British Virgin Islands

The British Virgin Islands, the British overseas territory is situated in the Caribbean and to the east of Puerto Rico. The U.S. Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands together form the Virgin Islands archipelago. Tortola island is the largest island among the 60 islands of the territory, in which over 20 islands are uninhabited. Road Town is the capital of the archipelago. The British Virgin Islands tie up with the U.S. Virgin Islands in economic terms. The defense responsibilities are observed by the British government.

HISTORY:- The Virgin Islands were first inhabited by the Arawak peoples, followed by the Caribs. Christopher Columbus was the first European to sight the islands in 1493. The Dutch Empire conquered the Tortola island in 1648. In 1672, the British power seized the control of the Tortola island from the Dutch and Anegada and Virgin Gorda were annexed by the British by 1680. The islands became a part of the British colony of the Leeward Islands from 1872 to 1960. In 1960, the islands were granted with the status of separate colony. The Virgin Islands gained autonomy in 1967.

GEOGRAPHY:- British Virgin Islands are located in 18 30 N, 64 30 W in the Caribbean region. The British Virgin Islands consist of 16 inhabited and over 20 uninhabited islands, among them Tortola, Anegada, Virgin Gorda, Jost van Dyke islands are major. The coastline is 80 km bordering with the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean. The lowest point is Caribbean Sea (0 m) and the highest point is Mount Sage (521 m). The coral islands are relatively flat while the volcanic islands are steep, and hilly.

CLIMATE:- The climate of the Virgins Islands is subtropical and humid. Temperatures are moderated by the trade winds.

GOVERNMENT:- The British Virgin Islands are the overseas territory of the UK with internal autonomy. The constitution was adopted on 13th June 2007. The legal system is based on the English law. The three major braches of the government are:

Executive branch comprises the Queen Elizabeth II (chief of state), the Governor, the Premier (head of government), and the Executive Council. The governor is the representative of the Queen and is appointed by the monarch. The leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is generally appointed the premier by the governor. The Executive Council is appointed by the governor from among the members of the House of Assembly.

Legislative branch comprises the unicameral House of Assembly (13 seats).

Judicial branch comprises the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, consists of he High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal. Other courts include the Magistrate's Court, the Juvenile Court, and the Court of Summary Jurisdiction.

 Concerned Citizens Movement, National Democratic Party United Party, and Virgin Islands Party are the major political parties of the British Virgin Islands. Suffrage is universal at the age of 18.

Queen                Elizabeth II

Governor            David Pearey

Premier               Ralph T. O'Neal

ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS:- British Virgin Islands are divided into 5 administrative divisions.

CULTURE:- Cricket, football and basketball are the most popular sports in the islands. The traditional music of the island is fungi, which is a blend of African and European music. Calabash, washboard, bongos and ukulele are the traditional musical instruments of Virgin Islands.

ECONOMY:- Tourism and financial services are the backbones of the small, prosperous economy of the islands. Tourism provides 45% of the national income. It has one of the most stable economies of the Caribbean region.

GDP/PPP (2004 est.): $2.498 billion; per capita $38,500.

Real growth rate: 1%.

Inflation: 2.5% (2003).

Unemployment: 3% (1995).

Arable land: 20%.

Agriculture: Fruits, vegetables; livestock, poultry; fish.

Budget:  

Revenues: $204.7 million

Expenditures: $180.4 million (2004)

Debt - external: $36.1 million (1997)

Labor force: 12,770 (2004).

Industries: Tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete block, offshore financial center.

Natural resources: Negl.

Exports: $25.3 million (2002): rum, fresh fish, fruits, animals; gravel, sand.

Imports: $187 million (2002 est.): building materials, automobiles, foodstuffs, machinery.

Major trading partners: Virgin Islands (U.S.), Puerto Rico, U.S. (2004).

Monetary unit: U.S. dollar

LANGUAGE:- English is the official language of the British Virgin Islands.

CITIES:- Road Town is the capital of the archipelago.

POPULATION:- The estimated population of the British Virgin Islands is 24,004 (July 2008 est.) with an average growth rate of 1.875%.

Density per sq mi: 391

Literacy rate: 97.8% (1991 est.).

RACE:-

Black 83.4%

White 7%

Mixed 5.4%

Indian 3.4%

Other 0.8% (1991

RELIGION:-

Protestant 86% (Methodist 33%, Anglican 17%, Church of God 9%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6%, Baptist 4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2%, other 15%)

Roman Catholic 10%

Other 2%

None 2% (1991)

HEALTH:-

Birth rate: 14.75 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate: 4.46 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate: total: 15.54 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.06 years

Total fertility rate: 1.72 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA

UNICEF:- UNICEF in the nation is focusing on the child protection on the issues like adoption of children, the legal status of children, advocacy and juvenile justice. UNICEF is rigorously working to set back teenage mothers to school to complete their education. Awareness campaigns are organized to make the youth aware on the HIV as well as sample lessons are tested in pilot schools of the region. UNICEF also fights against child labour, and violence against children. The Eastern Caribbean region is free from Measles, polio and smallpox.

TRANSPORTATION:-

Railways: 0 km.

Highways: total: 177 km; paved: 177 km; unpaved: 0 km (2000).

Ports and harbors: Road Town.

Airports: 3 (2002).