British Virgin Islands 3469 225695236 2008-07-14T23:09:23Z CarsracBot 6929011 robot Modifying: [[be-x-old:Брытанскія Вірґінскія выспы]] {{Infobox Country |native_name = British Virgin Islands |common_name = British Virgin Islands |image_flag = Flag of the British Virgin Islands.svg|125px |image_coat = Coat of Arms of the British Virgin Islands.svg|100px |image_map = LocationBritishVirginIslands.png |national_motto = ''"Vigilate"''{{spaces|2}}<small>([[Latin]])<br/>"Be Watchful"</small> |national_anthem = "[[God Save the Queen]]" |official_languages = [[English language|English]] |ethnic_groups = 83.36% [[Black people|African]],<br>7.28% [[British people|British]], [[Portuguese people|Portuguese]],<br>5.38% [[Multiracial]],<br>3.14% [[East Indian]],<br>0.84% Others |capital = [[Road Town]] <!--|latd=18 |latm=21 |latNS=N |longd=64 |longm=56 |longEW=W--> |largest_city = |government_type = [[British Overseas Territory]] |leader_title1 = Head of State |leader_name1 = [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Queen Elizabeth II]] |leader_title2 = [[Governor of the British Virgin Islands|Governor]] |leader_name2 = [[David Pearey]] |leader_title3 = [[Heads of Government of the British Virgin Islands|Premier]] |leader_name3 = [[Ralph T. O'Neal]] |sovereignty_type = [[British Overseas Territory]] |established_event1 = Separate |established_date1 = 1960 |established_event2 = Autonomous&nbsp;territory |established_date2 = 1967 |area_rank = 216th |area_magnitude = 1 E8 |area_km2 = 153 |area_sq_mi = 59 |percent_water = 1.6 |population_estimate = |population_estimate_rank = |population_estimate_year = |population_census = 22,016 |population_census_year = 2005 |population_density_km2 = 260 |population_density_sq_mi = 673 |population_density_rank = 68th |GDP_PPP = |GDP_PPP_rank = |GDP_PPP_year = |GDP_PPP_per_capita = $43,366 |GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = |HDI = |HDI_rank = |HDI_year = |HDI_category = |currency = [[United States dollar|U.S. dollar]] |currency_code = USD |country_code = |time_zone = Q |utc_offset = -4 |time_zone_DST = not observed |utc_offset_DST = -4 |cctld = [[.vg]] |calling_code = 1 284 }} The '''British Virgin Islands''' ('''BVI''') is a [[British overseas territory]], located in the [[Caribbean]] to the east of [[Puerto Rico]]. The islands make up part of the [[Virgin Islands|Virgin Islands archipelago]], the remaining islands constituting the [[United States Virgin Islands|U.S. Virgin Islands]]. Technically the name of the Territory is simply the "Virgin Islands", but in practice since 1917 they have been almost universally referred to as the "British Virgin Islands" to distinguish the islands from the American Territory.<ref>British Virgin Islands government publications had traditionally continued to commence with "The Territory of the Virgin Islands", but recently, more and more legislation now simply refers to the Territory as the British Virgin Islands. The Interpretation Act (Cap 136) (1985) defines the "Territory" as simply the "Virgin Islands"; but the Insolvency Act, 2003 defines a "foreign company" as 'a body corporate that is incorporated, registered or formed outside the ''British Virgin Islands''.'</ref> To add to the regional confusion, the Puerto Rican islands of [[Culebra, Puerto Rico|Culebra]], [[Vieques, Puerto Rico|Vieques]] and surrounding islands began referring to themselves as the "[[Spanish Virgin Islands]]" as part of a tourism drive in the early 2000s. The British Virgin Islands consist of the main islands of [[Tortola]], [[Virgin Gorda]], [[Anegada]] and [[Jost Van Dyke]], along with over fifty other smaller islands and [[cay]]s. Approximately fifteen of the islands are inhabited. The largest island, Tortola, is approximately 20&nbsp;[[Kilometre|km]] (approx. 12&nbsp;[[Mile|mi]]) long and 5&nbsp;km (approx. 