British Virgin Islands Government

British Virgin Islands Government: A summary of information about British Virgin Islands Government, from government research data as well as independent research and other sources.

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British Virgin Islands: Government

Country name

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: British Virgin Islands
abbreviation: BVI

Data code

VI

Dependency status

overseas territory of the UK

Government type

NA

Capital

Road Town

Administrative divisions

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Independence

none (overseas territory of the UK)

National holiday

Territory Day, 1 July

Constitution

1 June 1977

Legal system

English law

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor Francis J. SAVAGE (since NA)
head of government: Chief Minister Ralph T. O'NEAL (since 15 May 1995;
appointed after the death of former Chief Minister H. Lavity STOUTT)
cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from members of
the Legislative Council
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the
monarch; chief minister appointed by the governor from among the
members of the Legislative Council

Legislative branch

unicameral Legislative Council (13 seats; members
are elected by direct popular vote, one member from each of 9
electoral districts, four at-large members; members serve five-year
terms)
elections: last held 20 February 1995 (next to be held NA February
2000)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - VIP
6, CCM 2, UP 2, independents 3

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); Magistrate's Court; Juvenile Court; Court of Summary
Jurisdiction

Political parties and leaders

Concerned Citizens Movement or CCM [E.
Walwyn BREWLEY]; Independent People's Movement or IPM [Omar HODGE and
Allen O'NEAL]; United Party or UP ; Virgin Islands
Party or VIP

International organization participation

Caricom (associate), CDB,
ECLAC (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, OECS (associate), UNESCO
(associate)

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (overseas territory of the
UK)

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (overseas territory of the
UK)

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)