BVI Country Profile
It is reported that Christopher Columbus sighted
the islands in 1493, on his second expedition to
the New World. Overwhelmed by their multitude, he
christened the islands 'Las Once Mil Virgenes' -
in honor of St. Ursula and the 11,000 maidens who
sacrificed their lives in the 4th Century Cologne.
The Crest of St. Ursula is a national symbol of
the British Virgin Islands.
The islands were said to be inhabited by Caribs
and Arawaks. The Dutch established the first permanent
European community here in 1648. The earliest records
referring to the presence of enslaved Africans in
the Virgin Islands begin in 1665, when the first
Dutchmen brought them their enslaved Africans with
them and whose intention was to make a permanent
settlement to cultivate sugar cane. In 1666 British
planters took over control of the island group from
the original Dutch settlers. The islands attained
the status of British colony and remained part of
the Leeward Islands from 1872 until 1956, when the
British Virgin Islands became a separately administered
entity.
As a British Dependent Territory, the BVI offers
all the security and stability traditionally associated
with the British flag. The territory is responsible
for its own internal self-government and is governed
by a democratically elected Parliament and Cabinet.
The United Kingdom remains responsible for the territory's
external affairs, defense, internal security, terms
and conditions of public officers and the administration
of the courts. These areas are the responsibilities
of a UK appointed Governor.There is an Executive
Council, with the Governor as Chairman, which includes
the Attorney General (ex-officio), the Chief Minister
(appointed by the Governor from those elected to
the Legislative Council to handle financial matters),
and three other ministers appointed by the Governor
on the advice of the Chief Minister. The Virgin
Islands has an independent legal and judicial system
based on English Common Law, with a right of final
appeal to the Privy Council in England
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