British Virgin Islands Government - 1986

GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES 

Official name: British Virgin Islands

Type: British dependent territory

Capital: Road Town on the island of Tortola

Political subdivisions: 9 electoral districts

Legal system: English law; justice is administered by the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court; there is a resident puisne judge on the islands

National holiday: Territory Day, 1 July

Branches: Executive Council (cabinet) consists of the governor as chairman, four ministers of the legislature, and an ex officio member who is the attorney general; Legislative Council consists of the Speaker (elected from outside the Council), nine elected members, and an ex officio member who is the attorney general

Government leaders: David Robert BARWICK, Governor (since 1982); Cyril B. ROMNEY, Chief Minister (since November 1983)

Suffrage: universal adult over 18

Elections: at least once every five years; last general election held November 1983

Political parties and leaders: United Party (UP), Conrad Maduro; Virgin Islands Party (VIP), H. Lavity Stoutt; Independent, C. B. Romney

Voting strength: 1983 elections—UP 4 seats; VIP 4 seats; Independents 1 seat

Communists: probably none

Member of: Commonwealth

NOTE: The information regarding British Virgin Islands on this page is re-published from the 1986 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency and other sources. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of British Virgin Islands 1986 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about British Virgin Islands 1986 should be addressed to the CIA or the source cited on each page.