Introduction - British Virgin Islands: |
Location - British Virgin Islands: |
People - British Virgin Islands: |
Government - British Virgin Islands: |
Country name | conventional long form: none
conventional short form: British Virgin Islands
abbreviation: BVI |
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Government type | NA |
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Capital | name: Road Town
geographic coordinates: 18 27 N, 64 37 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) |
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Administrative divisions | none (overseas territory of the UK) |
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Independence | none (overseas territory of the UK) |
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National holiday | Territory Day, 1 July (1956) |
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Constitution | 1 June 1977, amended in 2000 |
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Legal system | English law |
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Suffrage | 18 years of age; universal |
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Executive branch | chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor David PEAREY (since 18 April 2006)
head of government: Premier Ralph T. ONEAL (since 23 August 2007)
cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from members of the Legislative Council
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed premier by the governor |
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Legislative branch | unicameral Legislative Council (13 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote, 1 member from each of nine electoral districts, 4 at-large members; to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 20 August 2007 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - VIP 45.2%, NDP 39.6%, independent 15.2%; seats by party - VIP 10, NDP 2, independent 1 |
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Judicial branch | Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, consisting of the High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal (one judge of the Supreme Court is a resident of the islands and presides over the High Court); Magistrates Court; Juvenile Court; Court of Summary Jurisdiction |
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Political parties and leaders | Concerned Citizens Movement or CCM [Ethlyn SMITH]; National Democratic Party or NDP [Orlando SMITH]; United Party or UP [Gregory MADURO]; Virgin Islands Party or VIP [Ralph T. ONEAL] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders | NA |
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International organization participation | Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, OECS (associate), UNESCO (associate), UPU |
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Diplomatic representation in the us | none (overseas territory of the UK) |
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Diplomatic representation from the us | none (overseas territory of the UK) |
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Flag description | blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Virgin Islander coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms depicts a woman flanked on either side by a vertical column of six oil lamps above a scroll bearing the Latin word VIGILATE (Be Watchful) |
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Economy - British Virgin Islands: |
Communications - British Virgin Islands: |
Transportation - British Virgin Islands: |
Military - British Virgin Islands: |
This page was last updated on 16 September, 2007