The Commonwealth of the Bahamas and the British Overseas Territory of the Turks and Caicos Islands are located in the North Atlantic Ocean rather than the Caribbean Sea , but they still fall in the Caribbean region. Approximately 2.5 million tourists per year visit, most arriving on cruise ships. The per capita income for the territory was $13,139. [66][67] Since January 2017, the U.S. Virgin Islands government has been unable to raise financing from the bond market at favorable interest rates, and as of June 2019 have not issued any new bonds since then. [95], Virgin Islands Creole English, an English-based creole locally known as "dialect", is spoken in informal situations. In September 2017, Category 5 Hurricane Irma caused catastrophic damage, particularly to St. John and St. Thomas. [99][100][page needed] A number of neo-Protestant traditions including Pentecostalism, various evangelical Protestants and the Seventh-day Adventists arrived later with the switch of allegiance from Denmark to the United States. The territory was again struck by Hurricane Marilyn in 1995, killing eight people and causing more than $2 billion in damage. "Constitutional Convention Meeting Marred by Arguments, Technical Snarls". mainland. [91], The United States Virgin Islands Department of Education serves as the territory's education agency, and has two school districts: St. Thomas-St. John School District and St. Croix School District.[102]. The United States began to take an interest in the islands, and in 1867, a treaty to sell St. Thomas and St. John to the U.S. was agreed but never effected. In the mid-1990s the British Virgin Islands began an extensive overhaul of its road network. On October 21, 1976, President Gerald Ford signed Pub.L. Administratively, the U.S. Virgin Islands are divided into two (2) districts: the Saint Thomas & Saint John district, and the Saint Croix district. After both hurricanes, the office of V.I. [3][64] Other major sectors are the public sector, some limited agriculture, and small scale manufacturing, most notably rum production. The British territory consists of 4 larger islands (Tortola, Anegada, Virgin Gorda, and Jost Van Dyke) and 32 smaller islands and islets, of which more than 20 are uninhabited; lesser islands include Great Tobago, Salt, Peter, Cooper, Norman, Guana, Beef, Great Thatch, Little Thatch, and Marina Cay. [71] By January 23, 2017, this had increased to $2 billion. Estate names are still used to write addresses; estates and quarters are used in describing real estate, especially on St. John[61] and St. Reconsider travel to the British Virgin Islands due to health and safety measures and COVID-related conditions.. Read the Department of State’s COVID-19 page before you plan any international travel.. † Physiographically, these are continental islands not a part of the volcanic Windward Islands arc. The single largest employer was the government. [72] The government instituted a new law in March 2017 with new or increased taxes on rum, beer, tobacco products and sugary drinks, as well as internet purchases and timeshare unit owners. [23] Since refining ended, the 34-million-barrel tank farm has operated as a crude oil and petrochemical storage facility for third-party customers. ^ These three Dutch Caribbean territories form the SSS islands. [30] A third person had a fatal heart attack during the hurricane. The U.S. Virgin Islands are known for their white sand beaches, including Magens Bay and Trunk Bay, and deepwater harbors along the Anegada Passage, including Charlotte Amalie (the capital) and Christiansted. At the same time, the economics of continued possession weighed heavily on the minds of Danish decision makers, and a consensus in favor of selling emerged in the Danish parliament. [7][better source needed] During the 17th–18th centuries, a sizable Jewish community also began to settle on the islands. The U.S. Virgin Islands is the only U.S. jurisdiction that drives on the left. Additionally, the 1867 hurricane and earthquake and tsunami further impacted the economy. [76] The Virgin Islands were the highest oil consumers per capita in the world in 2007. Retrieved February 16, 2017. The following two countries of the Lucayan Archipelago are the portion of the Caribbean islands that do not border the Caribbean Sea. [23] Such visitors do not spend large amounts of money ($146.70 each on average) but as a group, they contributed $339.8 million to the economy in 2012. The Commonwealth of the Bahamas and the British Overseas Territory of the Turks and Caicos Islands are located in the North Atlantic Ocean rather than the Caribbean Sea, but they still fall in the Caribbean region. There are several national parks, such as the Virgin Islands National Park, Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument, Buck Island Reef National Monument, Christiansted National Historic Site, and Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve. In the final year of full refinery operations, the value of exported petroleum products was $12.7 billion (2011 fiscal year). Tortola has two main highways and numerous side routes; Virgin Gorda, Anegada, and Jost Van Dyke also have road systems. The average private sector salary was $34,088 and the average public sector salary was $52,572. They share the Virgin Islands Archipelago with the Puerto Rican Virgin Islands of Vieques and Culebra (administered by Puerto Rico), and the British Virgin Islands. When the mainland United States is on standard time, the U.S. Virgin Islands are one hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time. [23] About 28.7% of families and 32.