Long-form name: none

Type: colony of the UK

Capital: Road Town

Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK)

Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)

Constitution: 1 June 1977

Legal system: English law; justice is administered by the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court and Courts of Summary Jurisdiction and Magistrates; there is a resident puisne judge on the islands

National holiday: Territory Day, 1 July

Branches: Executive Council (Cabinet) consists of the governor as chairman, four ministers of the legislature, and an ex officio member who is the attorney general; Legislative Council consists of the speaker (elected from outside the Council), nine elected members, and an ex officio member who is the attorney general

Leaders: @m5Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor John Mark Ambrose HERDMAN (since NA 1986); @m5Head of Government--Chief Minister H. Lavity STOUTT (since NA 1986)

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections: at least once every five years; last general election held 30 September 1986

Political parties and leaders: United Party (UP), Conrad Maduro; Virgin Islands Party (VIP), H. Lavity Stoutt; Independent, Cyril B. Romney

Voting strength: 1986 election--UP 2 seats, VIP 5 seats, Independents 2 seats

Communists: probably none

Member of: Commonwealth

Diplomatic representation: none (dependent territory of the UK)

Flag: 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 a vertical column of six oil lamps above a scroll bearing the Latin word @m5VIGILATE (Be Watchful)

NOTE: The information regarding British Virgin Islands on this page is re-published from the 1989 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of British Virgin Islands Government 1989 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about British Virgin Islands Government 1989 should be addressed to the CIA.