My World Factbook
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Note: Most information adapted from the popular World Factbook is distributed between the websites GeoWorld (geography, people, communications & transportation), Politix (government) and Great Depression II (economy).
First inhabited by Arawak and later by Carib Indians, the Virgin Islands were settled by the Dutch in 1648 and then annexed by the English in 1672. The islands were part of the British colony of the Leeward Islands from 1872-1960; they were granted autonomy in 1967. The economy is closely tied to the larger and more populous US Virgin Islands to the west; the US dollar is the legal currency.
Government
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: British Virgin Islands
abbreviation: BVI
overseas territory of the UK; internal self-governing
NA
name: Road Town
geographic coordinates: 18 27 N, 64 37 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
none (overseas territory of the UK)
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Territory Day, 1 July (1956)
13 June 2007
English law
18 years of age; universal
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Boyd MCCLEARY (since 20 August 2010)
head of government: Premier Ralph T. O’NEAL (since 23 August 2007)
cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from members of the House of Assembly
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elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition usually appointed premier by the governor
unicameral House of Assembly (13 elected seats and 1 non-voting ex officio member in the attorney general; members are elected by direct popular vote, 1 member from each of nine electoral districts, 4 at-large members; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 20 August 2007 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - VIP 45.2%, NDP 39.6%, independent 15.2%; seats by party - VIP 10, NDP 2, independent 1
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, consisting of the High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal (one judge of the Supreme Court is a resident of the islands and presides over the High Court); Magistrate’s Court; Juvenile Court; Court of Summary Jurisdiction
Concerned Citizens Movement or CCM [Ethlyn SMITH]; National Democratic Party or NDP [Orlando SMITH]; United Party or UP [Gregory MADURO]; Virgin Islands Party or VIP [Ralph T. O’NEAL]
The Family Support Network; The Women’s Desk
other: environmentalists
Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, OECS, UNESCO (associate), UPU
none (overseas territory of the UK)
none (overseas territory of the UK)
blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Virgin Islander coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms depicts a woman flanked on either side by a vertical column of six oil lamps above a scroll bearing the Latin word VIGILATE (Be Watchful); the islands were named by COLUMBUS in 1493 in honor of Saint Ursula and her 11 virgin followers (some sources say 11,000) who reputedly were martyred by the Huns in the 4th or 5th century; the figure on the banner holding a lamp represents the saint, the other lamps symbolize her followers
note: as a territory of the United Kingdom, “God Save the Queen” is official (see United Kingdom)
Military
males age 16-49: 7,230 (2010 est.)
males age 16-49: 6,028
females age 16-49: 5,778 (2010 est.)
male: 174
female: 167 (2010 est.)
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues
none
transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe; large offshore financial center makes it vulnerable to money laundering
The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism - 
