British Virgin Islands
The British Virgin Islands (English: British Virgin Islands) are a British Overseas Territory located east of Puerto Rico, in offshore waters Caribbean. The islands are part of the Virgin Islands archipelago, with the other islands being part of the United States Virgin Islands and the Spanish Virgin Islands belonging to Puerto Rico.
The official name of the Territory is "Virgin Islands," and the term "British" It is generally used to distinguish them from other neighboring territories belonging to the archipelago. Territory government publications continue to put "The Territory of the Virgin Islands" and in passports it only refers to the "Virgin Islands".
The archipelago is made up of about forty islands, eleven of which are inhabited. The largest are Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada, and Jost Van Dyke. The population of the archipelago is 27,800 inhabitants, 23,000 living on the island of Tortola.
History
The islands were first inhabited by Arawak Indians from South America around 100 B.C. C. They were the only inhabitants of the archipelago until the XV century, when they had to flee from the Caribs, the most aggressive tribe native to South America that spread through the Lesser Antilles- and whose name gave rise to the Caribbean Sea.
In 1493, Christopher Columbus landed on the islands on his second voyage. Spain colonized the islands in the early 16th century century, using them primarily to extract copper from Virgin Gorda. The Dutch established a permanent settlement on the island of Tortola in 1648. In 1672, the English arrived in the region and annexed the archipelago, expelling the Dutch population from Tortola that same year, and from Anegada and Virgin Gorda in 1680.
The British introduced sugarcane to the islands, which became the main crop and source of income for foreign trade. Slaves were brought from Africa to work on these plantations. The islands prospered economically until the growth of the beet crops in Europe and the United States, when the demand for sugar cane was greatly reduced.
The English, Dutch, French, Spanish and Danish take control of the archipelago for the next two hundred years; In the end, the British expel the Dutch, definitively occupying Virgin Gorda and Tortola.
At the end of the 17th century England owned Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada and other islands that now make up the British Virgin Islands, Spain kept Vieques and La Culebra, while Denmark had the rest of the Virgins (Saint John, Saint Thomas and Saint Croix). The II.VV.BB. they were somewhat more strategic for the British, but were planted when economic conditions were particularly favourable.
In 1898 the United States seized the Spanish Virgin Islands. Then in 1917, the United States purchased Saint John, Saint Thomas, and Saint Croix from the Danes for $17 million, renaming them the "United States Virgin Islands" ("United States Virgin Islands"). Then, the unofficial name "British Virgin Islands" began to be used.
The islands were administered by various bodies as part of the Colony of the Leeward Islands and also within Saint Kitts and Nevis, with an administrator representing the British Government in the archipelago. Separate colony status was achieved in 1960 and they became autonomous in 1967. Since the 1960s, the islands have diversified the economy away from traditional agriculture towards tourism and financial services, making them one of the wealthiest areas in the Caribbean.
Government and politics
Executive power in the British Virgin Islands is shared between Charles III of the United Kingdom who is represented by a Governor General appointed directly by him on the advice of the British Government and the Premier of the British Virgin Islands who is elected by the House of the assembly. Defense and foreign affairs are under the responsibility of the United Kingdom.
Legislative power is vested in the House of Assembly, which is composed of 15 members, 13 are directly elected and two are ex officio members (attorney general and the president of the House).
The current Governor is Augustus Jaspert (since August 2017) and the Premier is Andrew Fahie (since February 26, 2019).
It is one of the seventeen Non-Self-Governing Territories under the supervision of the United Nations Committee on Decolonization, in order to eliminate colonialism.
Geography
The British Virgin Islands comprise approximately fifty small Caribbean islands; around fifteen are inhabited. Located a few miles east of the US Virgin Islands, the North Atlantic Ocean lies to the north and the Caribbean Sea to the south.
The largest islands in the archipelago are Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada, and Jost Van Dyke. Road Town, the capital and largest city, is located on Tortola Island.
The highest peak is Pico de Sage at 512 meters.
Climate
The British Virgin Islands have a tropical climate, moderated by trade winds. Temperatures vary little throughout the year. In the capital Road Town the daily maximum temperatures are around 32°C in summer and 29°C in winter. Daily minimum temperatures are around 24°C in summer and 21°C in winter. Average rainfall is 1,150 mm per year. Rainfall can be highly variable but the rainiest months on average are from September to November and the driest months on average are February and March. Hurricanes occasionally hit the islands. Hurricane season runs from June to November.
