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Anguilla (British Overseas Territory)

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Last reviewed: 20 November 2009

Country information

ANGUILLA TODAY

Country Facts

Status: British Overseas Territory
Area: 90 sq km
Population: 13,600 (2005 estimate)
Capital City: The Valley
Languages: English
Religion(s): Christianity
Currency: Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC$) (although the US$ is accepted)
Major political parties: Anguilla United Front; Anguilla United Movement; Anguilla Progressive Party; Anguilla National Strategic Alliance.
Governor: His Excellency Mr Alistair Harrison
Chief Minister: The Honourable Osbourne Fleming

ECONOMY

Basic Economic Facts

GDP: US$158.2m (2006)
GDP per head: US$9,711 (2006)
Growth: 15.4% (2006)
Recurrent Revenue: US$47.45m
Recurrent Expenditure: US$40.69m
Major Industries: Tourism Sector, Construction, Government Service, Banks and Insurance.
Major trading partners: North America (mainly USA), Caribbean Region (Caricom, St Martin/St Maarten and other Caribbean)
Exchange rate: EC$2.6882 to the US$

HISTORY

Colonised by British and Irish settlers in 1650, Anguilla was administered as a single federation with St Kitts and Nevis from 1958 to 1962. The islanders, believing their interests were being ignored and wishing to retain their direct links with Britain, sought separation from the federation in the 1960s. This disquiet culminated in the revolution of 1967. Anguilla came under direct British rule in the 1970s and eventually became a separate British Dependent Territory in 1980.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Relations with Neighbours

Anguilla is an associate member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). Anguilla comes under the jurisdiction of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court.

Relations with the International Community

HMG is responsible for Anguilla's external relations.

Relations with the UK

HMG are responsible for Anguilla's external relations, defence and internal security. The principal point of contact is Overseas Territories Department, Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Governor's Office, Government House, Anguilla.

Anguilla Representative to the Overseas Territories Association in the UK:

Mr Robert Williams
Tel: 01494 447 033

GEOGRAPHY

Anguilla is the most northerly of the Leeward Islands in the eastern Caribbean. The island is 16 miles long and a maximum of 3 miles wide. It enjoys clear seas and some of the best beaches in the region. The island itself is predominantly flat and covered with low scrub. Anguilla's capital and administrative centre is the Valley (population 1,400). Its primary ports of entry are Wallblake Airport and Blowing Point Ferry Terminal. The neighbouring island is French St Martin and Dutch Sint Maarten 5 miles to the South.

TRADE AND INVESTMENT

Trade and Investment with the UK

UK Exports (fob value or Re-exports and Domestic Exports EC$): 2,614,362 (2006)
UK Imports (cif value of Imports EC$): 6,166,123 (2006)

UK Development Assistance

The FCO, through its Overseas Territories Programme Fund (OTPF), supports projects that contribute to the maintenance of stability and security as well as the promotion of accountable government. The main focus of OTPF expenditure in Anguilla is devoted to enhancing the capabilities of the Law Enforcement Agencies, including the prison service and the police. Recent projects have included funding the secondment of three UK police officers to assist the local police force in tackling the rise in crime; scene of crime training; providing an evidence collecting vehicle; installing computerised immigration and customs facilities at the ferry port; installing a CCTV and security system at the prison, and management and development for senior prison managers.

Anguilla benefits from DFID-funded regional OT projects and emergency aid in the event of a natural or man-made disaster.

DFID Country Profile: Anguilla

POLITICS

Constitutional Status

Anguilla is an internally self-governing UK Overseas Territory with a ministerial system of government. The 1982 Constitution (amended in 1990) provides for a Governor, an Executive Council and a House of Assembly. The Governor, appointed by HM The Queen, has reserved powers in respect of legislation, and is responsible for external affairs, offshore finance, defence and internal security (including the police force) and the public service. The current Deputy Governor, appointed in 2006, is the first Anguillian to hold that position. He has delegated responsibility for running the public service and for disaster management.

The Executive Council comprises the elected government plus two Ex-Officio Members (Attorney General and Deputy Governor). The House of Assembly comprises 12members: Speaker, seven elected Members, two Nominated and the two ex-officio Members. Elections are held at least every five years.

Constitutional Reform

HMG invited the Overseas Territories to carry out local consultation and to make proposals for the review and modernisation of their Constitution (1999 White Paper Partnership for Progress and Prosperity). Anguilla appointed a new Constitutional and Electoral Reform Commission to take forward the constitutional reform process in 2006, which presented its report in August of that year. The first round of constitutional talks was scheduled for July 2007 but was postponed at the request of the Chief Minister to allow more time for consultation.

Government

Governor's and Deputy Governor's Office

Governor: His Excellency Mr Alistair Harrison
Deputy Governor: The Hon Stanley Reid
Head of Governor's and Deputy Governor's Office: Mrs Catherine Firth
Staff Officer: Mr Peter Roberts
Executive Assistant: Miss Julie Moffat
Government House
Old Ta
Anguilla
Tel: (00) (1) (264) 497 2621/2622
Fax: (00) (1) (264) 497 3314

Government Ministers

The Hon Osbourne Fleming: Chief Minister and Minister for Labour, Immigration, Lands and Physical Planning, Environment, Gender Affairs
The Hon Victor Banks: Minister for Finance, Economic Development, Tourism, Investment and Commerce
The Hon Kenneth Harrigan: Minister for Infrastructure, Communications, Utilities, Housing, Agriculture and Fisheries
The Hon Evans McNeil Rogers: Minister for Social Development

Recent Political Developments

The last general election was held on 21 February 2005. The election saw a 74.6% turn-out of the 7,500 strong electorate. The seven existing members of the House of Assembly were re-elected except for Eric Reid who did not stand. His seat was won by Niel Rogers. The government is made up of four members of the Anguilla United Front (Osbourne Fleming, Victor Banks, Kenneth Harrigan and Niel Rogers).

Elections

The next election is due by March 2010.

HUMAN RIGHTS

Overseas Territories are expected to comply with their obligations under the international human rights instruments which have been extended to them. The following major Conventions apply in Anguilla:

European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)
UN Convention against Torture (UNCAT)
UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)
UN Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD)

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Contacts

Anguilla, Government House

Address:

Governor’s Office, Government House, Anguilla, West Indies
PO Box 60, The Valley, Anguilla, AL-2640

Royal Anguilla Police Force; Police HQ, The Valley, Anguilla

Government of Anguilla Passport Office, The Valley Anguilla

The UK Passport Service Centre for the Americas and Caribbean, British Embassy, 19 Observatory Circle, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA

Telephone:

Governor’s Office - (1) (264) 497 2621/2622
Royal Anguilla Police Force - (1) (264) 497 2333/5333
Government of Anguilla Passport Office - (1) (264) 497 7394

Fax:

(1) (264) 497 3314

Email: mailto:contactusanguilla@fco.gov.uk

Email: passportoffice@gov.ai

Office hours:

1200-1600/1700-2000 GMT
0800-1200/1300-1600 Local Time