This presentation is a look at the British Virgin Islands from a communications outlook. Enjoy!

1. THE BRITISH VIRGIN
ISLANDS
By Rehina Bobryk, Maria Cordero, Diana Covalscaia., Olga Deric, Megan Dooley, and
Kimberly D.urant

2. THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
CULTURE IS PRESENTED BY THE
FOLLOWING:
 History by Megan Dooley
 Geography and Politics by Rehina Bobryk
 Religion and Rituals by Olga Deric
 Female Gender Role and Informal Use of Clothing by Maria Cordero
 Male Gender role and Non-Verbal use of clothing by Diana Covalscaia
 Music and Art by Kimberly Durant

3. INTRODUCTION
 Join us as we learn the geography, history and foundation
of the great British Virgin Islands (BVI). This presentation will
explore the politics, history, spirituality and rituals of BVI and
enhance one‟s knowledge of the islands culture, music, gender
roles, art and numerous celebrations honoring
growth, respect, humanity and prosperity. In honor of our
unique differences, we present the British Virgin Islands.

4. HISTORY OF THE BVI
 The Arawak Indians from South America inhabited the islands until about the 15th century. Some
sources state that they had occupied the islands since 100 B.C. They were displaced by the more
aggressive Caribs (for whom the Caribbean Sea is named).
 Christopher Columbus explored the Virgin Islands in 1493. Columbus named the islands Santa Ursula
y las Once Mil Vírgenes (Saint Ursula and her 11,000 Virgins), shortened to Las Vírgenes. At that time, the
Carib people lived there. By 1596, most of the Carib had been killed or fled
 Both the Dutch and the British developed an interest in the Virgin Islands during the 17th century.
They were settled by the Dutch in 1648 and then annexed by the English in 1672. The islands were part
of the British colony of the Leeward Islands from 1872-1960; they were granted autonomy in 1967.
 The Dutch, led by Joost van Dyk, created settlements in the early 1600s. He formed the Dutch West
India Company, which farmed and traded tobacco and cotton. In 1625, 1640, 1646, and 1647, the
Spanish launched significant assaults on Tortola. They killed all of the Dutch and destroyed the
settlements as well as Road Town.
 Over the centuries, government structure was very weak. Legislatures were established and crumbled.
An agent who was selling a distressed cargo of slaves from a shipwreck in Tortola in 1803 wrote that
"Tortola is well nigh the most miserable, worst-inhabited spot in all the British possessions . . . this
unhealthy part of the globe appears overstocked with each description of people except honest ones."

5. HISTORY OF THE BVI
 The British established a profitable sugar business on their large plantations, which
primarily used slave labour. When slavery was abolished in 1838, the economy declined to the
extent that many Europeans returned home.
 There were many rebellions and disturbances during the 1800s. Probably the most
significant of these was the insurrection of 1853, which some call the “single most defining
event in the islands‟ history.” On August 1, a large number of rural labourers (mostly former
slaves) descended on Road Town to protest high taxes. Authorities reacted poorly and
violence ensued. Nearly half of Road Town was burned, and plantation houses and crops
were destroyed. Many residents fled, and soldiers from other islands were brought in to
ensure peace.
 Because of its economic and social problems, the Legislative Council was dissolved in
1901. During the following years, there was virtually no change in conditions on the islands.
Then in 1947, the people began to rise up and ask for their own government structure.

6. HISTORY OF THE BVI
 Economic and general living conditions on the island continued to be very poor into the 20th century.
Assistance from Great Britain was negligible through the time of the World Wars due to its own
challenges at home.
 In 1917, St. John, St. Thomas, and St. Croix were sold to the United States, thereby creating the U.S.
Virgin Islands.
 During the 1960s, the British Virgin Islands were given greater autonomy within the British
Commonwealth. The islands have their own constitution and a local legislative council which handles
island affairs. The governor, who is selected by the Queen, deals in external affairs and island security.
 The socio-economic status of the islands remained much the same until the 1960s. At that
time, Laurence Rockefeller and Charlie Cary launched the tourism industry.
 The majority of the population is of African descent. English is the primary language, with some
Creole and Spanish spoken as well. The islands‟ economy is closely tied to the larger and more populous
U.S. Virgin Islands to the west; the U.S. dollar is the legal currency.

7. GEOGRAPHY OF BRITISH
V I RG I N I S L A N D S
 The British Virgin Islands are located in the
Virgin Islands archipelago between the Atlantic
Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. They comprise
around sixty tropical Caribbean islands, ranging
in size from the largest, Tortola 20 km (12 mi)
long and 5 km (3 mi) wide, to tiny uninhabited
islets. Most of the islands are volcanic in origin
and have a hilly, rugged terrain. The total area
of the BVI is 59 square miles.

