The Government of British Virgin Islands

British Virgin Islands - Government

Based on the etymolgy of British Virgin Islands, it was the myriad islets, cays, and rocks surrounding the major islands reminded explorer Christopher COLUMBUS in 1493 of Saint Ursula and her 11,000 virgin followers (Santa Ursula y las Once Mil Virgenes), which over time shortened to the Virgins (las Virgenes). The Government system in this country is the Overseas Territory of the UK with limited self-government; parliamentary democracy type and the different Administrative divisions includes: none (overseas territory of the UK)

National symbols

Zenaida dove, white cedar flower; national colors: yellow, green, red, white, blue.

The flag

The National flag of British Virgin Islands has 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 vertical column of six oil lamps above a scroll bearing the Latin word VIGILATE (Be Watchful); the islands were named by COLUMBUS in 1493 in honor of Saint Ursula and her 11 virgin followers (some sources say 11,000) who reputedly were martyred by the Huns in the 4th or 5th century; the figure on the banner holding a lamp represents the saint; the other lamps symbolize her followers.

The National Anthem

Title
Lyric/music

More about the government of British Virgin Islands

Constitution
Date of Independence	none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday	Territory Day, 1 July (1956)
Legal system	English common law
International law organization participation
History	Several previous; latest effective 15 June 2007 (The Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007)
Amendments	Initiated by any elected member of the House of Assembly; passage requires simple majority vote by the elected members of the Assembly and assent by the governor on behalf of the monarch; amended 2015
Citizenship
Executive Branch
Chief of state	King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor Daniel PRUCE (since 29 January 2024)
Head of government	Premier Dr. Natalio WHEATLEY (since 5 May 2022)
Cabinet	Executive Council appointed by the governor from members of the House of Assembly
Elections/appointments	the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed premier by the governor
Legislative branch
Description	Unicameral House of Assembly (15 seats; 13 members - 9 in single-seat constituencies and 4 members in a single, nationwide constituency directly elected by simple majority vote and 2 ex-officio members - the attorney general and the speaker - chosen from outside the House; members serve 4-year terms)
Elections	Last held on 24 April 2023 (next to be held in 2027)
Election results	Percent of vote by party - VIP 39.6%, NDP 29.1, PVIM 15.7%, PU 5%, independent 10.6%; seats by party - VIP 6, NDP 3, PVIM 3, PU 1; composition - men NA, women NA, percentage women NA%; note - percentages reflect 9 elected single seat constituencies, seat total includes four nationwide at-large elected members
Judicial branch
Highest court(s)	The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the superior court of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States; the ECSC - headquartered on St. Lucia - consists of the Court of Appeal - headed by the chief justice and 4 judges - and the High Court with 18 judges; the Court of Appeal is itinerant, traveling to member states on a schedule to hear appeals from the High Court and subordinate courts; High Court judges reside in the member states, with 3 in the British Virgin Islands
Judge selection and term of office	Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court chief justice appointed by His Majesty, King Charles III; other justices and judges appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission; Court of Appeal justices appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 65; High Court judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 62
Subordinate courts	Magistrates' Courts
Diplomatic representation in the US
Diplomatic representation from the US
Embassy	None (overseas territory of the UK)