ITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
General
1. The British Virgin Islands consist of a group of 36 mostly uninhabited
islands, situated some 50 miles east of Puerto Rico. The estimated popu-
lation for mid-1979 is 11,400 with an estimated growth rate of 1.7% and the
total land area approximately 59 square miles. The largest island is
Tortola on which lies the capital, Road Town, where some 35% of the popu-
lation lives. Other main islands are Anegada, Virgin Gorda and
Jost Van Dyke. All the islands except Anegada are hilly, there are no
rivers or stands of forests but there are remnants of primeval rain forest
on Tortola.
2. The islands were discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1493, and about
100 years later were occupied by Dutch and then English buccaneers. In the
1670s the Governor of the Leeward Islands annexed Tortola to the British
Crown and English planters settled on Virgin Gorda. They became a Presi-
dency under the Federation of the Leeward Islands created in 1872, and when
this was dissolved in 1956 they became a separate colony but continued to
be administered by the Governor of the Leeward Islands until 1960.
Political
3.
The British Virgin Islands are an internally self-governing dependent
territory with a ministerial system of government. The new constitution,
introduced in 1977, provides for an Executive Council of a Chief Minister,
two Ministers and the Attorney General. Provision has recently been made
for the creation of a further Ministerial post. There is a Legislative
Council comprising 9 elected members and the Attorney General. Elections
are held at intervals of not more than 5 years, with the last one being
held in 1975 and the next due to take place in October/November 1979.
There are political parties.
Economic
4.
The economy of the BVI expanded rapidly in the 1960s when the growth
rate was one of the highest in the Caribbean. This declined marginally
from 1970, but 1976 showed signs of increased economic activity especially
in the areas of tourism, agriculture and fishing. Tourism continues to be
the mainstay of the economy and looks to be set to continue growing.
/UK Aid
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