2006) and East End–Long Look on Tortola; The Valley on Virgin Gorda.

Topography: With the exception of Anegada (a flat reef-surrounded island of coral limestone at the northern tip of the group) the islands, which form a projection of the archipelago of Puerto Rico and the American Virgin Islands, are hilly.

Climate: Subtropical with annual rainfall averaging 1,250mm. Trade winds keep the air fresh.

Environment: The most significant environmental issue is the inadequacy of natural freshwater resources. Except for a few seasonal streams and springs on Tortola, most of the islands’ water supply comes from wells and rainwater catchment.

Vegetation: The natural vegetation is mostly light bush and grass; there is some cultivated land, on which fruit and vegetables are grown.

Wildlife: The islands are home to some rare birds (including the pearl-eyed thrasher) as well as flamingos and pelicans. There are two sea bird sanctuaries.

Transport/Communications: There are some 200km of roads, including a dual carriageway near Road Town.

Ferry services link main islands, including the United States Virgin Islands.

Beef Island Airport, although small, receives aircraft from Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands and the USA. It lies 14.5km from Road Town on Tortola, and Beef Island and Tortola are linked by road bridge. There are airports on Virgin Gorda and Anegada. Within the country, light aircraft ply between the islands.

The international dialling code is +1 284. There are 532 main telephone lines and 364 mobile phone subscriptions per 1,000 people (2002).

There are 4,000 internet users (2002).

Society

Population: 27,000 (2005); population density 176 per sq km; growth 2.1% p.a.; birth rate 15 per 1,000 people; life expectancy 76 years. Some 83% of the people are of African descent; the balance is of European, Indian or mixed descent. About 30% are immigrants from St Kitts and Nevis or St Vincent and the Grenadines; 13% come from North America and Europe, and there is a growing section (9%) from the Dominican Republic.

Religion: Mainly Christians, including Methodists, Anglicans, Roman Catholics and Church of God.

Language: English

Media: The Island Sun, BVI StandPoint and BVI Beacon are weeklies.

Education: There are 12 years of compulsory education starting at age five (2006). Net enrolment rates are 95% for primary (2006) and 88% for secondary (2005). The pupil–teacher ratio for primary is 15:1 and for secondary 10:1 (2006). The school year starts in September.

Scholarships are available for students to go to the regional University of the West Indies, and to universities in the USA, Canada and the UK. The H Lavity Stoutt Community College opened in the late 1990s. There is virtually no adult illiteracy. Road Town has a public library, and there are library stations on the outer islands.
Health: There are hospitals on Tortola and clinics on other islands. Infant mortality was an estimated 18 per 1,000 live births in 2005.

Public holidays: New Year’s Day, Commonwealth Day (second Monday in March), Queen’s Official Birthday (one of the first three Saturdays in June, in line with the UK), Territory Day (1 July), Festival (Monday–Wednesday including the first Monday in August), St Ursula’s Day (21 October), Prince of Wales’s Birthday (14 November), Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Religious and other festivals whose dates vary from year to year include Good Friday and Easter Monday.

Economy

GDP p.c.: US$41,700 (2006)

Tourist arrivals: 305,000 (2004)

Overview: Tourism and offshore financial services are the main economic activities, supplemented by agriculture and fishing. By 2004 around 510,000 international companies and more than 1,000 vessels (mostly large yachts) were registered, generating substantial income for the government (about 50% of government revenue). The economy grew steadily in the 2000s, mainly at more than 3% p.a., rising to 6% in 2006.

About 60% of land is privately owned. Non-Virgin Islanders must get a licence, normally easily obtained, to acquire any interest in land. Crown land may be leased for a period of up to 99 years.

Trade: Exports of fish, fruit and vegetables, rum, gravel, sand and concrete blocks are mainly to the US Virgin Islands and the USA. The country’s chief imports are food/beverages, machinery, cars and building materials.

History

The Virgin Islands (Las Virgenes, or ‘The Maidens’) were discovered in 1493 by Christopher Columbus, who named them in honour of St Ursula and her company of 11,000 maidens. St Ursula’s Day, 21 October, is a national holiday. As Europeans began moving into the Caribbean, the islands were often a shelter and meeting places for groups of pirates, who built a fort on Tortola, on which some of them settled down. The island was annexed by the Governor of the Leeward Islands in 1672, and such inhabitants as he found were moved to St Christopher (St Kitts). Between 1680 and 1717, European planters, with African slaves, moved into the islands; by 1717, there were 317 Europeans on Virgin Gorda and 159 on Tortola (plus an unrecorded population of slaves). In 1773 the planters were granted their own 12-member house of assembly and a legislative council.

The islands became part of the colony of the Leeward Islands in 1872. In 1956 the Leewards were de-federated, and the British Virgin Islands became a separate colony administered by the Governor of the Leeward Islands. The administrator of the islands became directly responsible to the Colonial Office in 1960; in 1971, the administrator’s title was raised to governor.

Constitution

The British Virgin Islands is a UK overseas territory. The 2007 constitution provides for a greater degree of internal self-government than previously and for fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual.

The legislature, the House of Assembly, comprises 13 elected and two appointed members. The UK monarch is represented by a governor responsible for external affairs, defence, internal security and the public service, and the administration of the courts. On all other matters, the executive has authority. The executive consists of the governor and the cabinet comprising the premier, the attorney-general and four other ministers appointed by the governor from the House of Assembly on the advice of the premier.

The High Court and Court of Appeal of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court have jurisdiction over the Islands.

Politics

Last elections: August 2007

Next elections: 2011

Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by the governor

Head of government: Premier Ralph O’Neal

Ruling party: Virgin Islands Party

There are four political parties: Virgin Islands Party (VIP), United Party, Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) and the National Democratic Party (NDP).

At the elections in February 1995, the VIP won six of the 13 legislative council seats and formed a coalition with two independent members. In the May 1999 elections the VIP retained its majority with seven out of 13 seats and 38% of the votes. The NDP took five seats and CCM one.

A new constitution was adopted and came into force in June 2007, creating the post of premier to replace that of chief minister. The VIP won the elections that followed in August 2007 with ten of the 13 elected seats in the House of Assembly, and Ralph O’Neal became the British Virgin Islands’ first premier.