189 lines
15 KiB
Plaintext
189 lines
15 KiB
Plaintext
BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
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(dependent territory of the UK)
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GEOGRAPHY
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Total area: 150 km2; land area: 150 km2
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Comparative area: about 0.8 times the size of Washington, DC
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Coastline: 80 km
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Maritime claims:
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Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;
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Territorial sea: 3 nm
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Climate: subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds
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Terrain: coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep,
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hilly
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Natural resources: negligible
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Land use: arable land 20%; permanent crops 7%; meadows and pastures
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33%; forest and woodland 7%; other 33%
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Environment: subject to hurricanes and tropical storms from July
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to October
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Note: strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico
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PEOPLE
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Population: 12,396 (July 1991), growth rate 1.1% (1991)
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Birth rate: 19 births/1,000 population (1991)
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Death rate: 5 deaths/1,000 population (1991)
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Net migration rate: - 3 migrants/1,000 population (1991)
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Infant mortality rate: 14 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)
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Life expectancy at birth: 72 years male, 77 years female (1991)
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Total fertility rate: 2.1 children born/woman (1991)
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Nationality: noun--British Virgin Islander(s); adjective--British
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Virgin Islander
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Ethnic divisions: black over 90%, remainder of white and Asian
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origin
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Religion: Protestant 86% (Methodist 45%, Anglican 21%, Church of
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God 7%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5%, Baptist 4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2%,
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other 2%), Roman Catholic 6%, none 2%, other 6% (1981)
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Language: English (official)
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Literacy: 98% (male 98%, female 98%) age 15 and over can
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read and write (1970)
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Labor force: 4,911 (1980)
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Organized labor: NA% of labor force
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GOVERNMENT
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Long-form name: none
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Type: dependent territory of the UK
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Capital: Road Town
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Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK)
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Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)
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Constitution: 1 June 1977
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Legal system: English law
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National holiday: Territory Day, 1 July
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Executive branch: British monarch, governor, chief minister,
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Executive Council (cabinet)
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Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council
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Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court
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Leaders:
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Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
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represented by Governor John Mark Ambrose HERDMAN (since NA 1986);
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Head of Government--Chief Minister H. Lavity STOUTT (since NA 1986)
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Political parties and leaders:
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United Party (UP), Conrad MADURO;
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Virgin Islands Party (VIP), H. Lavity STOUTT;
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Independent People's Movement (IPM), Cyril B. ROMNEY
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Suffrage: universal at age 18
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Elections:
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Legislative Council--last held 12 November 1990 (next to be
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held by November 1995); results--percent of vote by party NA;
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seats--(9 total) VIP 6, IPM 1, independent 2
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Communists: probably none
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Member of: CARICOM (observer), CDB, ECLAC (associate), IOC,
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OECS (associate), UNESCO (associate)
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Diplomatic representation: none (dependent territory of the UK)
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Flag: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant
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and the Virgin Islander coat of arms centered in the outer half of the
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flag; the coat of arms depicts a woman flanked on either side by a
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vertical column of six oil lamps above a scroll bearing the Latin word
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VIGILATE (Be Watchful)
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ECONOMY
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Overview: The economy is highly dependent on the tourist industry,
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which generates about 21% of the national income. In 1985 the government
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offered offshore registration to companies wishing to incorporate in
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the islands, and, in consequence, incorporation fees generated about $2
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million in 1987. Livestock raising is the most significant agricultural
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activity. The islands' crops, limited by poor soils, are unable to meet
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food requirements.
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GDP: $106.7 million, per capita $8,900; real growth rate 2.5%
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(1987)
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Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.0% (1987)
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Unemployment rate: NEGL%
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Budget: revenues $32.8 million; expenditures $32.4 million,
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including capital expenditures of $6.3 million (FY90)
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Exports: $2.7 million (f.o.b., 1988);
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commodities--rum, fresh fish, gravel, sand, fruits, animals;
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partners--Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US
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Imports: $11.5 million (c.i.f., 1988);
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commodities--building materials, automobiles, foodstuffs,
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machinery;
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partners--Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US
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External debt: $4.5 million (1985)
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Industrial production: growth rate - 4.0% (1985)
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Electricity: 10,500 kW capacity; 43 million kWh produced,
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3,510 kWh per capita (1990)
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Industries: tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete
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block, offshore financial center
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Agriculture: livestock (including poultry), fish, fruit, vegetables
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Economic aid: NA
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Currency: US currency is used
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Exchange rates: US currency is used
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Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March
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COMMUNICATIONS
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Highways: 106 km motorable roads (1983)
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Ports: Road Town
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Airports: 3 total, 3 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways
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less than 1,220 m
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Telecommunications: 3,000 telephones; worldwide external telephone
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service; submarine cable communication links to Bermuda; stations--1 AM,
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no FM, 1 TV
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DEFENSE FORCES
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Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
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