3&nbsp;mi) wide. The islands have a total population of about 22,000, of whom approximately 18,000 live on Tortola. [[Road Town]], the capital, is situated on Tortola. ==History== {{main|History of the British Virgin Islands}} The Virgin Islands were first settled by the [[Arawak]] from [[South America]] around 100 BC (though there is some evidence of [[Amerindian]] presence on the islands as far back as 1500 BC).<ref>Wilson, Samuel M. ed. ''The Indigenous People of the Caribbean''. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 1997. ISBN 0813016924</ref> The Arawaks inhabited the islands until the fifteenth century when they were displaced by the more aggressive [[Caribs]], a tribe from the [[Lesser Antilles]] islands, after whom the [[Caribbean Sea]] is named. The first European sighting of the Virgin Islands was by [[Christopher Columbus]] in 1493 on his second voyage to the Americas. Columbus gave them the fanciful name ''Santa Ursula y las Once Mil Vírgenes'' (Saint Ursula and her 11,000 Virgins), shortened to ''Las Vírgenes'' (The Virgins), after the legend of [[Saint Ursula]]. The [[Spanish Empire]] claimed the islands by discovery in the early sixteenth century, but never settled them, and subsequent years saw the English, Dutch, French, Spanish and Danish all jostling for control of the region, which became a notorious haunt for pirates. There is no record of any native Amerindian population in the British Virgin Islands during this period, although the native population on nearby [[Saint Croix, United States Virgin Islands|St. Croix]] was decimated. The [[Netherlands|Dutch]] established a permanent settlement on the island of [[Tortola]] by 1648. In 1672, the [[England|English]] captured Tortola from the Dutch, and the British annexation of [[Anegada]] and [[Virgin Gorda]] followed in 1680. Meanwhile, over the period 1672&ndash;1733, the Danish gained control of the nearby islands of [[Saint Thomas, United States Virgin Islands|St. Thomas]], [[Saint John, United States Virgin Islands|St. John]] and [[Saint Croix|St. Croix]]. The British islands were considered principally a strategic possession, but were planted when economic conditions were particularly favourable. The British introduced [[sugar cane]] which was to become the main crop and source of foreign trade, and slaves were brought from [[Africa]] to work on the sugar cane plantations. The islands prospered economically until the middle of the 1800s, when a combination of the [[Slavery in the British Virgin Islands|abolition of slavery in the Territory]], a series of disastrous hurricanes, and the growth in the [[sugar beet]] crop in Europe and the [[United States]]<ref>In the United Kingdom, a major market for sugar from the Territory, the [[Sugar Duties Act 1846]] also created a considerable downward effect on the price of Caribbean sugar cane.</ref> significantly reduced sugar cane production and led to a period of economic decline. In 1917, the [[United States]] purchased St. John, St. Thomas and St. Croix from Denmark for US$25 million, renaming them the [[United States Virgin Islands]]. The British Virgin Islands were administered variously as part of the [[British Leeward Islands]] or with [[St. Kitts and Nevis]], with an Administrator representing the British Government on the Islands. Separate colony status was gained for the Islands in 1960 and the Islands became autonomous in 1967. Since the 1960s, the Islands have diversified away from their traditionally agriculture-based economy towards tourism and financial services, becoming one of the richest areas in the Caribbean. ==Geography== [[Image:BritishVirginIsland map.png|thumb|right|300px|Map of British Virgin Islands]] {{main|Geography of the British Virgin Islands}} The British Virgin Islands comprise around sixty semi-tropical Caribbean islands, ranging in size from the largest, Tortola 20&nbsp;[[Kilometre|km]] (approx. 