West Indies
(BRITISH AND COMMONWEALTH TERRITORIES IN THE EAST CARIBBEAN, WEST INDIES ASSOCIATED STATES, INDEPENDENT STATES)
BRITISH AND COMMONWEALTH TERRITORIES IN THE EAST CARIBBEAN
The Islands in the East Caribbean presently or formerly administered by the UK full geographically into two groups and were administered as two separato unita until 1960. The Leeward Islands group consists of Antigua, with Barbuda and Redonda: St. Christopher, Nevis and Anguilla; Mont- sorrut; and the British Virgin Islands. The second group is known as the Windward Islands and consits of Dominica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and Grenada, together with smallor islands known as the Grenadines which lie between St. Vincent and Grenada, those to the north forming part of St. Vincont and those to the south forming part of Grenada. Although the administrative groupings of the Looward and Windward Islands were dissolved in 1956 and separato colonies established, they continued to be administored by two Governors until 1960 when these offices wore abolished. The Queon's representative was subsoquently an Admini- strator in each colony.
In 1958 the Federation of the West Indies was formed comprising almost all the Caribbean Islands which were at that time dependencies of Britain. Tho federation was dissolved in 1962 following the withdrawal of Jamaica and Trinidad and Tolmgo which thon proceeded to Independenco. Several of the other island states have become independent since then: Barbados in 1966, Bahamas in 1973, Grenada in 1974, Dominica in 1978 and St. Lucia in 1979.
WEST INDIES ASSOCIATED STATES General Introduction
The West Indios Associated States, set up under the West Judics Act of 1967 originally comprised Antigua, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla und St. Lucia. They were joined in 1969 by St. Vincent.
Following the dissolution of the West Indies Fedoration und the failure of their proposed federation of the "Littlo Eight" of the Eastern Caribbean, Associuted Statehood provided a means of constitutional advance for these small islands without going as far as sovereign independenco.
The Associated States have full internal autonomy. The British Government retain responsibility for matters relating to defence and external affairs, but have delegated respousi- bility in curtain artaus, particularly regional affairs and tendo, Each Stato hus the right and ability (subject to certain safeguards) to advanco unilaterally to full indepondenco. The United Kingdom also may terininate the association by Order in Council under the West Indies Act.
The constitutions of all the States except Antigua provido for the exercise of government through à Parliament com- prising Tho Queon and an elected House of Assembly. Parliament in Antigun comprises The Queen, an appointed Senate and an elected House of Representatives. Executivo Government is exercised in each state through a cabinot presided over by a Premier. The Queen is represented by Governor in each Stato.
ANTIGUA
Antigua was discovered in 1493 by Christopher Columbus who named it after a church in Sevillo called Santa Maria do la Antigua. Sugar was for many years the dominant crop but for a number of reasons it was discontinued in 1972. Considerable agricultural dovelopment is in hand to replace sugar, including livestock, se island cotton, improved vegetable and fruit production. Tourisin is an important fenture of the economy. In mid-1977 the population was 72,451 and GNP per capita US$ 890. Revenuo and expondi- turo in 1977 were US$ 31-1 in and US$ 44-1 m respectively. International tourism accounted directly for 16 por cont of GDP and indirectly for about as much again.
ST. KITTS-NEVIS-ANGUILLA
The islands were discovered by Columbus in 1493. St. Kitts (St. Christopher) was the first Island in the West Indies to be colonized by the British. The three islands wore united by Federal Act in 1882. Anguilla is formally a part of the Associated State of St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla but hos & separate Constitution and Ministerial form of government midor HM Commissioner as provided for in the Anguilla (Constitution) Order 1976. In 1977 the population of St. Kitts-Nevis was 49,663 and the per capita GNP was US$ 650. The figures for revenue and expenditure for 1977 were US$ 16-7 m und US$ 24-4 m respectively. Sugar accounted for 58.8 per cent of merchandise exports.
ST. VINCENT
St. Vincent is situated 24 miles to the south-west of St. Lucia and 100 miles west of Barbados. It is 18 miles in longth and 11 miles in breadth and covers an area of 150 sq. miles. The State includes, in addition to the main island of St. Vincent, a number of the Grenadino group of islands to the south, the principal one of which is Boquia, Tho estimated population in 1977 was 103,096. About 23,645 of these lived in the capital, Kingstown. The por capita GNP was US $330. Revenue and expenditure in 1977 wero US $15-4 m and US $32-9 in respectively. Bananas formed 55-6 per cent of merchandise exports. The volcano la Soufriero orupted in April 1979 causing widespread damage to crops and nocessitating an evacuation of the northern part of the island for several weeks.
DEPENDENT TERRITORIES OF THE UK
Both the British Virgin Islands and Montserrat have consti- tutions which provide a incusure of local autonomy just short of internal self-government but with a full Ministeriul system. The Governor in each case is appointed by the Crown and remains responsible for defence and internal security external affairs, the civil service and administration of the courts but is normally bound to net in accordanco with tho advice of the Executive Council.
BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
The Virgin Islands were discovered in 1493 by Columbus who named them after St. Ursula and her 11,000 virgins. Thoy are an archipelago adjacent to Puorto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. There are 36 islands and islets of which 11 are uninhabited, the largest being Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada and Jost Van Dyke with a total estimated popula- tion of 11,400 (mid-1979). The estimated figures for revenue and expenditure for 1978 are US $7,499,092 and US $6,307,579 respectively. GDP was estimated at $28 m in 1976, per empita income at $1,900 in the same your. In the first half of 1975, tourist spending was about $6-6 m. The capital is Road Town, Tortola. The major industry is tourism, in particular yucht chartering, which contributes considerably to the territory's gross national output.
MONTSERRAT
The island was discovered by Columbus in 1493 and named by him after a famous mountain in Spain. It is situated 27 miles west of Antigua and is about 11 miles in longth and 17 miles in breadth; it has a population of 13,000. Tourism and construction are the main industries, tourisın being closely rolated to roal estate construction. Considerable effort is being made to redevelop the agricultural industry. Imports for 1976 were $20,803,000. Valuo of the muin domestic exports for 1974 amounted to $490,000. Tho figures for revenue and expenditure in 1977 were $7,494,000 and $377,000 respectively.
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