 British
Virgin Islands.
Some historical facts |
Arawaks and Caribs initially occupied
the British Virgin Islands, but in 1555 these islands were invaded by
Europeans and by 1596 most of the indigenous population was decimated.
Dutch buccaneers held Tortola until it was taken over in 1666 by English
planters, who established a plantation economy and for the next 150 years,
developed the sugar industry through the labor of African slaves. When
slavery was abolished in 1838, the plantation economy quickly faltered and
the majority of the white population left for Europe.
The islands dozed, a forgotten corner of the British Empire, until 1966
when a new constitution granting greater autonomy to the islands was
approved. while the governor is still appointed by the Queen of England,
his or her limited powers concentrate on external affairs and local
security. |