12&nbsp;[[Mile|mi]]) long and 5&nbsp;km (approx. 3&nbsp;mi) wide, to tiny uninhabited islets. They are located in the [[Virgin Islands|Virgin Islands archipelago]], a few miles east of the [[U.S. Virgin Islands]]. The [[Atlantic Ocean|North Atlantic Ocean]] lies to the north of the islands, and the [[Caribbean Sea]] lies to the south. Most of the islands are volcanic in origin and have a hilly, rugged terrain. Anegada is geologically distinct from the rest of the group and is a flat island composed of limestone and coral. In addition to the four main islands of [[Tortola]], [[Virgin Gorda]], [[Anegada]], and [[Jost Van Dyke]], other islands include: {{columns |col1 = *[[Beef Island]] *[[Cooper Island (British Virgin Islands)|Cooper Island]] *[[Ginger Island]] *[[Great Camanoe]] *[[Great Thatch]] *[[Guana Island]] |col2 = *[[Mosquito Island]] *[[Necker Island (British Virgin Islands)|Necker Island]] *[[Norman Island]] *[[Peter Island]] *[[Salt Island, British Virgin Islands|Salt Island]] }} See also [[Template:British Virgin Islands|Islands of the British Virgin Islands]]. ==Climate== The British Virgin Islands enjoy a tropical climate, moderated by [[trade wind]]s. Temperatures vary little throughout the year. In the capital, [[Road Town]], typical daily maxima are around 32 °[[Celsius|C]] (90 °[[Fahrenheit|F]]) in the summer and 29 °C (84 °F) in the winter. Typical daily minima are around 24 °[[Celsius|C]] (75 °[[Fahrenheit|F]]) in the summer and 21 °C (70 °F) in the winter. Rainfall averages about 1150&nbsp;mm (45&nbsp;in) per year, higher in the hills and lower on the coast. Rainfall can be quite variable, but the wettest months on average are September to November and the driest months on average are February and March. Hurricanes occasionally hit the islands, with the hurricane season running from June to November. ==Politics== {{main|Politics of the British Virgin Islands}} [[Image:Flag of the OECS.svg|thumb|left|160px|The British Virgin Islands is an associated member of the [[Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States|OECS]].]] Executive authority in British Virgin Islands is invested in [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|The Queen]] and is exercised on her behalf by the [[Governor of the British Virgin Islands]]. The Governor is appointed by the Queen on the advice of the [[British Government]]. Defence and Foreign Affairs remain the responsibility of the United Kingdom. A new constitution was adopted in 2007 (the Virgin Islands Constitution Order, 2007<ref>[http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/em2007/uksiem_20071678_en.pdf Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007]</ref>) and came into force when the [[Legislative Council of the British Virgin Islands|Legislative Council]] was dissolved for the [[British Virgin Islands general election, 2007|2007 general election]]. The Head of Government under the new constitution is the [[Premier of the British Virgin Islands|Premier]] (prior to the new constitution the office was referred to as [[Chief Minister of the British Virgin Islands|Chief Minister]]), who is elected in a general election along with the other members of the ruling government as well as the members of the opposition. An Executive Council is nominated by the Premier and appointed by the Governor. There is a [[unicameral]] [[Legislative Council]] made up of 13 seats. The current Governor is [[David Pearey]] (since 2006). The current Premier is [[Ralph T. O'Neal]] (since [[August 22]], [[2007]]). ==Subdivisions== {{main|Districts of the British Virgin Islands}} ==Economy== [[Image:Roadtown, Tortola.jpg|thumb|right|250px|[[Road Town]], Tortola, British Virgin Islands]] {{main|Economy of the British Virgin Islands}} The British Virgin Islands enjoys one of the more prosperous economies of the Caribbean region, with a per capita [[Gross Domestic Product|GDP]] of around $38,500 (2004 est.)