 Average British Virgin Islands climate parameters | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Ene. | Feb. | Mar. | Open up. | May. | Jun. | Jul. | Ago. | Sep. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. | Annual |
| Temp. max. abs. (°C) | 32.8 | 31.7 | 31.7 | 35 | 33.9 | 35 | 35 | 35.6 | 35 | 33.3 | 32.8 | 30.6 | 35.6 |
| Average temperature (°C) | 26.1 | 26.7 | 27.8 | 28.9 | 29.4 | 30 | 30.6 | 30.6 | 30 | 29.4 | 27.8 | 26.7 | 28.7 |
| Temp. medium (°C) | 20 | 19.4 | 20 | 20.6 | 21.7 | 22.8 | 22.8 | 22.8 | 22.8 | 22.2 | 21.7 | 20.6 | 21.4 |
| Temp. min. abs. (°C) | 16.7 | 15.6 | 15.6 | 16.7 | 17.8 | 18.3 | 18.9 | 18.9 | 16.1 | 17.8 | 17.2 | 15.6 | 15.6 |
| Total precipitation (mm) | 74.2 | 63.2 | 55.4 | 84.6 | 116.6 | 70.6 | 83.1 | 111.8 | 156. | 133.4 | 178.8 | 111.8 | 1239.3 |
| Source: Intellicast | |||||||||||||
Flora and fauna
The forests on most of the islands consist of mahogany, fig, and fern trees. The islands of the Lesser Antilles are a paradise of tropical fruits with mango, papaya and coconut trees growing on their soil in abundance, they also contain numerous animals including lizards, monkeys and small lizards. On the islands of Tortola and Virgin Gorda. As a matter of fact, the name Tortola is derived from the 'land of turtle doves', the bird that symbolizes the British Virgin Islands. pigeons, herons, egrets, hawks and hummingbirds can be found on the islands. Marine life includes a wide variety of fish that swarm around the coral reefs and wrecks. In the winter, humpback whales come to breed in the Drake Channel.
Plants only found in Anegada are Acacia anegadensis and Metastelma anegadense, which are critically endangered due to climate change. Pitcairnia jareckii is a bromeliad known only from Guana Island, and the kiaerskov's lidflower was formerly also found in Puerto Rico, but now only survives on the islands of Virgin Gorda and Tortola.
The most spectacular reptile found in the critically endangered British Virgin Islands, the anegada iguana on the island of Anegada leaving possibly fewer than 200 iguanas in total on the brink of extinction. Just 32mm in length, the Virgin Islands Dwarf Gecko is one of the smallest vertebrate animals, which is unique to the British Virgin Islands: Virgin Gorda, Tortola, and Mosquito Island. Other reptiles unique to the islands include carrot rock found only on the islet south of Peter Island. The anegada skink found only on Anegada Island, and two blind snakes: Typhlops naugus and Typhlops catapontus.
The only endemic frog is the Virgin Islands Coqui, formerly living in the US Virgin Islands, but now only living on Jost Van Dyke Islands, Tortola, Virgin Gorda, and Great Dog Island.
The only invertebrates found in the British Virgin Islands are: the long-horned beetle, the butterfly Anegada callisto, the moth Perigea gloria, the braconid wasp, the goblin spiders and the Stenoonops tortola spider found on the islands of Virgin Gorda and Tortola; the caponiid spider, a centipede on the island of Tortola, and several shrimps: Pseudalpheopsis guana, Alpheus zimmermani and Microprosthema jareckii in Guana Island.
Economy
The economy of the British Virgin Islands (BVI) is one of the most prosperous of the Caribbean states, with a GDP per capita of around $38,500 (2004 est. GDP B.V.I). It rests on two main pillars: the registration of foreign companies (offshore financial services) and tourism.
BVIs are one of the main tax havens on the planet. It is estimated that some 800,000 offshore companies are registered in them, that is, companies that carry out their activities in other countries but are domiciled in the IVBs to take advantage of their more advantageous legislation. Offshore companies do not pay any tax in the IVBs, except for one small annual registration fee. It is estimated that 41% of the offshore companies on the planet are domiciled in BVIs (KPMG report published in 2000). The BVIs' trajectory as a tax haven began in 1984. leaked 2.5 million documents relating to BVI companies and accounts to the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. As a result of the secret information leak, the registration of new companies fell 23% in the last quarter of 2013.
