The British Virgin Islands
The British Virgin Islands (BVI) is a British overseas territory, located in the Caribbean to the east of Puerto
Rico. The islands make up part of the Virgin Islands archipelago, the remaining islands constituting the U.S.
Virgin Islands. Technically the name of the Territory is simply the "Virgin Islands", but in practice since 1917
they have been almost universally referred to as the "British Virgin Islands" to distinguish the islands from the
American Territory. To add to the regional confusion, the Puerto Rican islands of Culebra, Vieques and surrounding
islands began referring to themselves as the "Spanish Virgin Islands" as part of a tourism drive in the early
2000s.
The British Virgin Islands consist of the main islands
of Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada and Jost Van Dyke, along with over fifty other smaller islands and cays.
Approximately fifteen of the islands are inhabited. The capital, Road Town, is situated on Tortola, the largest
island which is approximately 20 km (approx. 12 mi) long and 5 km (approx. 3 mi) wide. The islands have a total
population of about 22,000, of whom approximately 18,000 live on Tortola.
History
The Virgin Islands were first settled by the Arawak from South America around 100 BC (though there is some
evidence of Amerindian presence on the islands as far back as 1500 BC).[2] The Arawaks inhabited the islands until
the fifteenth century when they were displaced by the more aggressive Caribs, a tribe from the Lesser Antilles
islands, after whom the Caribbean Sea is named.
The first European sighting of the Virgin Islands was by Christopher Columbus in 1493 on his second voyage to
the Americas. Columbus gave them the fanciful name Santa Ursula y las Once Mil Vírgenes (Saint Ursula and her
11,000 Virgins), shortened to Las Vírgenes (The Virgins), after the legend of Saint Ursula.
Geography
The British Virgin Islands comprise
around sixty tropical Caribbean islands, ranging in size from the largest, Tortola 20 km (approx. 12 mi) long and 5
km (approx. 3 mi) wide, to tiny uninhabited islets. They are located in the Virgin Islands archipelago, a few miles
east of the U.S. Virgin Islands. The North Atlantic Ocean lies to the north of the islands, and the Caribbean Sea
lies to the south. Most of the islands are volcanic in origin and have a hilly, rugged terrain. Anegada is
geologically distinct from the rest of the group and is a flat island composed of limestone and coral.
Economy
As a tax haven the British Virgin Islands enjoys one of the more prosperous economies of the Caribbean region, with
a per capita GDP of around $38,500 (2004 est.)
In the British Virgin Islands it has long been fashionable to talk about the "twin pillars" of the Territory's
economy – tourism and financial services. Politically, tourism is the more important of the two, as it employs a
greater number of people within the Territory, and a larger proportion of the businesses in the tourist industry
are locally owned, as are a number of the highly tourism-dependent sole traders (e.g. taxi drivers and street
vendors). Economically however, financial services associated with the territories tax haven status are by far the
more important. Nearly 50% of the Government's revenue comes directly from licence fees for offshore companies, and
considerable further sums are raised directly or indirectly from payroll taxes relating to salaries paid within the
trust industry sector (which tend to be higher on average than those paid in the tourism sector).
Tourism accounts for 45% of national income. The
islands are a popular destination for U.S. citizens, with around 350,000 tourists visiting annually (1997 figures).
Tourists frequent the numerous white sand beaches, visit The Baths on Virgin Gorda, snorkel the coral reefs near
Anegada, or experience the well-known bars of Jost Van Dyke. The BVI are known as one of the world's greatest
sailing destinations, and charter sailboats are a very popular way to visit less accessible islands. Every year
since 1972 the BVI has hosted the Spring Regatta, which is a seven-day collection of sailing races throughout the
islands. A substantial number of the tourists who visit the BVI are cruise ship passengers, although they produce
far lower revenue per head than charter boat tourists and hotel based tourists. They are nonetheless important to
the substantial (and politically important) taxi driving community.
The primary Language of the British Virgin Islands
(BVI) is English mix in with a quick Creole accent.
