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The islands are all owned by the Crown and there is no permanent population on any of them, the inhabitants being mainly labourers employed on contract by the lessees of the islands. This transient population varies considerably from time to time depending on the work being undertaken on the plantations but in March 1968 was 1,016, of whom 814 were on the Chagos islands.

The islands have a typical tropical maritime climate. The average temperature in Diego Garcia, the only island for which accurate records exist, is 81°F, the average maximum and minimum temperatures being 84°F and 77°F. Rainfall in the Chagos archipelago is between 90 and 100 inches a year and between 40 and 60 inches in the other islands. There have been occasional outbreaks of malaria on Aldabra but apart from this the territory has few of the diseases normally associated with tropical climates.

The British Indian Ocean Territory was established by an Order in Council on 8th November 1965 which provided for the appointment of a Commissioner who is responsible for the administration of the Territory. Before this date the islands of the Chagos archipelago were administered by the Government of Mauritius and the other islands by the Seychelles Government.The legislation in force in the individual islands at the time of the establishment of the Territory has remained in force except where it has been modified by laws made under the Order in Council. The history of the islands before the creation of the Territory is given in the sections on Mauritius and Seychelles.

The currency is the Seychelles and Mauritius rupees both of which are tied to sterling at the rate of 1s. 6d. to one rupee. A definitive issue of B.I.O.T. stamps was made in January 1968 to replace the Seychelles and Mauritius stamps formerly used in the Territory. This consisted of Seychelles stamps overprinted B.I.O.T. and was replaced in October 1968 by a thematic series showing fishes of the Indian Ocean.

There are no air communications. The islands are served by a B.I.O.T.-owned cargo/passenger boat which visits them approximately every three months. Small schooners from Seychelles pay occasional visits.

Commissioner: Bruce Greatbatch, CMG, CVO, MBE
Administrator: J. R. Todd

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BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS

HE Virgin Islands are situated approximately 50 miles east of Puerto Rico and straddle latitude 18° 25′ N and longitude 64° 30′ W. The territory covers an area of 59 square miles and consists of 36 islands, the largest being Tortola (21 square miles), Anegada (15 square miles), Virgin Gorda (81 square miles) and Jost Van Dyke (34 square miles). With the exception of Anegada, the islands represent a projection of Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands archipelago. Anegada, a flat coral feature consisting entirely of limestone, is the northernmost of the islands in the Atlantic and is surrounded by dangerous reefs. The other islands are hilly. Virgin Gorda rises to a central peak 1,370 feet high whilst Sage Mountain on Tortola reaches a height of 1,780 feet. There are no rivers and the vegetation is mostly light bush.

The islands lie within the Trade Wind belt and possess a pleasant and healthy sub-tropical climate. The average temperature in Winter ranges from 71°-82°F and in Summer from 78°-88°F although the summer heat is tempered by sea breezes and there is usually a drop of 10°F at night. The average rainfall is 50 inches. Excellent beaches for bathing and swimming are to be found on all the major islands and there are very good facilities for yachting, diving, fishing and hunting. There are some fifteen hotels and several guest houses, about half of which are in Road Town, Tortola, and the remainder scattered over the other islands. Charter boat services are available on Tortola and Virgin Gorda.

In 1967 the population was estimated at 8,895, with a birth rate of 22.32 per thousand and a death rate of 6.52 per thousand. The principal town and port is Road Town on Tortola which has a population of approximately 2,000. The great majority of the people are of Negro stock. English is the main and official language. The Methodists are the largest religious denomination, followed by the Church of God; the Anglican, Baptist, Adventist and Roman Catholic Churches are also represented in the territory.

Medical services are mainly provided by the Government and the general health of the population is good. There is a 35-bed cottage hospital on Tortola and in 1968 total estimated expenditure on the medical services was $US215,760. Primary education is free and universal and the illiteracy rate is virtually non-existent. All 14 primary schools and one secondary school are directly maintained by the Government although most occupy church buildings. There are also three private schools. In 1964 a total of 2,510 (87-7 per cent) pupils were enrolled in all schools. Secondary schools provide education to G.C.E. Ordinary level standard and several scholarships tenable at universities in the U.S.A., Canada and in Puerto Rico and the University of the West Indies are awarded. There is a library at Road Town and library deposit stations in the out-islands.