The other important economic sector is tourism, which is estimated to contribute 45% of national income. The islands are a popular destination for US citizens, with around 350,000 tourists a year (1997 figures) flocking to the many white-sand beaches, visit the Baths of Virgin Gorda, scuba dive the nearby coral reefs from Anegada, experience the famous bars on Van Jost Dock, or charter yachts to explore the less accessible islands.
The economy is closely tied to that of the larger US Virgin Islands to the west. The currency of the BVIs has been, since 1959, the US dollar.
Lastly, the issuance of postage stamps for collectors was also historically important.
Transportation
There are 113 kilometers of roads. The main airport, Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport, also known as Beef Island Airport, is located on Beef Island, which is located on the eastern tip of Tortola and is accessible via the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge. Cape Air and Air Sunshine are among the airlines that offer scheduled service. Virgin Gorda and Anegada have their own smaller airports. Private air charter services operated by Island Birds Air Charter fly directly to the three islands from any major airport in the Caribbean. Helicopters are used to reach islands that lack airstrips; Antilles Helicopter Services is the only helicopter service based in the country.
The main port is in Road Town. There are also ferries that operate within the British Virgin Islands and to the neighboring US Virgin Islands. As in the United Kingdom and the United States Virgin Islands, cars in the British Virgin Islands drive on the left; however, almost all cars are left-hand drive, since they are imported from the United States. The roads are usually quite steep, narrow and winding, and rutting can be a problem when it rains.
Demographics
The islands' population is around 21,730 in 2003. The majority of the population (83%) is black, descendants of slaves brought to the islands by the British. Other major ethnic groups are those of British and European origin (2003 data).
According to the 1999 census, the population is structured as follows:
- 83.36% Black
- 16.64% White, mixed and others
According to 2003 statistics, the population amounts to about 21,730 people, most of whom are black (83%).
Religion
As in most Caribbean countries, Christianity is the dominant religion in the Virgin Islands, with over 90% of the population indicating a religious affiliation in the 2010 census being Christian, and the largest individual Christian denominations They were Methodist (18.1%), Anglican (9.8%) (the Anglican Communion (Church of the West Indies Province), Church of God (10.6%) and the Catholic Church (9.1%). Hindus and Muslims each make up about 1.2% of the population according to the 2005 World Religion Database.
In Denmark's territory a reflection of its colonial heritage, Protestantism is widespread. The strong Catholic presence is explained by the large Hispanic population, as well as the Irish influence during the Danish colonial era.
Languages
The primary language is British English, although there is a local dialect. Spanish is spoken by Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, and other Hispanic immigrants. Virgin Islands Creole, or Virgin Islands Creole English, is an English-based creole consisting of several varieties spoken in the Virgin Islands and on the nearby SSS islands of Saba, Saint Martin, and Saint Eustatius, where it is known as Saba English, St. Martin's English, and St. Eustatius English, respectively.
Education
The British Virgin Islands operates a school system identical to that used in the rest of the UK, where public and private schools coexist. There is also a community college, H. Lavity Stoutt Community College, which is located on the eastern tip of Tortola. This university was named after H. Lavity Stoutt (chief minister). The literacy rate of the British Virgin Islands is high, with more than 98% of the population over the age of ten knowing how to read and write.
Culture
Music
The traditional music of the British Virgin Islands is called okra, and is played by instruments called mushrooms. The special sound of the mushrooms is due to a unique fusion between local, African and European music. It functions as a medium for local history and folklore and is therefore a form of cultural expression, much loved by its inhabitants, which is part of the curriculum in schools in the British Virgin Islands. Mushroom bands, also called "scratch bands," employing instruments ranging from gourds, washboards, bongos and the ukulele, to more traditional Western instruments such as the keyboard, banjo, guitar, bass, triangle and saxophone. In addition to being a form of festive dance music, The Mushrooms often contains humorous social commentary, as well as oral history of the British Virgin Islands. Popular singer Iyaz is from the British Virgin Islands. In the music video for his song from Replay , he had the flag of the British Virgin Islands in the background.
Sports
Due to its climate and location, the British Virgin Islands have been a constant destination for sailors. In fact, athletes from the archipelago often have good results in international competitions. This is because the calm waters and constant breeze provide one of the best settings in the Caribbean for sailing. Many sailing championships are held each year in the country's waters, the Spring Regatta being the most important of them all.. As part of the British heritage, sports such as football and cricket are widely played. In fact, in the archipelago a soccer championship is organized annually.