HISTORY

The Old and the Unexplored
a Fresh Look at B.V.I. History

Edward Teach, better known as "Blackbeard" is the most infamous of all pirates. He is featured on a 30c. stamp issued by the BVI in 1970. He was a towering, ugly, immensely strong figure. Shown here is the handpainted essay by John Waddington Ltd. (courtesy of the BVIPostal Authorities, copyright)

 

 

These years were characterised by unrest: in 1887, anattempt at armed rebellion was discovered and prevented by the arrival of military assistance from Antigua. But in 1890, the Commissioner sought refuge in St Thomas when Christopher Fleming lead hundreds in a march from Long Look to Road Town to protest the seizure of a boat used by local smugglers.

During the early years of the 20th century the economic depression forced many BVIslanders to emigrate; the islands barely survived on the local produce which was partly exported to neighbouring St Thomas in exchange for other provisions. In an attempt to revamp agriculture some cotton and tobacco plantations were experimented with but their success was limited. During the 30s and 40s the main produce of the islands were livestock and vegetables; fishing was also a well developed industry. Export trade in cattle and fish was a determining factor in the economic survival of the islands.

In 1947 the islands expressed their desire to stay out of both the proposed Federation of the Windward and Leeward Islands, and, later, the Federation of the West Indies (1958-1962). A grassroots movement called the Civic League was founded in 1938, its aim was to bring about the restoration of constitutional government. A petition was drafted and signed by hundreds of people and forwarded to the Secretary of State who turned it down. Frustration and disappointment were the charcoal that fuelled the combustion of 1949; Theodolph Faulkner, a fisherman from Anegada, had brought his pregnant wife to Peebles Hospital. Already aggravated for the lack of medical assistance in his native island, Faulkner became incensed when he was met with problems at Peebles Hospital. He therefore became vocal and night after night a growing crowd listened to his speeches at the marketplace. Faulkner found a very fertile terrain in Tortola where many islanders decided to vent their anti- government feelings. On 24 November, 1949, a demonstration march of over 1,500 persons from all over the islands asked for the removal of the Commissioner and closer association with the United States Virgin Islands. The leaders of the demonstration, Theodolph Faulkner, I.G. Fonseca and Carlton de Castro presented a petition expressing popular grievances and demanding freedom and democracy.

 

In July 1950, the General Legislative Council of the Federation of the Leeward Islands reconstituted the Legislative Council of the BVI which consisted of four members elected by a single - territory- wide - constituency. Candidates were required to have income and property qualifications, and a literacy qualification was required of voters. Two of the elected members servedon the newly reorganised Executive Council, which was solely advisory.

By 1952 the "Public Works and Communications" and the "Tradeand Production" committees were formed, each headed by an elected member serving on the Executive Council. This was merely a cosmetic change under the label of "Committee System". In 1954, the Constitution Act of 1950 was replaced by the Constitution and Elections Ordinance 1954, which established a new Legislative Council with an elected majority and abolished the former property and income qualifications for candidates, and the literacy test for voters, and divided the Presidency into five districts with general elections being held every three years. The number of elected members was increased to six with the Road Town constituency electing two of them. In July 1956 the Federation of the Leeward Islands was dissolved and the BVI became again a colony. The Commissioner of the Virgin Islands was redesignated as Administrator, and in 1960 became directly responsible to the Secretary of State for the Colonies when the office of Governor of the Leeward Islands headquartered in Antigua was abolished.

The loss of RMS "Rhone" as depicted in a handpainted essay for the definitive stamp issued in 1970. On October 29, 1867, a disastrous hurricane lashed the islands, many buildings were destroyed and the Royal Mail Ship "Rhone was wrecked on Salt Island with the loss of 125 lives. Only 21 seamen and an Italian passenger survived. Nowadays the wreck of the "Rhone" is a tourist attraction and a favourite spot for divers. Hollywood producers chose the wreck for the filming of blockbuster movie, "The Deep". On the same day the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company lost two other liners in St Thomas -- the biggest loss ever sustained by a shipping company in the course of a single day. A monument to the seamen who lost their lives in BVI waters was erected at Southampton Cemetery (GreatBritain). The hurricane made headlines all over the world; in Road Town alone the jail on Main Street was completely destroyed and many buildings suffered a similar fate; the calamity was compounded by an earthquake and an equally awesome tidal wave. [photo courtesy of the BVI Postal Authorities,copyright]

Differences between the elected members and the Administrator culminated in an investigation into the affairs of a company which had a concession on Beef Island and prompted two elected members to ask for are form that would lead to a ministerial system. A delegation was sent to London in 1959.

As a consequence, the "Membership System", which had been inaugurated in 1954, came under scrutiny in 1960 when elected members asked for clarifications about their role. In the meantime public opinion had become dissatisfied with the all too powerful role played by the Administrator and his authority over the Executive Council.

In the late 1940s and throughout the 1950s, a number of natives had been toying with the idea of a merger of the BVI with the United States Virgin Islands; the issue surfaced again in 1964 when, following talks between the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Colonies and the USVI Governor in St Thomas, a plebiscite on the question of merger was suggested but not acted upon. During the same year Britain suggested that consideration be given to adopting a form of State Council which would have legislative and executive functions somewhat on the lines of the UK local government system (i.e. Channel Islands). Only one elected member supported the proposal, the others felt there was no evidence the system would work in a colony.

During this time the BVI was not only seeking greater political autonomy but also a viable economy through development of the tourist industry. The latter gained momentum in 1964 when the posh tourist resort of Little Dix Bay (Virgin Gorda) was inaugurated, its cost in the neighbourhood of US$8million.

 

Following her appointment as Constitutional Commissioner, Dr Mary Proudfoot of Somerville College, Oxford, arrived in the islands 26 January 1965, and spend three weeks investigating the potential for Constitutional advancement. By the time her report was made public the Territory was celebrating its annual festival. The public sentiment was epitomised by the winning calypso of that year -- "The Proudfoot Bubble". This did prevent politicians from airing opposing views on the Proudfoot proposals; eventually the Secretary of State invited both sides of the legislature to discuss constitutional reform in London. The Conference took place in London - October 4-10, 1966 - and resulted in the New Constitution which was brought into effect in April 1967. The Administrator - whose title was changed to that of Governor in 1971 - retained responsibility for external affairs, including armed forces; internal security, including the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force; the civil service; the administration of the courts, and finance; and a set of reserved powers theoretically extensive but seldom invoked. His responsibility for finance was subject to review within four years.

Salt Island
(photo by Giorgio Migliavacca, copyright)

 

 

 

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