8. THE CAPITAL OF THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS IS
ROA D T OW N, AND IT IS S I T UA T E D ON THE
S O U T H E A S T C OA S T O F T O RT O L A A N D I S A P O RT O F
E N T R Y.
Of the approximately 22,000 population that live in the British Virgin
Islands, 18,000 are predicted to live on Tortola exclusively.

9. Of the approximately 22,000 population that live in the British Virgin Islands, 18,000 are predicted to live on Tortola exclusively.
POLITICS OF BRITISH
VIRGIN ISLANDS
Queen Elizabeth II is considered the
monarch and head of state. Due to her
being unable to reside in the British
Virgin Islands, a Governor General is
appointed to act on her behalf.
 The Governor General is then advised by
a Premier and his or her cabinet. This
collective group from the Queen down to
the Premier make up the Executive branch,
the highest form of power in the country.

10. FACTS OF VIRGIN ISLAND
RELIGION
Christianity is the prevailing BVI religion
Religion in the Virgin Islands has a long history as no one
could argue with any conviction, of its contribution to our
social, cultural, educational and economic development.
There is no attempt at separating church and state in the
British Virgin Islands. Prayers open House of Assembly
meetings; school days begin with prayer; and references to God
are common in political discourse.
 As in many parts of the Caribbean, some islanders still practice ancient African
beliefs, such as animism, the worship of ancestors, spirits, and magic.
 Obeah, or magic is practiced to encourage the spirits and ancestors to do good deeds.
 These supernatural practices are often combined with mainstream religion, for a mixed
belief in both spirits of African tradition and in the God of contemporary Westernized
religions.

11. RITUALS IN THE BRITISH
VIRGIN ISLANDS
 People in British Virgin Islands are very religious
 Churches are the source of much social welfare and the center of regular social contact
 The AM radio station opens its daily broadcast with a two hour devotional service
 Public prayer opens the school day and most public events
 During October and November, farm produce and home baked goods are brought into
BVI churches and children perform special hymns and recitations in an annual Harvest
Festival
 In August, congregations join in commemorating
emancipation with a special service at the site where
the emancipation proclamation was read on
1 August 1834.

12. GENDER ROLES OF
WOMEN
 Girls are expected to stay close to home as opposed to boys who are allowed to
venture farther
 Female students make up at 50% of all students enrolled in every educational level
 Women have the right to vote at the age of 18
 Women hold the majority of positions in education and a significant number of
senior positions in the civil service
 Women influence their communities through their church and leadership roles in
community events such as Festival

13. MALE GENDER ROLES
Division of Labor:
 BVI men occupy almost all public offices as well as a significant number
of upper-level management positions in the private sector.
 Nationals from other Caribbean countries are the majority of service
workers, with men working in construction and boat maintenance and
repair and as gardeners and cooks
Division by Relative Status:
 Men tend to participate in public life through membership in civic
associations and daily information exchange
 BVI men are more active in politics and law
 According to the Everyculture.com “The status of men and women alike.
It is measured in terms of the strong independent and entrepreneurial
spirit that is held to be characteristic of British Virgin Islanders of
both genders.”
Read more: Culture of British Virgin Islands http://www.everyculture.com/Bo-Co/British-Virgin-Islands.html#ixzz1n0d6Xtkr

14. CLOTHING
I N F O R M A L AT T I R E
 People of the BVI dress very conservatively
 It is acceptable to wear bikinis and swimsuits
on the beaches, but it is illegal to wear such
clothing in certain cities and towns in BVI
 Men and women are expected to dress conservatively at all times.
Women cannot show bare midriffs or wear short shorts. Men should
not walk around shirtless or with an unbuttoned shirt.
 It is fairly unusual to find men in suits and ties, or with raincoats.

15. COSTUMES
 BVI does not currently have a
formal dress to symbolize their
culture
 Their costumes represent their
pride, their history and their arts.
 Costumes are worn during a
huge Festival throughout the
month of August as shown on
the left
Miss British Virgin
Islands 2010 – Josefina
Nuñez National Costume

16. “FUNGI MUSIC”
 To understand the history of Fungi music starts with
knowing the word meaning. Fungi is derived from a West
African word that describes a type of cornmeal dish. A fungi
is a “cook up” or a mixture of various flavors that meld
together and tastes good.
 Fungi music roots date back to field slaves who worked
the islands sugar plantations. The slaves found song as a way
to communicate and sang along to rhythms, which they
created with their bodies and tools.
 Fungi music was the outcome- a „cook up” of music, a
sweet mixture of sound that comes together to make sweet
An old time Fungi Band from the 1860's.
sounds.
 Music is an important part of the islands culture, so much
so that Fungi music is a part of the school curriculum.