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 41.7% of those less than 18 years old and 29.8% of those 65 or more years old. A lively and informative new podcast for kids that the whole family will enjoy! [70], A May 2016 report by Bloomberg expressed concern about the islands' tax-supported debt load. [citation needed] District Court judges are appointed by the U.S. president, while Superior Court and Supreme Court judges are appointed by the governor. Only Road Town has a piped supply. Newspapers include: Virgin Islands government employees are also given administrative leave for St. Croix carnival events in January and St. Thomas carnival events in April/May. [31] The hurricane caused extensive and severe damage to St. Croix. As of early 2017, the territory still did not have its own constitution. The group of islands and islets are part of the Lesser Antilles located in the eastern Caribbean, 63 km (39 mi) east of Puerto Rico and 1,770 km (1100 mi) southeast of Miami. Territories", "Choose or Lose: U.S. Virgin Islands in 2017", "Statement by the Press Secretary on S.J.Res. This report states that the "leisure and hospitality sector" employed an average of 7,333 people. However, because most cars in the territory are imported from the mainland United States, the cars in the territory are left-hand drive. [3], The islands were named "Santa Úrsula y las Once Mil Vírgenes" by Christopher Columbus in 1493 after the legend of Saint Ursula and the 11,000 virgins. [91], The racial makeup of the U.S. Virgin Islands was:[92], Many residents can trace their ancestry to other Caribbean islands, especially Puerto Rico and the Lesser Antilles. The great majority of British Virgin Islanders are the descendants of African slaves. says land acquired from the feds is about to undergo large-scale improvements", "U.S. Virgin Islands Economic Review – VI", "St. Croix oil refinery gets $1.4 billion investment, plans to restart", "St. Croix barely escapes worst of Maria's wrath", "Five hurricane-related deaths confirmed", "Federal disaster relief begins on St. Croix", "After Hurricanes, Public Housing May Never Get Rebuilt", "Maria leaves St. Croix with a working hospital", "8 U.S. Code § 1406 - Persons living in and born in the Virgin Islands", "Presidential election in the U.S. Virgin Islands, 2016", "Watch John Oliver Cast His Ballot for Voting Rights for U.S. Defense is the responsibility of the United States. Traffic signals are located on the opposite side of the road than they are in the U.S. mainland, and many standard road signs have been altered to fit the left-side driving. Rainfall is erratic, however, varying widely from year to year. [3] The total land area of the territory is 133.73 square miles (346.36 km2). Antigua17°5′0″N 61°48′0″W / 17.08333°N 61.80000°W / 17.08333; -61.80000, Barbuda17°37′0″N 61°48′0″W / 17.61667°N 61.80000°W / 17.61667; -61.80000, Redonda16°56′20″N 62°20′30″W / 16.93889°N 62.34167°W / 16.93889; -62.34167, Spanish town [citation needed] For example, in informal situations, many Puerto Ricans in Saint Croix speak a unique Spanglish-like combination of Puerto Rican Spanish and the local Crucian dialect of creole English. Between 2007 and 2012, sales declined by $12.6 billion, or 64.9 percent. The University of the Virgin Islands provides higher education leading to associate's, bachelor's, and master's degrees, with campuses on St. Thomas and St. Croix. Sailfish, tarpon, marlin, kingfish, and wahoo abound in the coastal waters and offshore. Usually grouped with Northern American countries based on proximity; occasionally grouped with the Caribbean region culturally. About one-fourth of all Tortolans live in Road Town. There is also a small airport on Anegada that receives connecting flights from Beef Island, and there is plane service to the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and Antigua. The British Virgin Islands are a collection of 60 unspoiled islands that pack the best of the Caribbean into one convenient destination. [22], In 1966, Hess Oil began construction on an oil refinery. In St. Croix, English was the dominant language. Euromonitor indicates that over 50% of the workforce is employed in some tourism-related work.[75]. However, not all U.S. vehicle regulations are in force, and there are vehicles on the road that cannot be sold in the mainland U.S. Additionally, headlights use the U.S. pattern which casts light to the right, tending to blind oncoming drivers. Males had a median income of $28,309 versus $22,601 for females. British Virgin Islands, British overseas territory in the eastern Caribbean Sea.It is part of an island chain collectively known as the Virgin Islands, which makes up the northeastern extremity of the Greater Antilles. [21] The 1936 Organic Act and the 1954 Revised Organic Act established the local government. As of January 2010[update], specifically assigned codes include 00801–00805 (St Thomas),[84] Be drawn in by Virgin Gorda’s natural granite pillars. # Physiographically, Bermuda is an isolated oceanic island in the North Atlantic Ocean, not a part of the Antilles, West Indies, Caribbean, North American continent or South American continent. When the mainland United States is on daylight saving time, Eastern Daylight Time is the same as Atlantic Standard Time. Obviously, both the US Virgin Islands (USVI) and the British Virgin Islands (BVI) have beaches, but they may be two different experiences. Imports—mostly from the United States, Puerto Rico, and the United Kingdom—consist chiefly of foodstuffs, beverages, machinery, motor vehicles, building materials, and petroleum products. [citation needed] Appeals filed prior to that date are heard by the Appellate Division of the District Court. [101], In 2010, the national average life expectancy was 79.61 years. The territory consists of three main islands: St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix, as well as several dozen smaller islands. Croix. The islands are part of the North American Numbering Plan, using area code 340, and island residents and visitors are able to call most toll-free U.S. The long and narrow Virgin Gorda (“Fat Virgin”), with an area of approximately 8 square miles (21 square km), rises to an elevation of more than 1,300 feet (400 metres). The main crops are bananas, sugarcane, citrus fruits, coconuts, mangoes, and various root crops. Nearly 70% of adults had at least a high school diploma and 19.2% had a bachelor's degree or higher. Serving the local population is also part of the role of these sectors. A wind gust to 86 mph was reported at St. Thomas. [citation needed] The Hovensa is now opened again. On the other hand, tourism and some other service industries were growing.
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