LIAT provide direct daily communication with Puerto Rico and the Eastern Caribbean. A local air line-Air BVI-also commenced operations in 1972 running scheduled flights daily to Puerto Rico. The territory possesses approximately 40 miles of motorable roads. A radio broadcasting station ZBVI 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 will commence in due course. Government has recently approved a proposal by Cable & Wireless to establish a commercial cable television service to provide subscribers with good quality reception of approximately seven television channels plus a number of FM stereo broadcasting stations. In 1973 the total value of exports was U.S.$98,402, the major items being sand, fish, fruits, coconuts and vegetables. Exports are almost entirely confined to the United States Virgin Islands. The major industry is tourism which contributes considerably to the Territory's gross national product. Lesser industries include one distillery for the manufacture of rum, one major plant making hollow concrete blocks, a mineral water factory, three stone crushing plants, and one paint factory. One printery and one joinery establishment continue to operate in the territory. The chief imports are building materials, foodstuffs, machinery, motor cars and alcoholic beverages. In 1973 total value of imports was $9,467,386. Estimated local revenue for 1975 is US$5,374,250, against provisional actual revenue in 1974 of US$5,016,528. Expenditure for 1975 is expected to be just under US$6 million, against provisional actual expenditure in 1974 of US$5,999,418. Capital expenditure in 1975 is estimated at US$2,236,887. In 1974 major capital works included completion of Belle Vue Primary School building. West End Police Station, New Plaza, Administration Beding. Work on the Anegada Clinic and extension work to the Robinson O'Neal Memorial School on Virgin Gorda were started and considerable progress was made on the Beef Island Terminal Building. Work on the Joe's Hill and Cane Garden Bay roads is nearing completion. Surfacing work to the Valley Pond Bay Road was completed during the year. 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. Taubie come bears income tax at a Sat 12 per cent. Gross income is taxed at 3 per cent, under a separate law. Companies pay a fat rate of 12 per cent. tutional 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 became part of the Colony of the Leeward Islands in 1872 and continued as such 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 islands 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. In August 1971, by Order in Council, the title of Administrator was changed to Governor. 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 Governor 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 Governor as Chairman, two exofficio members (the Attorney-General and Financial Secretary), the Chief Minister appointed by the Governor as the elected member who appears best able to command a majority and has two other ministers appointed by the Governor 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 Governor 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 who are not Virgin Islanders and all aliens are required to obtain a licence before they may acquire land. Applications are however readily granted, usually on condition that the applicant undertakes appropriate development within a certain period. 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 2nd June 1971. The Democratic Party secured three seats, the Virgin Islands Party two seats, the United Party one seat and there was one independent elected. Governor: W. W. Wallace, CBE, DSC EXECUTIVE COUNCIL The Governor (Chairman) Attorney-General (ex officio): Hon. Miss P. F. Beaubrun Minister for Natural Resources and Public Health: Hon. Conrad Maduro Legislative COUNCIL Speaker: Hon. H. R. Penn, OBE Nominated Member: Hon. Ivan Dawson Elected Members: Hon. Willard Wheatley, MBE; Dr The Hon. Q. W. Osborne; Hon. 0. Cills; Hon. A. A. Henley; Hon. H. L. Stoutt; Hon. R. George; Hon. Conrad Maduro T 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. 