|
| |
Need To Know in the British Virgin Islands |
| |
Home > Need To know > BVI Facts |
| |
|
| |
BVI Facts | History | People & Culture | Government | Licenses & Permits | FAQ's |
| |
RELATED INTERESTS: What To Do, Need To Know |
| |
HISTORY |
| |
|
| |
Discovery of the British Virgin Islands |
| |
Although Christopher Columbus is often credited with discovering the Virgin Islands The Amerindians were the first discovers of the Virgin Islands around 900 BC.
Christopher Columbus actually thought he was in some part of Asia or the Indies. (Hence the name "West Indies") Discovered the B.V.I in 1493 on his second voyage to the New World. Where many nations, who could afford the expense, sent vessels off to claim new territories and riches for their homelands. The new territories (islands)which are now known as the British Virgin Islands, were, at various times occupied by the Dutch, Spanish, Danish, French and British. However, the British Virgin Islands were named Islas Virgines comparing the islands to the prisitne and untouched beauty of the legend of St. Ursula and the 11,000 virgins who follwed her to martydom. |
| |
|
| |
Pirates, Bucaneers |
| |
Though the B.V.I were untouched for several 100 years many of the bays, sheltered coves were discovered by some of the most famous pirates and privateers of this era. Such as Black Beard, Norman and Jost Van Dyke. Several of the islands here, including Norman, Jost Van Dyke and Great and Little Thatch, are named after these legendary characters.
One of the most infamous buccaneers in Virgin Island history was Edward Teach (or Thatch ... nobody knows his last name for certain), who became better known as Blackbeard. By all reports, his very long and unruly beard covered the majority of his face, which, presumably, had never been introduced to a razor.
Somewhere around 1715 to 1718, Blackbeard and his mob made Soper's Hole (west end of Tortola) their base of operations. (I have not been able to verify this, but considering the close proximity to Soper's Hole, I think its a safe bet that both Thatch and Little Thatch Islands may have been named for this notorious, one time resident of the BVI.)
Soper's Hole provided both an excellent haven for this band of thieves and an advantageous spot from which to keep watch along the Sir Francis Drake channel for any ships ripe for plunder. Blackbeard's favourite targets were Spanish Galleons; although he did not seem to be too terribly picky about whom he murdered, robbed or raped. Blackbeard and his buccaneers would lay in wait for unsuspecting trade ships to approach and then pounce as swiftly as a scorpion's sting! They would systematically kill the crew without a second thought, steal the cargo and claim the ship as part of Blackbeard's growing fleet of pirate ships. There are many stories regarding the days of these rogues, some of which would curl your hair. |
| |
|
| |
The First Settlers |
| |
The first European settlers arrived in the mid-17th century. All indications suggest that there was no serious Spanish settlement in the islands. There is evidence to suggest however, that there may have been a Spanish emplacement to protect their Copper Mine interests on Virgin Gorda. A hardy group of Dutchmen are believed to have constructed a fort at the West End of Tortola, but their stay here was short-lived as well. They were soon replaced by British settlers, and in 1672, The BVI was annexed by Britain and administered by the Government of the Leeward Islands. Although the islands' hillsides were steep and rocky, the English quickly set up plantations to grow cotton and sugar. Sugar eventually became king and by the end of the 18th century, sugar, molasses and rum were The BVI's main exports. |
| |
|
| |
Emancipation of Slavery |
| |
By the turn of the century, slavery was becoming unfashionable as more and more people world wide, recognized the inherent evils involved with "owning" human beings. Several plantation owners freed their slaves and either gave away or sold their lands for a fraction of their value. Records indicate that 1803 marked the last public auction of slaves in the BVI. By 1808, Great Britain abolished the slave trade altogether and by 1834 (when the Emancipation Proclamation was enacted), more than 63% of the white population had left the islands to return to their homelands.
Unfortunately, prior to the enactment of the Emancipation Proclamation, countless cruelties would continue to be suffered by slaves in the British Virgin Islands. On May 8th, 1811, 44 year old Arthur W. Hodge was the first and onlyplantation & slave owner to be put to death (by hanging) for his repeated and relentless cruelties to his slaves.
Although there is no data to back up the claim, Hodge is said to have been responsible for the deaths of over 60 people, including that of his third wife Ann, who reportedly died from a severe beating dished out by Hodge. His once grand, plantation great house has long since been destroyed by the elements and ravages of time and nearly all evidence of its existence has been buried by the lush Tortola vegetation ... as it should.
