U.S. Virgin Islands Country & Tourist Information

Location
Caribbean, Leeward Islands.

Area
347.1 sq km (134 sq miles).

Population
108,708 (2005 estimate).

Population Density
313.18 per sq km.

Capital
Charlotte Amalie (St Thomas).
Population: 18,914 (2005).

Government
US External Territory (Unincorporated). Gained a measure of self-Government in 1954. Although US Virgin Islands residents are US citizens, they cannot vote in Presidential elections – one elected delegate represents the islands in the US House of Representatives. The 1954 Organic Act created an elected 15-member Senate for the islands. Since 1970, executive authority has been vested in an elected Governor who serves a four-year term.  Recent history: Politics on the islands follow the Republican-Democrat division of the USA itself. From the evidence of gubernatorial elections, the political complexion of the islands was distinctly Republican from 1970 until 1982. This is when the Governorship passed to the Democrats, who held the post until Roy Schneider, representing the Independent Citizens’ Movement, was elected in 1994. Despite the fact that the Republicans did not even put up a candidate, Schneider’s efforts to secure a second term failed when he was defeated by Democrat Charles Turnbull at the November 1998 poll. At the most recent elections in November 2002, Turnbull secured a second term of office, while simultaneous elections for the Senate returned the Democrats with a majority of a single seat.

Language
English is the official language. Spanish and Creole are also widely spoken.

Religion
Christian, mainly Protestant.

Time
GMT - 4.

Electricity
120 volts AC, 60Hz.

Head of Government
Governor Charles Wesley Turnbull since 1999.

Head of State
President George W Bush since 2001.

Telephone
IDD is available. Country code: 1 340. The USA (including most toll-free numbers) can be dialed directly from the islands. Efficient overseas cable and telephone services are in operation.

Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone operators.

Internet
Internet cafes are available.

Media



Post
Airmail to Europe takes up to one week. The postage is the same as in the USA. First-class post to the USA automatically travels by air through the US postal service. Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1700, Sat 0900-1200.

Press
Daily newspapers include St Croix Avis and Virgin Islands Daily News.

Radio
WSTA AM 1340 has been on air since the 1950s.

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2007-December 2008 period.

2007
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
6 Jan Three Kings’ Day. 
15 Jan Martin Luther King Day. 
19 Feb Presidents’ Day.
5 Apr Holy Thursday.
6 Apr Good Friday.
9 Apr Easter Monday. 
28 May Memorial Day.
3 Jul Emancipation Day.
4 Jul Independence Day.
23 Jul Hurricane Supplication Day.
3 Sep Labor Day.
8 Oct Columbus Day.
15 Oct Virgin Islands Thanksgiving Day.
1 Nov D Hamilton Jackson Day/Liberty Day.
11 Nov Veterans’ Day.
22 Nov US Thanksgiving Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.

2008
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
6 Jan Three Kings’ Day. 
21 Jan Martin Luther King Day. 
18 Feb Presidents’ Day.
20 Mar Holy Thursday. 
21 Mar Good Friday. 
24 Mar Easter Monday. 
26 May Memorial Day.
3 Jul Emancipation Day.
4 Jul Independence Day.
Jul* Hurricane Supplication Day.
1 Sep Labor Day.
13 Oct Columbus Day.
Oct* Virgin Islands Thanksgiving Day.
1 Nov D Hamilton Jackson Day/Liberty Day.
11 Nov Veterans’ Day.
27 Nov US Thanksgiving Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.

Note
* Date to be confirmed.

Contact Information:

Diplomatic Representation
The US Virgin Islands are a United States External Territory represented abroad by US Embassies. For addresses, see the USA section.

US Virgin Islands Department of Tourism in the UK
c/o Destination Marketing, Power Road Studios, 114 Power Road, Chiswick, London W4 5PY, UK
Tel: (020) 8994 0978.
Website: www.usvitourism.vi

US Virgin Islands Department of Tourism in the USA
One Penn Plaza, Suite 3525, New York, NY 10119, USA
Tel: (212) 502 5300.
Website: www.usvitourism.vi

Caribbean Tourism Organization in the UK
22 The Quadrant, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1BP, UK
Tel: (020) 8948 0057.
Website: www.doitcaribbean.com or www.onecaribbean.org


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