ANGUILLA
(British Angiliya)

HISTORY

Anguilla, from the French word anguille (eel), is the long narrow island in the Caribbean Sea. The island which makes about a half from Washington the District of Columbia, is located approximately in 150 miles to the east from Puerto Rico and is the most northern of the Leeward Islands on the Lesser Antilles. Its length 16 miles and width of 3,5 miles gives to the country the total area of 35 square miles or 91 sq.km. The territory also includes the Sombrero, the Srub, the Press and Islands of the Dog and Prickly Pears. The capital is the Valley which is located in the center of the island. It is a part of the British West Indies and is dependent British colony of Corona.

Anguilla was colonized by the British settlers from Saint Christopher (Saint Kitts) in 1650 and since then is the British territory. In 1882 Anguilla was combined with St. Christopher and Nevis as uniform British dependent colony. Inhabitants resisted alliance with several protests and attempts to separate from association with St. Christopher. Results were finally achieved in 1967 when angilets threw out Saint Christopher's police officers and announced independence of the country, having refused further recognition of the power of the state government of St. Christopher. After two years of negotiations the British troops were dispatched for establishment of control over the island. In 1980 the country was officially separated from Nevis and Saint Christopher and was under direct British dominion; in 1982 the new Anguilla constitution was approved.

POPULATION

In 2000 the number of the Anguilla population was about 12 000 people of whom 26 percent made 14 years or less. Indicators of birth rate and mortality in 2000 were moderate, and average life expectancy made a little more than 76 years. Most of inhabitants of the African origin. Official language - English, and Protestant names make the biggest religious groups. The literacy level based on determination of age of 12 years is also more senior, capable to read and write, is 95 percent.
Constitutional and legal funds

As Anguilla is dependent British colony, its government is stated and copes according to the British dictatorships. The administration of the island bears responsibility the governor appointed the monarch of the United Kingdom, executive council and legislative assembly. The territory has the legal system based on the English general law, and protection of the country is responsibility of the United Kingdom. Though anguilyanets live in quite bad conditions in some respects, at the same time income per capita in 1998 makes about 7 900 US dollars, they it is much better, than in some other countries the Caribbean Region. Low crime rates and practically lack of taxes add to appeal of Anguilla.