Anguilla History and facts

Anguilla is a British overseas territory in the Caribbean and one of the most northerly of the Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles. It consists of the main island of Anguilla itself and remains one of the most stunning of the Caribbean Islands. Angulla is approximately 26 km (16 mi) long by 5 km (3.1 mi) wide at its widest point, together with a number of much smaller islands and cays with no permanent population. Anguiila’s capital is The Valley. The total land area of the Anguilla territory is 91 km² with a population of approximately 13,500 which is a 2006 estimate so could have changed in recent years. It lies east of Puerto and the Virgin Islands and is directly north of St Martin.

Anguilla was settled firstly by Amerindian tribes who migrated from South America. In Anguilla, artefacts dating back to as far back as 1300 BC have been found with remains of settlements dating from 600 AD. What is perhaps less clear is the date that Europeans discovered Anguilla. It has been said in the past that Christopher Columbus first sighted Anguilla in the 15^th century although others will challenge this fact laying claim to the French being the first Europeans to discover Anguilla. A constant source of intrigue how is how Anguilla got its name with the general acceptance that Anguilla derives from the word ‘’Eel’’ and as the shape is likened to an Eel, this would explain it.

The first English settlers in Anguilla actually arrived from St Kitts, another island in the Caribbean. It is thought that they arrived in Anguilla at the beginning of 1650. As often was the case, many Caribbean Islands changed ownership with the French and the English battling for control of Anguilla in 1666. Indeed it was temporarily under French rule until the treaty of Breda where it was eventually handed back to the English. In this early colonial period, Anguilla sometimes served as a place of refuge. John Scott, a major who visited in September of 1667 wrote of leaving the island of Anguilla “in good condition” and noted that in July 1668 “200 or 300 people fled thither in time of war.” It is thought that some of the early Europeans brought enslaved Africans to Anguilla with historians confirming that slaves from Africa resided in Anguilla in the early 17th century. As early as 1672, Nevis had a slave depot which served the Leeward Islands. The exact date of when Africans arrived in Anguilla is a little uncertain although archival evidence indicates an African presence on the island by 1683.

While historians have often assumed that “the English” were the first people to settle in Anguilla, recent scholarship focused on Anguilla offers a different view. It emphasizes the significance of early sociocultural diversity. This research suggests that St. Christopher, Barbados, Nevis and Antigua are all significant points of origin. Regarding African origins, West Africa as well as Central Africa are both posited as the ancestral homelands of some of Anguilla’s early African population.

During the early colonial period, Anguilla was ran by the British through Antigua, but in 1824 it was placed under the administrative control of nearby St Kitts. In 1967, Britain granted Saint Kitts and Nevis full internal autonomy, and Anguilla was also incorporated into the new unified dependency, named ‘’Saint Christopher Nevis Anguilla’’ which was widely seen as against the wishes and indeed the desires of the people of Anguilla. This led to two rebellions in 1967 and 1969. The Anguilla Revolution was led by Ronald Webster with a brief period as a self-declared independent republic. British authority was fully restored in July, 1971. In 1980 Anguilla was finally allowed to secede from Saint Kitts and Nevis and become a separate British colony with the Queen as the head of state.

Politics in Anguilla

Anguilla is one of the many internally self-governing overseas territories of the UK. As such politics take place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic dependency, whereby the the Chief Minister is also the head of the government of Anguilla.

The United Nations Committee on decolonization includes the Island of Anguilla on the UN’s list of non self governing territories. The territory’s constitution is Anguilla Constitutional Order 1 April 1982 (amended 1990). The Executive power is exercised by the government of Anguilla with legislative power vested in both the Government and the House of assembly. The judiciary is independent is independent of the executive and the legislature.

Military in Anguilla

As a dependency of the United Kingdom, Anguilla has the UK taking responsibility for the military defence of Anguilla. Although it should be noted that no garrison is stationed in Anguilla much to the disappointment of the troops we are sure.

Geography of Anguilla

An aerial view of the western portion of the island of Anguilla. The Blowing Point ferry terminal is visible in the lower right, as are (right to left) Shaddick Point, Rendezvous Bay, Cove Bay, and Maundays Bay.

Anguilla is a flat, low-lying island of coral and limestone in the Caribbean Sea east of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. It is directly north of St Martin, separated from that island by the Anguilla channel. The soil in Anguilla is rather thin and indeed poor, although it does support scrub tropical and forest vegetation.

Anguilla is noted for its spectacular and ecologically important coral reefs and beaches. It is for this reason that thousands of tourists arrive in Anguilla and make sure that part of the trip is a dive to see some of the corals which are widely recognised as some of the most beautiful in the world. Apart from the main island of Anguilla itself, the territory includes a number of other smaller islands and cays, mostly tiny and uninhabited. Some of the other Islands of Anguilla are called:

• Anguillita
• Dog Island
• Prickly Pear Cays
• Sandy Island
• Scrub Island
• Scilly Cay
• Seal Island
• Sombrero which is also known as Hat Island

Climate in Anguilla

Anguilla features a tropical wet and dry climate and dry climate under the Koppen Climate classification. In Anguilla, the city has a rather dry climate, moderated by northeast trade winds. Temperatures vary little throughout the year. Average daily maxima range from about 27 °C (80.6 °F) in December to 30 °C (86 °F) in July. Rainfall in Anguilla is erratic, averaging about 900 mm (35.4 in) per year, the wettest months being September and October, and the driest February and March. Anguilla is vulnerable to hurricanes from June to November so it might be a time to be careful when booking your holidays. Peak season for tourism in Anguilla is August to mid-October.