<ref>CIA. [https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/vi.html#Econ Economy: British Virgin Islands]. The World Factbook, CIA publications, 19 December. 2006. Retrieved 25 December. 2006.</ref> In the British Virgin Islands it has long been fashionable to talk about the "twin pillars" of the Territory's economy – tourism and financial services. Politically, tourism is the more important of the two, as it employs a greater number of people within the Territory, and a larger proportion of the businesses in the tourist industry are locally owned, as are a number of the highly tourism-dependent sole traders (e.g. taxi drivers and street vendors). Economically, however, financial services are by far the more important. Nearly 50% of the Government's revenue comes directly from licence fees for offshore companies, and considerable further sums are raised directly or indirectly from payroll taxes relating to salaries paid within the trust industry sector (which tend to be higher on average than those paid in the tourism sector). [[Tourism]] accounts for 45% of national income. The islands are a popular destination for U.S. citizens, with around 350,000 tourists visiting annually (1997 figures). Tourists frequent the numerous white sand [[beach]]es, visit The Baths on Virgin Gorda, [[Submarine snorkel|snorkel]] the [[coral reef]]s near Anegada, or experience the well-known bars of Jost Van Dyke. The BVI are known as one of the world's greatest sailing destinations, and charter sailboats are a very popular way to visit less accessible islands. A substantial number of the tourists who visit the BVI are [[cruise ship]] passengers, although they produce far lower revenue per head than charter boat tourists and hotel based tourists. They are nonetheless important to the substantial (and politically important) taxi driving community. Substantial revenues are also generated by the registration of [[Offshore company|offshore companies]]. As of 2004, over 550,000 companies were so registered. In 2000 KPMG reported in its survey of [[Tax haven|offshore jurisdictions]] for the [[United Kingdom]] government that over 41% of the world's offshore companies were formed in the British Virgin Islands. Since 2001, financial services in the British Virgin Islands have been regulated by the independent [[British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission|Financial Services Commission]]. Agriculture and industry account for only a small proportion of the islands' GDP. Agricultural produce includes fruit, vegetables, sugar cane, livestock and poultry, and industries include rum distillation, construction and boatbuilding. Since 1959, the official currency of the British Virgin Islands has been the [[United States dollar|US dollar]], also used by the [[United States Virgin Islands]]. The British Virgin Islands are a major target for drug traffickers, who use the area as a gateway to the United States. According to the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, drug trafficking is "potentially the most serious threat to stability in the BVI".<ref>[http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1007029394365&a=KCountryProfile&aid=1018965234868 British Virgin Islands Country Profile], Foreign & Commonwealth Office</ref> ==Demographics== [[Image:Tortola.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Tortola, British Virgin Islands]] {{main|Demographics of the British Virgin Islands}} The population of the Islands is around 21,730 at 2003. The majority of the population (83%) are [[Afro-Caribbean]], descended from the slaves brought to the islands by the British. Other large ethnic groups include those of British and other European origin. The 1999 census reports: : 83.36% Black : {{spaces|2}}7.28% White* : {{spaces|2}}5.38% Mixed : {{spaces|2}}3.14% East Indian : {{spaces|2}}0.84% Others {{smaller|* includes British, Portuguese, and Syrian/Lebanese.