{{Infobox Country or territory
|native_name = Anguilla
|common_name = Anguilla
|image_flag = Flag of Anguilla.svg
|image_coat = Coat of Arms of Anguilla.svg
|image_map = LocationAnguilla.png
|national_motto = "Strength and Endurance"
|national_anthem = ''
God Save the Queen''
National song: ''
God Bless Anguilla''
1
|official_languages =
English
|demonym = Anguillan
|capital =
The Valley
|latd= |latm= |latNS= |longd= |longm= |longEW=
|largest_city =
|government_type =
British Overseas Territory
|leader_title1 =
Queen
|leader_name1 =
HM Queen Elizabeth II
|leader_title2 =
Governor
|leader_name2 =
Andrew George
|leader_title3 =
Chief Minister
|leader_name3 =
Osbourne Fleming
|established_event1 =
UK overseas territory
|established_date1 = 1980
|area_rank = 220th
|area_magnitude = 1 E7
|area_km2 = 102
|area_sq_mi = 39.4
|percent_water = negligible
|population_estimate = 13,477
|population_estimate_rank = 212th
|population_estimate_year = 2006
|population_census =
|population_census_year =
|population_density_km2 = 132
|population_density_sq_mi = 342
|population_density_rank = n/a
|GDP_PPP = $108.9 million
|GDP_PPP_rank =
|GDP_PPP_year = 2004
|GDP_PPP_per_capita = $8,800
|GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank =
|HDI =
|HDI_rank =
|HDI_year =
|HDI_category =
|currency =
East Caribbean dollar
|currency_code = XCD
|country_code =
|time_zone =
|utc_offset = -4
|time_zone_DST =
|utc_offset_DST =
|cctld =
.ai
|calling_code = 1 264
|postal code = AI-2640
|footnote1 = }}
Anguilla (English pronunciation ''ang-GWILL-ah'',
IPA: ) is a
British overseas territory in the
Caribbean, one of the most northerly of the
Leeward Islands in the
Lesser Antilles. It consists of the main island of Anguilla itself, approximately 26
km (16 miles) long by 5 km (3 miles) wide at its widest point, together with a number of much smaller islands and
cays with no permanent population. The island's capital is
The Valley. The total land area of the territory is 102
km² (39.4
square miles), with a population of approximately 13,500 (2006 estimate).
History
Anguilla was first settled in history by
Amerindian tribes who migrated from
South America. 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.
[Anguilla's History , Government of Anguilla website] The name Anguilla derives from the word for "eel" in any of various
Romance languages (modern Spanish: '
; French: '; Italian: ''''), 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. It served the Leeward Islands. While the time of African arrival in Anguilla is difficult to place precisely, archival evidence indicates that 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. It became a separate British dependency (now termed a
British overseas territory) in 1980.
Geography
Anguilla is a flat, low-lying island of coral and limestone in the Caribbean Sea, east of
Puerto Rico. The soil is generally thin and poor, supporting only scrub vegetation.
Anguilla is noted for its spectacular and ecologically important coral reefs. Apart from the main island of Anguilla itself, the territory includes a number of other smaller islands and cays, mostly tiny and uninhabited. Some of these are:
Anguillita
Dog Island
Prickly Pear Cays
Scrub Island
Seal Island
Sombrero, also known as Hat Island
Sandy Island
Climate
Anguilla has a tropical though rather dry climate, moderated by northeast trade winds. Temperatures vary little throughout the year. Average daily maxima range from about 27 °C (80 °F) in December to 30 °C (86 °F) in July. Rainfall is erratic, averaging about 90 cm (35 in) per year, the wettest months being September and October, and the driest February and March. Anguilla is vulnerable to hurricanes from June to November, peak season August to mid-October.
Economy
Anguilla's thin arid soil is largely unsuitable for agriculture, and the island has few land-based
natural resources. Its main industries are tourism,
offshore incorporation and management,
offshore banking, and fishing. Many insurance and financial business are headquartered in Anguilla.
The economy of Anguilla is expanding rapidly, especially the tourism sector which is driving major new developments in partnerships with multi-national companies. This boom, beginning gently during 2005-2006, is accelarating through 2007 and is expected to continue for years. In an effort to prevent overheating, there is currently a moratorium on "non-belongers" (foreigners) buying land in Anguilla.
Anguilla's currency is the
East Caribbean dollar, though the
US dollar is also widely accepted. The exchange rate is fixed to the US dollar at US$1 = EC$2.70.
Demographics
The majority of residents (90.08%) are black, the descendants of slaves transported from Africa. Growing minorities include whites at 3.74% and people of mixed race at 4.65% (figures from 2001 census).
72% of the population is Anguillian while 28% is non-Anguillian (2001 census). Of the non-Anguillian population, many are citizens of the United States, United Kingdom, St Kitts & Nevis, the Dominican Republic, or Jamaica.
2006 and 2007 have seen an influx of large numbers of Chinese, Indian, and Mexican workers, brought in as labor for major tourist developments due to the local population not being large enough to support the labor requirements.
Culture
The
Anguilla National Trust (ANT) was established in 1993 to preserve the heritage of the island, including its cultural heritage. The Trust has programmes encouraging Anguillan writers and the preservation of the island's history.
The island's cultural history begins with the
Arawak Indians. Artifacts have been found around the island, telling of life before European settlers arrived.
As throughout the
Caribbean, holidays are a cultural fixture. Anguilla's most important holidays are of historic as much as cultural importance – particularly the anniversary of the emancipation (previously August Monday in the Park), celebrated as the Summer Festival.
British holidays, such as the Queen's birthday, are also celebrated.
Language
Today most people in Anguilla speak a British-influenced variety of "Standard" English. Other languages are also spoken on the island, including varieties of Spanish, Chinese and the languages of other immigrants. However, the most common language other than Standard English is the island's own English-lexifier Creole language (not to be confused with French Creole spoken in islands such as Haiti and St. Lucia). It is referred to locally by terms such as "dialect" (pronounced "dialec"), or "Anguillian". It has its main roots in early varieties of English and West African languages, and is similar to the dialects spoken in English-speaking islands throughout the Eastern Caribbean.
Music
Sailing
Sailing has deep roots in Anguillian culture, and is the
national sport. In this sense Anguilla is unique as it is one of the former
British Colony (the other being
India that lists Field Hockey) does not consider
Cricket as the national sport (Which is a popular sport nonetheless - Anguilla is the home of
Omari Banks, who played for the
West Indies Cricket Team). There are regular
regattas on national holidays which are run by locally built and designed boats. These regattas do not conform to international sailing rules with regard to
right of way. Instead, there is only one rule, known as the "Hard Lee" rule. (The name of this rule is derived from the motion required to
tack a
tiller boat, which is to push the tiller "hard to leeward") In the event of two boats on opposite tacks being on a collision course, one or both of the captains may elect to call "Hard lee" to the other. When this call is made, both boats must tack regardless of whether it is advantageous or not. The objective of this maneuver is to attempt to gain as much distance upwind as possible before having to tack to avoid a collision. Alternatively, one captain may decide to "draw" and either tack earlier or change his
point of sail to avoid this maneuver. This means a loss in height, but it may be preferable to tacking towards a shallow reef or other unfavorable position.
References