There are four direct steamship services, one from the United Kingdom, one from Holland and two from the United States. Launches and a new hydrofoil maintain a daily passenger and mail service with St Thomas (United States Virgin Islands). An external telephone service links Tortola with Bermuda and the rest of the world, and cable communications also exist to all parts of the world. There are airports suitable for small aircraft on Beef Island and Virgin Gorda. The main airport at Beef Islands has been recently extended by the Royal Engineers and it now accommodates aircraft as large as the AVro 748 carrying 50 passengers. Two scheduled air services operated by PRINAIR and LIAT provide direct daily communication with Puerto Rico and the Eastern Caribbean. The territory possesses approximately 40 miles of roads, but no railways. Although the territory is not served by a television network, a broadcasting station is located at Baugher's Bay, Tortola, and its transmissions reach the United States Virgin Islands and the northern Leeward Islands. A television licence has been issued to a private company and TV broadcasts are scheduled to commence shortly (the middle of 1969).

The main crops are bananas, vegetables, coconuts and sugar cane, although livestock and fish are the most important exports. In 1967 exports of livestock were valued at US$44,985, whilst the other principal exports were fish, including turtles and shellfish, US$87,829; fruit US$4,842; and vegetables US1,173. Exports are almost entirely confined to the United States Virgin Islands and the French islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique. Industry is extremely limited and consists of a rum distillery on Tortola, 15 plants making hollow

concrete blocks, a mineral water factory, and two stone-crushing plants. Two printeries are in operation and a joinery works has been built. The chief imports are timber, foodstuffs, machinery, motor cars and alcoholic beverages.

The income tax law has been amended to provide generous family allowances of up to $7,000 with medical and schooling deductions of up to $2,000 and $1,000 respectively. Taxable income bears income tax at a flat 12%. Gross income is taxed at 3% under a separate law. Companies pay a flat rate of 12 cents in the Dollar.

In 1968 recurrent Government revenue was US$1,357,198 and expenditure US$1,685,746, the deficit being made up by a grant-in-aid from the United Kingdom. The estimated figures for 1969 are US2,282,095 and US$2,526,128 respectively.

The six-year development plan for 1966-71 envisages a total expenditure of almost US$18 million of which US$5.6 million would be in the public sectors: of the latter, nearly half is allocated to communications including the extension and improvement of the airport at Beef Island and improvement of the territory's road system and port facilities.

HISTORY

The Virgin Islands were discovered in 1493 by Christopher Columbus who named them Las Virgenes in honour of St Ursula and her companions. In the early years of European settlement in the West Indies, the group appears to have been a haunt of buccaneers and pirates.

In 1672 the Governor of the Leeward Islands, Colonel Stapleton, formally annexed the island of Tortola, demolished the fort and forced the inhabitants to move to St Kitts. In 1680 a few planters moved with their families from Anguilla in the Leewards to Virgin Gorda, starting a stream which by 1717 had raised the European population of that island to 317 and that of Tortola to 159. In 1773, on their second petition, the planters were granted civil government and constitutional courts with a completely elected House of Assembly (12 members) and a partly elected and partly nominated Legislative Council or 'Board' which met for the first time on 1st February 1774.

The islands continued to form part of the Colony of the Leeward Islands with various constitutions until 1st July 1956 when the Leeward Islands were defederated and the presidencies of Antigua, St Kitts, Montserrat and the Virgin Islands became separate colonies. The island continued to be administered by the Governor of the Leeward Islands until January 1960 when this office was abolished and the Administrator of the Virgin Islands became directly responsible to the Colonial Office. The territory did not, unlike the other former Leeward Islands, become part of the West Indies Federation which was dissolved in 1962.

CONSTITUTION

The new constitution, which came into effect in April 1967, provides for the first time for a ministerial system. The Administrator remains responsible for defence and internal security, external affairs, the civil service, the administration of the courts and finance, and continues to have reserved legislative powers necessary in the exercise of his special responsibilities, but on other matters is normally bound to act in accordance with the advice of the Executive Council. The Executive Council is comprised of the Administrator as Chairman, two

ex-officio members (the Attorney-General and Financial Secretary), the Chief Minister appointed by the Administrator as the elected member who appears best able to command a majority and two other ministers appointed by the Administrator on the advice of the Chief Minister. The Legislative Council consists of a Speaker chosen from outside the Council, two ex-officio members (the Attorney-General and Financial Secretary), one nominated member appointed by the Administrator after consultation with the Chief Minister and seven elected members returned from seven one-member electoral districts.

