Christopher Columbus named the islands “Santa Ursula y las Once Mil Vírgenes” (Saint Ursula and her 11,000 Virgins).
The name was later shortened to Las Vírgenes (The Virgins), after the legend of Saint Ursula.
Thus the islands came to be known as the Virgin Islands.
BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS CAPITAL CITY:
Road Town is the capital city of British Virgin Islands.
BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS CURRENCY:
U.S. dollar is the official currency of the British Virgin Islands.
BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS HISTORY:
The Arawak tribe was the first inhabitants of the Virgin Islands.
It is believed that the Amerindians lived on the islands as early as 1500 BC.
In the 15th century, the Caribs replaced the Arawaks.
Christopher Columbus explored the Virgin Islands in 1493 during his second voyage to the American continent.
The Spanish Empire claimed the islands by discovery in the early sixteenth century.
The English, Dutch, French, Spanish and Danish began looking for settlement opportunities.
The islands also became a hide-out for pirates.
There was no Amerindian population on the islands during this time.
The Dutch established a permanent settlement on the island of Tortola by 1648.
In 1672, the English captured Tortola from the Dutch.
In 1680, Anegada and Virgin Gorda were also annexed by the British.
During 1672–1733, the Danish took over the islands of St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix.
The British established sugarcane plantations on the islands as a source of foreign trade.
They shipped African slaves in large numbers to work on the plantations.
After the abolition of slavery and a series of hurricanes, the plantations suffered a major setback.
By 1800, sugar cane production had drastically reduced and gave way to a period of economic decline.
The United States bought St. John, St. Thomas and St. Croix from Denmark in 1917.
The islands were then named 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.
The islands achieved a separate colony status in 1960.
They were made autonomous in 1967.
The islands are one of the richest in the Caribbean owing to a booming tourism industry and financial services.
BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS DEMOGRAPHICS:
Majority of the population is of Afro-Caribbean origin (descendants of the slaves).
Protestant Christianity is the predominant religion.
The distribution of ethnic groups is as follows (1999 census):
83.36% Black
7.28% White
5.38% Mixed
3.14% East Indian
0.84% Others
BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS:
The Virgin Islands are an overseas territory of the UK.
They are controlled by an internal self-governing body.
Territory Day is observed on 1 July (1956) as a national holiday.
The Constitution was established on 13 June 2007.
The legal system is based on English Law.
Queen Elizabeth II is the chief of state since 1952.
She is represented by the Governor David Peary.
Premier Ralph T. O'Neal is head of government.
The cabinet consists of an Executive Council appointed by the governor from members of the House of Assembly.
The monarch is hereditary.
The governor is appointed by the monarch.
The leader of the majority party or coalition is usually appointed premier by the governor following a legislative election.
The legislative branch is represented by a unicameral House of Assembly consisting of 13 elected seats and 1 non-voting ex officio member in the attorney general.
Members are elected by direct popular vote.
The judicial branch comprises of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, consisting of the High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal; Magistrate's Court; Juvenile Court and the Court of Summary Jurisdiction.
BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS CULTURE:
The traditional music of the British Virgin Islands is called fungi after the local cornmeal dish.
Fungi music is a fusion of African and European styles.
It is an important part of culture, history and folklore.
Fungi is also taught as part of curriculum in schools.
Instruments used in this form of music are calabash, washboard, bongos, ukulele, keyboard, banjo, guitar, bass, triangle and saxophone.
It is an essential part of celebrations and social occasions.
BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS ECONOMY:
The British Virgin Islands are one of the richest in the Caribbean.
The major part of national revenue is generated by the tourism industry.
Recently, the government has started offered offshore registration in order to generate income through incorporating companies.
Animal husbandry also contributes largely to the economic growth.
The GDP (purchasing power parity) as estimated in 2004 was $853.4 million.
3.6% of the population is unemployed (1997 est.)
The main agricultural produce includes fruits, vegetables; livestock, poultry and fish.
Industries include tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete block and offshore financial center.
Export commodities include rum, fresh fish, fruits, animals; gravel and sand.
Import commodities include building materials, automobiles, foodstuffs and machinery.
BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS INFRASTRUCTURE:
Telephone services are well established and widespread.
There are six radio broadcast stations in all.
There is one television broadcast station along with one cable company.
Internet services are reasonably available.
British Virgin Islands have three airports of which two have paved runways.
Roadways are 177 km long.
Main ports and terminals are located in Road Town.
BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS EDUCATION:
The British Virgin Islands have both government schools as well as private schools.
Hamilton Lavity Stoutt Community College is located on the eastern end of Tortola.
97.8% of the total population is literate (1991 est.)
BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES:
Puerto Rico lies to the west of the islands.
The islands are part of the Virgin Islands archipelago.
BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS GEOGRAPHICAL SETTINGS:
The British Virgin Islands are located between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean.
The geographic coordinates are 18 30 N, 64 30 W.
The island span a total area of 153 square kilometer.
The BVI are comprised of 16 inhabited and more than 20 uninhabited islands including the islands of Tortola, Anegada, Virgin Gorda and Jost van Dyke.
The coastline is 80 km long.
The climate is subtropical and humid with temperatures moderated by trade winds.
While the coral islands are flat, the volcanic islands are steep and hilly.
The highest peak is Mount Sage standing at 521 m.
20% of the land is arable.
Hurricanes and tropical storms are common between July and October.
BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS FREEDOM:
BVI are an overseas British territory.
NOTABLE PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY:
Policitians
Orlando Smith
H. Lavity Stoutt
Cyril Romney
Ralph T. O'Neal
Willard Wheatley
Terrance B. Lettsome
Sportsmen
Dion Crabbe
Tahesia Harrigan
Historical figures
Joost van Dyk
Arthur William Hodge
John C. Lettsome
Samuel Nottingham
William Thornton
BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS COUNTRY FAMOUS FOR:
British Virgin Islands are a popular destination for American tourists.
BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS TOTAL POPULATION:
According to a 2008 census, the total population of the BVI was 24,004.
The annual population growth rate is 1.875% (2008 est.)
Birth rate: 14.75 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate: 4.46 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS PREVIOUS RECORDS MEDALS
The British Virgin Islands has competed in every Summer Olympic Games since 1984.
The country has never competed in the Winter Olympics.
The British Virgin Islands have no Olympic medals to their credit till date.