{credit} http://en.wikipedia.org
History of the Flag
The National Flag is the Union Flag being a composite design of St. George’s Cross (England), St. Andrew’s Cross
(Scotland) and St. Patrick’s Cross (Ireland). The colours are red, white and blue. The National Flag of the BVI is
the Blue Ensign defaced with the Badge of the Territory on its fly, however, the Governor is allowed discretion to
authorize its use in the following circumstances:
i. for decorative purposes
ii. for distinguishing purposes inside or outside the Territory on occasions when the use of the Union Flag would
be inappropriate or likely to cause confusion.
Authority to fly this flag is limited to the time and locality of the event for which approval is sought.
The Badge of the British Virgin Islands comprises a green shield charged with twelve golden oil lamps with red
flames and a female figure, St. Ursula, patron saint of the British Virgin Islands attired in white and wearing
sandals, carrying one of those lamps.
Getting Married In The British Virgin Islands
 Get married on the most beautiful places on
earth.
The British Virgin Islands is the most meaningful place on earth to Share that wonderful day of your life with the
people you love the most, and make it a memorable day.
The softly swaying palms, warm, gentle breezes, secluded beaches and pristine crystal-clear waters in attendance,
you marriage on the British Virgin Islands will be incredibly special.
Marriage Rules & Regulations
A marriage license is easy to obtain in the British Virgin Islands and the certificate is valid internationally. A
couple is required to be in the BVI for three business days before they can be married. On your day of arrival,
apply for a license at the Registrar-General's Office, located on the 2nd floor of the Central Administration
Complex in Road Town, Tortola. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Your
application will take three business days to be processed.
Requirements of the Registrar-General's Office
1. Your passports as proof of identity and date of arrival in the BVI.
2. Proof of marital status (certified original copies of Degree Absolute for divorced spouses or Death Certificate
of deceased spouses).
3. $110.00 (in BVI postage stamps) for a special license for those residing in the BVI for three days or $50.00 (in
BVI postage stamps) for those residing in the BVI for 15 days or more.
4. Two witnesses: (1) for signing the license application and (1) to be present at the marriage ceremony.
(Witnesses need not be the same for both exercises; persons in the BVI may be selected as witnesses.
Having applied for the license, go to the Registrar-General's Office to schedule an appointment for the date and
time you propose to be married. The Registrar-General will require the following information:
1. The names of the two parties as they appear on your travel documents
2. The ages of both parties
3. The occupations of both parties
4. Marital Status
5. The names of the two witnesses to the ceremony
Fees payable to the Registrar-General's Office are $35.00 if the wedding ceremony is to be performed in a
church, and $100.00 is it is performed elsewhere. If you wish to be married in a church, wedding announcements must
be published on three consecutive Saturdays or Sundays in the church of your choice. You must make arrangement with
the minister of the church of your choice. (Publishing of announcements is not necessary if a marriage license is
obtained.)
Accommodations in the British Virgin
Islands
Escape to the Jewels of the BVI. To help you discover the very special and secluded guest accommodations in the
Caribbean, the BVI Tourist Board provides a list of our "Jewels of the BVI", including cottages, hotels, inns,
apartments, guest houses and villas. These charming places are locally owned by BVI slanders and provide affordable
rates as well as a chance to experience our islands from a local perspective in some of the most pristine locations
found on earth.
In addition to the Jewels of the BVI, the island offer a wide range of places to stay across all if
the islands. Whatever you have in mind, the British Virgin Islands has a place to make your Caribbean dreams come
true.
Take a joyride in paradise.
Exploring sixty islands makes for one scenic trip and you’re in the driver’s seat. Crisscross the azure waters
aboard a boat, cruise the long, scenic roads by car and then bike down to shorelines filled with secluded beaches.
No matter what mode of transportation you choose, experience the little known parts of paradise in the BVI.
Tortola
Powdery white-sand beaches, lush green mountains and a sheltered yacht-filled harbour characterize the island of
Tortola.
Virgin Gorda
The dramatically shaped island of Virgin Gorda
reminded Christopher Columbus of a reclining woman, so he named it Virgin Gorda, the "Fat Virgin."
Jost Van Dyke
Jost Van Dyke has fewer than 200 inhabitants and they are widely known as a friendly, welcoming people.
Anegada
The only coral island in the volcanic B
VI chain, Anegada is a world apart. The Spanish named it Anegada, which means "Drowned Land."
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