Justice was formerly administered in the territory by the Supreme Court of the Windward and Leeward Islands, the Court of Summary Jurisdiction and the Magistrate's Court and a Puisne Judge of the Supreme Court visited the islands twice a year. With the replacement of the Supreme Court by the West Indies Associated States Supreme Court arrangements have been made for this Court to serve the Virgin Islands.

LAND POLICY

British subjects may acquire land without restriction, but aliens are required to obtain a licence under the Aliens Land Holding Regulation Act. Applications under this Act are however readily granted, usually on condition that the applicant undertakes appropriate development within a certain period. Similar licences are being contemplated for application to all non-B.V. Islanders.

Most of the land is in private ownership but Crown lands are estimated at 15,121 acres and are normally leased for a period not exceeding 99 years. Rental is based either on tender or on 5 per cent of the unimproved value of the land which is reviewed at intervals of 10 years.

GOVERNMENT

A General Election was held on 14th April 1967. The United Party secured four seats, the Democratic Party two seats and the People's Own Party one seat.

Administrator: J. S. Thomson, CMG, MBE

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

The Administrator (Chairman)

Attorney-General (ex-officio): Hon. W. L. MacIntyre
Financial Secretary: (ex-officio) Hon. C. B. Romney, MA
Chief Minister: Hon. H. L. Stoutt

Minister for Natural Resources: Hon. I. Dawson

Minister for Communications, Works and Industry: Hon. T. B. Lettsome

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
Speaker: Hon. H. O. Creque
Attorney-General (ex-officio)
Financial Secretary (ex-officio)

Nominated Member: Hon. J. R. O'Neal, OBE

Elected Members: Hon. H. L. Stoutt; Hon. I. Dawson; Hon. T. B. Lettsome;
Dr the Hon. Q. W. Osborne; Hon. I. G. Fonseca; Hon. H. R. O'Neal;
Hon. E. L. Smith

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British Virgin Islands Biennial Reports 1961-62 and 1963-64.

Report of the Development Advisory Committee for the period 1966-71
(obtainable from the Administrator's Office, British Virgin Islands).
EGGLESTON, GEORGE T. Virgin Islands. Princeton. D. Van Nostrand, 1959.
PHILLIPS, William T. A. Report on the British Virgin Islands with Recom-
mendations for Accelerating Economic and Social Development.
O'LOUGHLIN, Dr Carleen. A Survey of the Economic Potential, Fiscal
Structure and Capital Requirements of the British Virgin Islands 1962.
SUCKLING, GEORGE. An Historical Account of the Virgin Islands. Benjamin
White, 1780.

Report of the Fiscal Review Committee 1967-68.

Triennial Report, 1966-1967-1968 (Now in progress).

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CAYMAN ISLANDS

HE Cayman Islands consist of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman and they lie in the Caribbean Sea between latitudes 19° 15′ and 19° 45' North and longitudes 79° 44′ and 81° 27′ West, 110 to 156 miles to the north-west of the west end of Jamaica. Their total area is about 100 square miles.

All the islands are low lying and do not reach a height of more than 60 feet above sea level except in Cayman Brac where the eastern end rises to 140 feet. The principal island-Grand Cayman-is about 178 miles to the west of Jamaica, it is about 22 miles in length with a breadth varying from 4 to 8 miles: very low lying, it is difficult to sight from the sea. Most of the west end of the island is taken up by North Sound, a shallow bay, 36 square miles in area, protected by a reef. North Sound provides a safe haven for small craft and a convenient area for turtle 'crawls' (corrals). Little Cayman has a similar geographical formation to Grand Cayman. Cayman Brac is distinguished from the other islands by a massive central limestone bluff. The coasts are for the most part rock-bound, protected by coral reefs enclosing a few fair harbours. Grand Cayman has a magnificent six-mile beach. There are no rivers in any of the

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