}} The islands are predominantly [[Protestant]] [[Christian]] (86%). The largest individual Christian denominations are [[Methodist]] (33%), [[Anglican]] (17%), and the [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic]] (10%). ==Transport== {{main|Transport in the British Virgin Islands}} There are {{convert|113|km|mi|0}} of roads. The main airport ([[Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport]], also known as Beef Island Airport) is located on Beef Island, which lies off the eastern tip of Tortola. Virgin Gorda and Anegada have their own smaller airports. The main harbour is in [[Road Town]]. There are also ferries that operate within the British Virgin Islands and also to the neighbouring United States Virgin Islands. As in the rest of the [[UK]] traffic in the British Virgin Islands cars drive on the left side of the road. ==Education== The British Virgin Islands operates several government schools as well as private schools. There is also a community college, Hamilton Lavity Stoutt Community College that is located on the eastern end of Tortola. This college was named after the late Honourable Lavity Stoutt (chief minister). [http://www.bvi.gov.vg/products.asp?iProd=35&iCat=12&hierarchy=0] ==Sport== {{seealso|Cricket in the West Indies}} ==Music== {{main|Music of the Virgin Islands}} The traditional music of the British Virgin Islands is called ''fungi'' after the local [[cornmeal]] dish with the same name, often made with [[okra]]. The special sound of fungi is due to a unique local fusion between African and European music. It functions as a medium of local history and folklore and is therefore a cherished cultural form of expression that is part of the curriculum in BVI schools. The fungi bands, also called "scratch bands", use instruments ranging from [[calabash]], washboard, [[bongos]] and [[ukulele]], to more traditional western instruments like keyboard, banjo, guitar, bass, triangle and saxophone. Apart from being a form of festive dance music, fungi often contains humorous social commentaries, as well as BVI oral history.<ref>Penn, Dexter J.A. [http://dexterpenn.smugmug.com/gallery/4068409 Music of the British Virgin Islands: Fungi]. Retrieved 13 January 2008.</ref> ==See also== {{portalpar|British Virgin Islands|Flag of the British Virgin Islands.svg}} * [[List of British Virgin Islands-related topics]] * [[Communications on the British Virgin Islands]] * [[Culture of the Virgin Islands]] * [[Demographics of the British Virgin Islands]] * [[Military of the British Virgin Islands]] * [[Music of the Virgin Islands]] * [[Politics of the British Virgin Islands]] * [[Virgin Islands Creole]] ==References== <div class="references-small"> * {{cite web |url=http://www.un.org/Depts/dpi/decolonization/trust3.htm |title=Non-Self-Governing Territories listed by General Assembly in 2002 |work=United Nations Special Committee of 24 on Decolonization |accessmonthday=10 March |accessyear=2005}} <references/> </div> ==External links== {{sisterlinks|British Virgin Islands}} '''Official sites and overviews''' * [http://www.bvi.gov.vg The Government of the British Virgin Islands] (official government site)<!---Site was offline as of Dec 25, 2006; back online by May 1, 2007---> * [http://www.bvi.org.uk/the_london_office.asp The Government of the BVI, London Office] &mdash; Official government site * [http://www.bvitouristboard.com British Virgin Islands: Nature's Little Secrets] &mdash; Official site of the British Virgin Islands Tourist Board *[http://www.bvivacation.com British Virgin Islands Most Informative Tourism Guide] &mdash; Official, #1 online Tourism Guide of the BVI * [http://www.bviwelcome.com/ The British Virgin Islands Welcome] &mdash; Official, bi-monthly BVI Tourist Board publication * [http://www.bviports.org/ The British Virgin Islands Ports Authority] &mdash; Official site * [http://www.bvinationalparkstrust.org/ National Parks Trust of the British Virgin Islands] &mdash; Official site * [http://www.bvifsc.vg/ British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission] &mdash; Official site *{{CIA World Factbook link|vi|British Virgin Islands}} '''News and media''' * [http://www.bviplatinum.com/ BVI Platinum News] &mdash; First Daily Online News, Weather & More of the British Virgin Islands * [http://www.bvinews.com/ BVI News] &mdash; Daily News (Online) of the British Virgin Islands * [http://www.islandsun.com/ The Island Sun] &mdash; Weekly newspaper of the British Virgin Islands * [http://www.bvibeacon.com/main/ The BVI Beacon] &mdash; Weekly newspaper of the British Virgin Islands * [http://www.bvistandpoint.net/ BVI Standpoint] &mdash; Weekly newspaper of the British Virgin Islands '''Directories''' *{{wikitravel}} * [http://dmoz.org/Regional/Caribbean/British_virgin_Islands Open Directory Project &mdash; ''British Virgin Islands''] directory category {{Template group |title = Geographic locale |list = {{Countries and territories of the Caribbean}} {{Countries of North America}} {{coor title dm|18|30|N|64|30|W|}} }} {{Template group |title = International membership |list = {{Caribbean Community (CARICOM)|state=collapsed}} {{Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS)|state=collapsed}} {{British dependencies}} {{Outlying territories of European countries|state=collapsed}} {{Territories of the British Empire}} }} <!--Categories--> [[Category:British Virgin Islands| ]] [[Category:Divided regions|Virgin Islands, British]] [[Category:English-speaking countries and territories]] [[Category:Special territories of the European Union]] [[Category:Former Dutch colonies]] <!--Other languages--> [[ar:الجزر العذراء البريطانية]] [[an:Islas Birchens Britanicas]] [[frp:Iles Vièrges britaniques]] [[zh-min-nan:Britain Virgin Kûn-tó]] [[be-x-old:Брытанскія Вірґінскія выспы]] [[bs:Britanska Djevičanska ostrva]] [[bg:Британски Вирджински острови]] [[ca:Illes Verges Britàniques]] [[cs:Britské Panenské ostrovy]] [[da:Britiske Jomfruøer]] [[de:Britische Jungferninseln]] [[dv:ބިރިޓިޝް ވާޖިން ޖަޒީރާ]] [[dsb:Britaniske kněžniske kupy]] [[et:Briti Neitsisaared]] [[el:Βρετανικές Παρθένοι Νήσοι]] [[es:Islas Vírgenes Británicas]] [[eo:Britaj Virgulininsuloj]] [[eu:Birjina uharte britainiarrak]] [[fr:Îles Vierges britanniques]] [[ga:Oileáin Bhriotanacha na Maighdean]] [[gl:Illas Virxes Británicas - British Virgin Islands]] [[ko:영국령 버진아일랜드]] [[hi:ब्रिटिश वर्जिन द्वीप-समूह]] [[hr:Britanski Djevičanski otoci]] [[io:Virgin-Insuli Britana]] [[bpy:ব্রিটিশ ভার্জিন দ্বীপমালা]] [[id:Kepulauan Virgin Britania Raya]] [[is:Bresku Jómfrúaeyjar]] [[it:Isole Vergini britanniche]] [[he:איי הבתולה הבריטיים]] [[jv:Kapuloan Virgin Britania Raya]] [[kk:Британ Вирджин Аралдары]] [[kw:Ynysow an Wyrghes Predennek]] [[sw:Visiwa vya Virgin vya Uingereza]] [[lv:Britu Virdžīnu salas]] [[lt:Mergelių Salos (Didžioji Britanija)]] [[lij:Isoe Vergini Britanneghe]] [[hu:Brit Virgin-szigetek]] [[ms:Kepulauan Virgin British]] [[nl:Britse Maagdeneilanden]] [[ja:イギリス領ヴァージン諸島]] [[no:De britiske jomfruøyene]] [[nn:Dei britiske Jomfruøyane]] [[nov:Britani Virja Isles]] [[pl:Brytyjskie Wyspy Dziewicze]] [[pt:Ilhas Virgens Britânicas]] [[ro:Insulele Virgine Britanice]] [[ru:Британские Виргинские острова]] [[sq:Ishujt e Virgjër Britanikë]] [[simple:British Virgin Islands]] [[sk:Britské Panenské ostrovy]] [[sl:Britanski Deviški otoki]] [[sr:Британска Девичанска острва]] [[sh:Britanski Djevičanski otoci]] [[fi:Brittiläiset Neitsytsaaret]] [[sv:Brittiska Jungfruöarna]] [[ta:பிரித்தானிய கன்னித் தீவுகள்]] [[th:หมู่เกาะบริติชเวอร์จิน]] [[vi:Quần đảo Virgin thuộc Anh]] [[tr:Birleşik Krallık Virgin Adaları]] [[uk:Британські Віргінські острови]] [[zh:英屬維爾京群島]]