Virgin Islands

Virgin Islands, possession the Great Britain in West Indies, to the east from island Puerto Rico. Possession occupies a part (nearby 40, from them are dwelt 16) Virgin Islands. The largest islands: Tortola, Vyordzhin-is proud, Anegada. A possession Total area - 153  sq. km, the population compounds 17  thousand persons (1992), from them 80 % it is concentrated to island Tortola. The majority of the population - Negroes and mulattos. In confession the methodist church overtops. An official language - English. The administrative centre - Road Town with the population in 6 thousand persons is had on island Tortola.

According to the constitution of 1977 the Virgin Islands independently form members of local authorities and use the restricted intrinsic self-management. The English governor knows questions of defence, the finance, foreign policy, justice and public service, he heads Legislative and Executive advices of islands. The bulk of composition of Legislative Assembly is nominated and only 9 members are selected the population.

Islands have been open by Christopher Columbus in 1493. Dutches were the first European settlers since 1648. Englishmen have appeared in these places in 1666. They educed plantatsionnoe an equipment for which management delivered Negroes-slaves from Africa. In total to the Virgin Islands it has been brought 7  thousand Africans. Officially colony of the Great Britain the Virgin Islands became in 1762. In 1960 of island have gained the status of separate possession, in 1967 the restricted self-management. The constitution of 1977 has a little dilated the rights virgintsev.

The Basis virginskoj economy - foreign tourism which procures work 20  able-bodied population %. On islands comes on 200  thousand tourists a year, in the core from the USA. In agriculture it is occupied 2  economically active population %, but farming industry development is restrained by low fertility virginskih bedrocks. Cultivated areas on islands do not exceed two thousand hectares, on them cultivate a sugarcane, coconuts, bananas, vegetables. The animal husbandry is more educed; pasteurages occupy four thousand hectares, numbers two thousand goals of the large horned stock, six and a half thousand sheep, three thousand pigs, twelve thousand goats. The trade of fish is conducted for a home consumption and for export. From the industry on the Virgin Islands there are small factories on effecting of cement and other building timbers, rum, light industry items. The electricity is produced on power station by power 5  thousand kW. The Virgin Islands export products on 2,5  million dollars, and import - more than on hundred million. Third of export is compounded by food stuffs. The USA - basic (to 90 %) the foreign trade partner of the British Virgin Islands. Main port of islands - Road Town. Airport Bif-Ajlend is in 16  km from an administrative centre. After the measures accepted in 1984 on taxation order liberalisation the Virgin Islands have turned to the large financial centre; here it is registered nearby 12  thousand foreign companies. The rate of unemployment on islands is low also immigration is strictly controlled.