Anguilla is a small island nation in the Caribbean, a few miles north of Saint Martin.
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Understand
Anguilla was colonized by English settlers from Saint Kitts in 1650, and administered by Great Britain until the early 19th century, when the island - against the wishes of the inhabitants - was incorporated into a single UK dependency along with Saint Kitts and Nevis. Several attempts at separation failed. In 1971, two years after a revolt, Anguilla was finally allowed to secede; this arrangement was formally recognized in 1980 with Anguilla becoming a separate UK dependency.
Anguilla has few natural resources, and the economy depends heavily on luxury tourism, offshore banking, lobster fishing, and remittances from emigrants. Increased activity in the tourism industry, which has spurred the growth of the construction sector, has contributed to economic growth.
Geography
Anguilla is a flat and low-lying island of coral and limestone. The highest point is Crocus Hill, at 65 meters.
Get in
By plane
American Eagle (the commuter subsidiary of the largest airline in the world, American Airlines) provides non-stop, 72 seat aircraft, service to San Juan, Puerto Rico. Once in San Juan, one may connect using American Airlines, or their Oneworld Alliance partner Iberia (to Madrid Spain), to 35 destinations in the United States and in the Caribbean.
Liat provides once daily service to St. Thomas, and onwards to other destinations in the Caribbean.
It may be easier to access Anguilla via St. Maarten, which can be reached non-stop from many eastern U.S. cities, as well as European cities. From there, Winair operates flights which can take 8 minutes to reach Anguilla from St.Maarten. Many visitors charter boats privately from the pier near Princess Julianna Airport in St. Maarten to Anguilla.
By boat
Get around
Talk
English is the official language, spoken everywhere.
Do
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Buy
The East Caribbean dollar was fixed in 1976 at an exchange rate of 2.7 per U.S. dollar. U.S. dollars are accepted everywhere but change will be in East Caribbean currency. Credit cards are taken at hotels and restaurants. Stores will have all prices listed in East Caribbean dollars.
Costs
Eat
Budget
Moderate
Splurge
Sleep
Budget
Moderate
Anguilla Great House
Ku on Shoal Bay
Splurge
Stay safe
The western part of the island has wild goats and roaming packs of wild dogs. The dogs are usually not dangerous, but can be a nuisance as they will follow your car, sometimes indefinitely. There used to be virtually no crime in Anguilla, but now times have changed.
Respect
The beautiful people of Anguilla are incredibly friendly and hospitable.
Anguilla (IPA: æŋ'ɡwɪlə) is a British overseas territory in the Caribbean, the most northerly of the Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles. It consists of the main island of Anguilla itself, approximately 26 km (16 miles) long by 5 km (3 miles) wide at its widest point, together with a number of much smaller islands and cays with no permanent population. The island's capital is The Valley. The total land area of the territory is 102 km2 (39.4 square miles), with a population of approximately 13,500 (2006 estimate).
History
Anguilla was first settled in pre-history by Amerindian tribes who migrated from South America. The date of European discovery is uncertain: some sources claim that Columbus sighted the island in 1493, while others state that the island was first discovered by the French in 1564 or 1565. The name Anguilla derives from the word for "eel" in any of various Romance languages (modern Spanish: anguila; French: anguille; Italian: anguilla), probably chosen because of the island's eel-like shape.
Anguilla was first colonised by English settlers from Saint Kitts, beginning in 1650. The island was administered by England, and later the United Kingdom until the early nineteenth century, when – against the wishes of the inhabitants – it was incorporated into a single British dependency along with Saint Kitts and Nevis. After two rebellions in 1967 and 1969 and brief period as a self-declared independent republic headed by Ronald Webster, British rule was fully restored in 1969 it became a separate British dependency (now termed a British overseas territory) in 1980.
Politics
Its politics takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic dependency, whereby the Chief Minister is the head of government, and of a multi-party system.
The United Nations Committee on Decolonisation includes Anguilla on the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories. The territory's constitution is Anguilla Constitutional Order 1 April 1982 (amended 1990). Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the House of Assembly. The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. Military defence is the responsibility of the United Kingdom.
Geography
Anguilla is a flat, low-lying island of coral and limestone in the Caribbean Sea, east of Puerto Rico. The soil is generally thin and poor, supporting only scrub vegetation.
Anguilla is noted for its spectacular and ecologically important coral reefs. 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 these are:
Climate
Anguilla has a tropical though rather dry climate, moderated by northeast trade winds. Temperatures vary little throughout the year. Average daily maxima range from about 27°C (80°F) in December to 30°C (86°F) in July. Rainfall is erratic, averaging about 90 cm (35 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, peak season August to mid-October.
Economy
Anguilla's thin arid soil is largely unsuitable for agriculture, and the island has few land-based natural resources. Its main industries are tourism, offshore incorporation and management, offshore banking, and fishing. Many insurance and financial business are headquartered in Anguilla.
The economy of Anguilla is expanding rapidly, especially the tourism sector which is driving major new developments in partnerships with multi-national companies. This boom, beginning gently during 2005-2006, is accelarating through 2007 and is expected to continue for years. In an effort to prevent overheating, there is currently a moratorium on "non-belongers" (foreigners) buying land in Anguilla.
Anguilla's currency is the East Caribbean dollar, though the US dollar is also widely accepted. The exchange rate is fixed to the US dollar at US$1 = EC$2.72.
Demographics
The majority of residents (90.08%) are predominantly black, the descendants of slaves transported from Africa. Growing minorities include whites at 3.74% and persons of mixed race at 4.65% (figures from 2001 census).
72% of the population is Anguillian while 28% is non-Anguillian (2001 census). Of the non-Anguillian population, many are citizens of the United States, United Kingdom, St Kitts & Nevis, the Dominican Republic, or Jamaica.
2006 and 2007 have seen an influx of large numbers of Chinese, Indians, and Mexican workers, brought in as labor for major tourist developments because the local population is not large enough to support the labor requirements. Since these developments will take years to complete, intermarriage is expected to lead to an increase in mixed race and greater heterogeneity of the population.
Culture
The Anguilla National Trust, or ANT was established in 1993 to preserve the heritage of the island, including its cultural heritage. The Trust has programmes encouraging Anguillan writers and the preservation of the island's history.
The island's cultural history begins with the Arawak Indians. Artifacts have been found around the island, telling of life before Europeans settlers arrived.
As throughout the Caribbean, holidays are a cultural fixture. Anguilla's most important holidays are of historic as much as cultural importance – particularly the anniversary of the emancipation (previously August Monday in the Park), celebrated as the Summer Festival. British holidays such as the Queen's birthday are also celebrated.
Religion
Christianity is Anguilla's predominant religion, with 40 percent of the population practicing Anglicanism. Another 33 percent are Methodist. Other churches on the island include Catholic, Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh-day Adventist, and Baptist. There are at least fifteen churches on the island, several of architectural interest. There are many Rastafarians living on the island. Anguilla is the birthplace of Robert Athlyi Rogers, author of The Holy Piby which has a strong influence has on Rastafarian beliefs. Various other religions are practised as well.
Music
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