In 1834, the emancipation of slaves in the British West Indies, a hurricane and a series of bad economic years put an end to the plantation system in The BVI. By the mid-1800s, the plantation holdings were sold to the islands' former slaves, who turned to fishing and farming as a way of life. Over the next century, the territory was administered by a British governor and the people had little say in the running of their own affairs. Although there were intermittent calls for greater local autonomy, it was not until 1950 that the people's voices were heard and a permanent Legislative Council was established. In 1966 a new constitution was implemented.
|
| |
|
| |
Modernization |
| |
Following emancipation and their subsequent abandonment by the plantation owners, the British Virgin Islanders were faced with having to support themselves by any means possible. In the late 1860's an earthquake "the likes of which had never been experienced", a hurricane (which sunk the Royal mail ship, Rhone and a tidal wave ... all contributed to even more hardships for this tiny Caribbean nation. With determination and a marvelous sense of community spirit, the Islanders pulled together and rebuilt what they could with the limited resources available to them and carried on with what little remained.
Quite purposely, slaves had never been taught to swim and few could sail. In fact most were made to be frightened of the sea as their slave masters were concerned that these skills might provide a means of escape. Some knew how to fish and many knew how to grow root vegetables, sugar cane and other crops. The hardy British Virgin Islanders subsisted for generations on whatever they could produce or eke out for themselves. Some learned to build boats and sail while others learned how to rear livestock or farm. One hand washed the other. What they couldn't grow, the sailors would bring from other islands. What they couldn't use or consume, the sailors would take away and sell or trade for those items they could use. To this day, there is a tiny settlement which nowadays is home to only one BVIslander (Norwell Durant who is in his 70's) who still collects and sells salt on the aptly named "Salt Island".
From what I have been able to determine, government was very unsettled for more than a century after emancipation. Sometimes there was a governor (King or Queen's representative) and sometimes there wasn't. Many different forms of government were tested, only to be abolished and replaced with something new ... which in turn was abolished ... and so the cycle continued. It wasn't until 1967 that the modern form of government was established and the late, honourable, H. Lavity Stoutt became the first Chief Minister of the British Virgin Islands.
In the 1950's and 60's, Laurence Roosevelt took a tremendous interest in the Virgin Islands and made application to the BVI government to build a resort at Little Dix Bay on Virgin Gorda. The opening of this 50 room, luxury resort in 1964, was widely touted as the BVI's first major step into the highly lucrative tourist industry which today produces slightly more than 50% of the gross revenue of the BVI. However, it should be noted that the 850 acre Guana Island Club was established in 1936 and although small by Little Dix standards, was in truth the first vacation resort established in the BVI. |
| |
|
| |
The British Virgin Islands Today |
| |
When visiting the British Virgin Islands, some may consider this tiny nation "somewhat behind the times". Whilst this may be true to a certain degree, I for one applaud the forward thinking of the BVI government. Cautious and well planned growth is what continues to attract tourism to the BVI as opposed to the "out of control" growth evidenced by some of our neighbouring Caribbean nations.
You will not find any high rise buildings in the BVI, because no building "taller than a palm tree" is permitted. The only exception to this rule is the Government Administration Complex on Wickham's Cay I which was opened in 1995. There are very few neon signs and no fast food restaurants. In fact, there isn't even a stop light anywhere in the British Virgin Islands! The BVI Tourist Board coined the phrase, "Nature's Little Secret" ... and I can't think of a better phrase which more accurately describes the BVI.
It is interesting to note that in 1805, the population of the BVI consisted of 10,520 souls. Of that number, 9,220 were black and 1,300 were white. A Small Pox plague in 1820 decimated the islands and by 1844, (and after emancipation) the total population consisted of 6,689 souls of which 6,489 were black and only 200 whites remained.
A cholera outbreak in 1853 claimed nearly 14% of the population and by 1891, only 4,639 sturdy BV Islanders remained, of which 32 were white. In only 86 years, the population had been nearly halved through the rampant spread of disease, natural disasters and as a result of the white population returning to their homelands.
From 1891 to 1960, the population increased to 7,921 of which only 45 persons were white. With the advent of tourism beginning in the 1960's and the development of the charter industry as well as off shore banking and financial services in the 1980's, the population of the BVI exploded to 19,864 as of 1999. The breakdown of ethnicity clearly indicates a large growth of international influence as well as immigration from other Caribbean nations:
Black 16,560
White 1,399
Mixed 1,070
East Indian 625
Other 100
American Indian 54
Middle Eastern 31
Portuguese 18
Chinese 7
Total: 19,864
A little known fact: The architect of the US Capitol Building, William Thornton, was born on the island of Jost Van Dyke in 1759 and was one of the first to free his slaves well before it became the politically correct thing to do. The William Thornton floating bar and restaurant located at Norman Island was named for this famous British Virgin Islander. |
| |
|
|
