| Motto: |
Strength
and Endurance |
| Location: |
The most
northerly of the Leeward Islands in the Eastern Caribbean.
Latitude 18 degrees North, Longitude 63 degrees West
|
| History: |
Anguilla was first settled by Amerindian tribes who
migrated from South America. The earliest Amerindian
artefacts found on Anguilla have been dated to around 1300
BC, and remains of settlements date from 600 AD. The date of
European discovery is uncertain: some sources claim that
Columbus sighted the island in 1493, while others state that
the island was first discovered by the French in 1564 or
1565.
The name Anguilla derives from the word for "eel" in
any of various Romance languages (modern Spanish:
anguila; French: anguille; Italian: anguilla), probably
chosen because of the island's eel-like shape.
Anguilla was first colonised by English settlers from
Saint Kitts, beginning in 1650. Other early arrivals
included Europeans from Antigua and Barbados. It is
likely that some of these early Europeans brought
enslaved Africans with them. Historians confirm that
African slaves lived in the region in the early
seventeenth century. For example, Africans from Senegal
lived in St. Christopher (today St. Kitts) in 1626.
By 1672 a slave depot existed on the island of Nevis,
serving the Leeward Islands. While the time of African
arrival in Anguilla is difficult to place precisely,
archive evidence indicates a substantial African
presence (at least 100) on the island by 1683.
The island was administered by England, and later the
United Kingdom, until the early nineteenth century when
– against the wishes of the inhabitants – it was
incorporated into a single British dependency along with
Saint Kitts and Nevis. After two rebellions in 1967 and
1969 and brief period as a self-declared independent
republic headed by Ronald Webster, British rule was
fully restored in 1969. Anguilla became a separate
British dependency (now termed a British overseas
territory) in 1980.
|
| Elections: |
Last held
2005. Next election due 2010 |
| Ruling Party: |
Anguilla United Front (AUF) |
|
| Major
Political Parties: |
Anguilla
United Front (AUF) - a coalition of the Anguilla
Democratic Party (ADP)and the Anguilla National Alliance (ANA),
Anguilla United Movement (AUM), Anguilla Progressive Party
(APP), Anguilla Strategic Alternative (ANSA)
|
| Head
of State: |
His
Excellency Andrew George, Governor |
| Head
of Government: |
Hon. Osborne B. Flemming
Chief
MinisterDate of Birth: 18 February
1940 Professional/Political Career:
1959-1964: Customs Officer, St. Kitts
1974-19xx: Fleming's Transport (Transport and Shipping
Co.), St. Croix
1981-1985: Anguilla Progress Party (APP) MP, Minister
of Tourism, Agriculture and Fisheries
1985-1989: Anguilla National Alliance (ANA) MP,
Minister of Finance
1989-1994: Minister of Finance and Economic
Development
1994-2000: Appointed Leader Opposition in House of
Assembly for ANA
2000-2005: Elected Prime Minister
2005: Re-Elected Prime Minister
|
| Economic
Summary: |
Anguilla has
few natural resources, and the economy depends heavily on
luxury tourism, offshore banking, lobster fishing, and
remittances from emigrants. Increased activity in the
tourism industry has spurred the growth of the construction
sector, contributing to economic growth.
Anguillan officials have put
substantial effort into developing the offshore
financial sector, which is small, but growing. In the
medium term, prospects for the economy will depend
largely on the tourism sector and, therefore, on revived
income growth in the industrialized nations as well as
on favorable weather conditions.
|
| Airports: |
Wall Blake Airport |
| Status: |
Overseas
Territory of the United Kingdom |
| Capital: |
The Valley |
| Area: |
102 km2
(39.4 miles2) |
| Population: |
13,477 (2006
est.) |
| Social
Indicators: |
Education: compulsory from
age 5 to 15 yrs
Infant Mortality Rate: 3.54 deaths/ 1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: Male: 78.01 years; Female: 83.12
years (2008 est.) |
| Currency: |
Eastern
Caribbean Dollar |
| GDP: |
$578.49 EC million |
| GDP
Per Capita (at current market prices): |
EC$41,666 (2006) |
| Total
Exports: |
$28.7 million
EC (2006) |
| Total
Imports: |
$415.7 million
EC (2006) |
| Exports to
CARICOM: |
$8.2 EC million (2005) |
| Imports from
CARICOM: |
$$44 EC million (2005) |
| Date of
CARICOM Associate Membership: |
4 July 1999
|
| National
Holidays: |
New Year's
Day (1 January), Good Friday*, Easter Monday*, Labour Day
( 1 May), Whit Monday, Anguilla Day (30 May),
Queen's Birthday*, August Monday, August Thursday,
Constitution Day, Separation Day,
Christmas Day, Boxing Day
|
| National
Song: |
God Bless Anguilla
God bless Anguilla
Nurture and keep her
Noble and beauteous
She stands midst the sea
Oh land of the happy
A haven we'll make thee
Our lives and love
We give unto thee
Chorus
With heart and soul
We'll build a nation
Proud, strong and free
We'll love her hold her
Dear to our hearts for eternity
Let truth and right
our banner be
We'll march ever on
Mighty we'll make
Long may she prosper
God grant her leaders
wisdom and grace
May glory and honour
Ever attend her
Firm shall she stand
Throughout every age |
| National
Anthem: |
God Save the
Queen God save our gracious Queen,
Long live our noble Queen,
God save The Queen.
Send her victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us:
God save The Queen.
O Lord our God, arise,
Scatter our enemies,
And make them fall;
Confound their politics,
Frustrate their knavish tricks;
On thee our hopes we fix:
God save us all.
Thy choicest gifts in store
On her be pleased to pour,
Long may she reign.
May she defend our laws,
And ever give us cause
To sing with heart and voice,
God save The Queen. |
| Favourite
Dish: |
Rice and
Peas and Fish |
| Government website: |
http://www.gov.ai |
| National Symbols: |
 |
|
|
|
(May 2008) |
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