17. FUNGI BANDS
 A Fungi band, also called “scratch bands” use instruments ranging from
calabash, washboard, bongos and ukulele, to more traditional western
instruments like keyboard, banjo, guitar, bass, triangle and saxophone. .
 Apart from being a form of festive dance music, Fungi often contains
humorous social commentaries, as well as BVI oral history.
 Modern scratch bands play a wide range of dances, including
calypsos, boleros, quadrilles, international pop
songs, merangues, mazurkas, waltzes, jigs and other styles.

18. ART IN THE ISLANDS
"Caribbean Afternoon"
The Haitian "running man“
Fine art print from a
figure which the artwork
watercolor by Jinx
weaves in steel
Morgan
(photo: Aragorn Studio).
Funji Band
The Wall, Tortola, BVI
The Wall
Tortola, British Virgin Islands
Mangrove Life-
Hummingbird by David Thrasher copper wall
sculptures.

19. ART OF THE ISLANDS
 The works of British Virgin Island artists are prominently displayed in
public buildings, small shops and galleries.
 Currently the islands does not have a national art gallery.
 Art is not formally taught in the school and is not currently a part of the
curriculum.
 BV Islanders have used art as a way of recording history as with their music.
 The Caribbean Arts and Crafts Festival is held yearly to honor and
render appreciation to local artist and craftsman.
Bamboushay Pottery –
turtle themed Caribbean
Sconce

20. CONCLUSION
 To conclude, this presentation sought to capture a glimpse into the
magnificent British Virgin Islands. Not only the beauty, but also the
essence of the islands including spirituality, history, rituals and politics
in which it derived. Each area of study solidifies our differences in
which we come from- culture, roles in society, genre of music and
even love of the arts. Respecting our differences can only improve the
way we show respect and communicate with others. Knowledge is
powerful.

21. WHAT DID YOU LEARN?
 1. What is the highest form of political power in British Virgin Islands?
 2. Which religion is most popular in British Virgin Islands? Why do you
think this is?
 3. What aspects do religion bring to BVI society?
 4. How do you think changes in gender roles have benefited BVI society?
 5. Why do you think it‟s not appropriate to wear swim wear on downtown
streets of BVI?

22. REFERENCES
 British Virgin Islands. (n.d). 0001 [Gale Virtual Reference Library]
 Walter, L. (2003). The Greenwood Encyclopedia of Women’s Issues Worldwide: North America and the Caribbean.
Connecticut, US: Greenwood Press
 http://www.missuniverse.com/members/profile/599504/year:2011
 http://www.bareboatsbvi.com/bvi_festival_tortola.html
 http://www.seasprayinnverobeach.com/Concierge-Services.html
 Clothing and Attire in the Virgin Islands. The Segmental Info System. Retrieved February 20, 2012 from
http://virginislandsguide.info/travel.basics/clothing.and.attire/
 Moving Center- FAQ. Virgin Island Moving Center. Retrieved February 23, 2012 from
http://www.vimovingcenter.com/faq/
 Ockerstrom, Lolly. "Virgin Islander Americans." Gale Encyclopedia of Multicultural America. 2000. Retrieved
February 21, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3405800163.html

23. REFERENCES
 http://www.thearda.com/internationalData/countries/Country_33_1.asp
 http://www.everyculture.com/Bo-Co/British-Virgin-Islands.html#ixzz1mxXuXmb8
 http://www.moon.com/destinations/virgin-islands/background/people-and-culture/religion
 http://virginislands-guide.info/past.and.present/culture/
 http://worldinfozone.com/country.php?country=USVI
 CIA Factbook, 2012, https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-
factbook/geos/vi.html (February 25, 2012).
 InfoPlease, http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0108109.html (February 25, 2012).
 Pickering, Vernon, The Old and the Unexplored: A Fresh Look at B.V.I. History; Island
Sun, 2012, http://www.islandsun.com/abshorthi.html (February, 25, 2012).
 West Indies Online: http://www.wiol.com/bvi/history.php (February 25, 2012).

24. REFERENCES
 http://www.bareboatsbvi.com/road_town_tortola.html
 http://www.islandflave.com/caribbean-politics/617-british-virgin-islands-politics
 http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/namerica/caribb/vg.htm
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Virgin_Islands#Politics
 http://www.b-v-i.com/Culture/overview.htm
 http://www.bvimusic.com/2010/11/bvi-fungi-fest-this-saturday/
 http://www.bvimusic.com/2011/07/the-best-of-the-bvi/
 http://www.everyculture.com/Bo-Co/British-Virgin-Islands.html#ixzz1nS2Qk6RL
 http://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/destination-hunter/bvi-music-performing-
arts.html#ixzz1nPuSaIwS