The name
Anguilla, meaning ‘eel’, was given to the island by the Spanish, because of the island’s eel-like shape. It was the British, however, who first settled on Anguilla in the 17th century; the island was administered in conjunction with the Leeward Islands. During the early part of the 19th century, Anguilla was incorporated into St Kitts and Nevis, despite opposition from the islanders. Upon St Kitts’ independence in 1967, the Anguillans refused to accept independent government from there; a rather bizarre and occasionally comical ‘crisis’ followed,
during which British marines were sent in to install a Commissioner to maintain British rule on the islands.
Formally, the islands became a ‘state in association’ with the UK until 1980, when it was granted the status of a British Dependent Territory. Domestic politics have been dominated by the shifting fortunes of the Anguilla United Movement, the Anguilla Democratic Party and the Anguilla National Alliance. The most recent general election, in March 2000, was won by a coalition of the Democratic Party and the National Alliance under Alliance leader Osbourne Fleming.
GovernmentAnguilla is a separate dependency under the British government. The 1982 constitution provided that executive power should be in the hands of the Governor, who is appointed by the British Monarch. The Executive Council, led by the Chief Minister, advises the Governor. The legislature comprises the House of Assembly, seven members of which are elected by universal adult suffrage for five-year terms, two are
ex officio, and two appointed by the Governor.
EconomyIndustries include fishing and fish processing, salt mining, boat manufacture (both traditional and contemporary crafts) and construction. Most of the island’s agricultural produce is for domestic consumption.
The service sector, specifically tourism and financial services, is responsible for the great majority of economic output. Tourism accounts for approximately 40% of GDP.
The financial sector has been damaged by a series of scandals, which, along with growing competition from other Caribbean micro-states, has put its future viability in question.
GDP growth stood at 15.4% in 2006, with inflation figures estimated at 5.3%. Unemployment rates have remained steady at 9.8% in the last census in 2004.
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