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 180 miles west-north-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 central limestone bluff. The coasts are for the most part rockbound, protected by coral reefs enclosing a few fair harbours. Grand Cayman has a magnificient seven-mile beach. There are no rivers in any of the islands. There are quite a few species of birds found, none of which appear to be indigenous to the Caymans. Grand Cayman is divided into six districts: George Town with a population of 3,812, West Bay with a population of 2,720, Prospect (the population figure is included with George Town), Bodden Town with a population of 976 and North Side and East End with populations of 515 and 736 respectively. Cayman Brac is divided into four districts; Stake Bay, West End, Creek and Spot Bay. The total population of these is 1,289. Little Cayman is divided into two districts, South Town with a population of 20 and Jacksons which has no inhabitants. According to the 1970 census the population of the Cayman Islands was 10,460, including 392 visitors. An estimated 700 men are at sea at any one time. The Caymans are cool from November to March, the prevailing winds being from the north and temperatures range from 65° to 75°F but have been known to drop to 54°F. From May to October the range of temperatures is some 10° higher and has been known to rise to 91°. At certain periods mosquitoes abound but are decreasing through the effort of the Mosquito Research and Control Unit set up in late 9165. The rainfall at George Town averages 56 inches a year. The hurricane season lasts from July to November and the islands have occasionally been hit, e.g. 1876, 1903, 1909, 1917, 1932 and 1944. In October 1952 they narrowly escaped severe damage, catching the edge of a hurricane whose centre passed only 40 miles to the West of Grand Cayman. 'Camille' in 1969 and 'Celia' in 1970 both spawned near to the islands but caused little local damage. 'Laura' in November 1971 caused extensive flooding. The last population census in the Cayman Islands was carried out in 1970 and gave the following figures: Grand Cayman 8,759; Cayman Brac 1,289; Little Cayman 20. In 1974 281 births and 68 deaths were registered. Since 1891 a census has been taken six times at intervals which varied from 9 to 20 years. The official and spoken language of the Cayman Islands is English. A local currency issue to replace Jamaican currency was introduced on 1st May 1972. The new Cayman Islands currency consists of four notes, CI$1, CI$5, CI$10 and CI$25; and four coins, 25c, 10c, 5c and Ic. The Cayman Islands dollar is linked to the United States dollar at the rate CI$1.00=US$1.20. Education is compulsory for children between the ages of five and fifteen. It is provided free in nine Government primary schools and there are five churchsponsored primary schools in which fees are charged. There is one Government comprehensive secondary school and two private secondary schools. Enrolment in all schools in 1974 was 3,372, of whom 1,475 were receiving post-primary education. Recurrent expenditure in 1974 was CI $884,830. The Medical Department consists of a Government hospital and dental clinic in George Town and six district clinics. Four of these are in outlying districts of Grand Cayman and two in Cayman Brac. Expenditure on medical and health services during 1974 was CI$732,045.The hospital has accommodation for 36 patients. The Government Medical Officers now number five. All these doctors were appointed direct by the Grand Cayman Government on recommendation from the Ministry of Overseas Development in Great Britain. One of the G.M.Os, after completing 3 years on contract, has now opened a private clinic and is in private practice in Grand Cayman. There are three other doctors in private practice. The Faith Hospital in Cayman Brac was completed and opened in Cayman Brac during 1971. It was built largely by voluntary contribu tions and has been taken over by the Government for an experimental period of five years. In George Town there is a dentist engaged in private practice. Tropical diseases are virtually absent from the Caymans. Tourism is now the main economy and chief industry of the island, the catching and exporting of turtle and the making and exporting of thatch rope both having totally ceased during 1970, though the operations of Mariculture Ltd., hatching imported turtle eggs, have revived the industry. Some of the inhabitants engage in other fishing pursuits and in agriculture, but the main source of income is from seamen. Caymanians, who are first-class seamen, readily find employment with overseas shipping companies. Remittances to their families enable a higher standard of living to be maintained than the resources of the islands could provide. Despite the incentives offered by the Pioneer Industries (Encouragement) Law 1950 (discontinued from 31st December 1971) very few light industries have been established in the islands. Trade union legislation is in existence and three unions, the Global Seaman's Union, the Cayman Islands Taxi-Cab Association and the Cayman Islands Workers Union have been registered. The Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce was set up in 1965 in Grand Cayman. The Caymans are not self-supporting in foodstuffs. The production of food crops and cattle raising are restricted by the nature of the limestone soil. Import and export figures for 1965-74 are given below: |