Geography

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Location: Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates: 18 30 N, 64 30 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total area: 150 sq km
land area: 150 sq km
comparative area: about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
note: includes the island of Anegada
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 80 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 3 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds
Terrain: coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Sage 521 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use:
arable land: 20%
permanent crops: 7%
meadows and pastures: 33%
forest and woodland: 7%
other: 33%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:
current issues: limited natural fresh water resources (except for a few seasonal streams and springs on Tortola, most of the island's water supply comes from wells and rainwater catchment)
natural hazards: hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October)
international agreements: NA
Geographic note: strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico

CEHI's Activities

Waste Management

Landfill sites on Tortola, Jost van Dyke and Anegada were inspected by the Scientific Services Officer and the GTZ Long Term Adviser, with a view to the monitoring of leachates. The incinerator on Tortola was also Inspected to determine the requirements for monitoring of smokestack emissions. Samples of the quench water used to cool the ash from the incineration process were taken for analysis of heavy metals.

The Institute also trained a Public Health Inspector in the “ Operation and Maintenance of Waste Water Treatment Plants”.

Information Services

Implementation and training was done for the Water Quality Monitoring System. The system is now being used by the Water and Sewerage Department. It is expected that GIS technology would soon be incorporated into the system in the British Virgin Islands.

Laboratory Infrastructure

The Ministry of Health was advised on the safety and suitability of the continued use of malathion as a vector control agent.

Environmental Monitoring

Equipment for water quality testing purchased through the CEHI/ENCORE Project was shipped to the Water and Sewerage Department. The Scientist /Coordinator visited and provided in-country training to 10 persons and focused on the manipulation of the DREL 2000 kit for the determination of free and total chlorine, iron, chromium, copper, cyanide, nitrate and phosphate. This training involved participation from both the public and private sectors. This is a first for the region and resulted in an enhanced relationship between the private and public sector dealing with water quality issues.

Waste Management

Meetings were held with local authorities in the British Virgin Islands regarding municipal solid waste disposal. Discussions focussed on the implementation of a monitoring programme for the incinerator operating in Tortola. Implementation of the programme was delayed due to the absence of air cooling equipment required to allow sampling of stack emmissions. Follow up will take place in 1996.

Environmental Monitoring

Equipment and chemicals ordered during late 1994 were received at CEHI. The equipment was tested at the Institute and freighted to the Water Services Department and the the Public Health Department of the Ministry of Health.

Waste Management

Follow-up advisory services were provided to support the local authorities in the British Virgin Islands regarding Municipal solid waste disposal on three islands, namely Tortola, Virgin Gorda and Anegada. This was done within the Environmental Health Improvement Project (EHIP) in February 1994.

During this period, the Sanitary Engineer along with the GTZ Long Term Adviser visited the disposal sites on Virgin Gorda and Anegada along with the Acting solid Waste Manager and the Permanent Secretary. Follow up discussions were carried out related to the Consultancy services provided and recommendations presented to the Government in 1993.

Discussions related to setting up a monitoring program for the newly installed incinerator on Tortola were also carried out and a formal request from the Government was received in this regard. No monitoring could be started by the end of the year due to unforeseen circumstances.

Environmental Monitoring

The Scientist/Coordinator visited the British Virgin Islands to gather information on Water Quality Monitoring in the country. The agencies which participated in this assessment are as follows:

• Conservation and Fisheries Division.
• Water and Sewerage Department
• Public Health Department, Environmental Health Division.
• Department of Agriculture.

Information gathered included: in-country technical expertise; laboratory facilities; on-going monitoring programmes; potential impacts; water quality regulations; treatment and disinfection; equipment required; training required; data storage, processing and dissemination. Additional information, especially in the area of laboratory equipment is to be provided by some agencies.

Economy

Economic overview: The economy, one of the most prosperous in the Caribbean, is highly dependent on tourism, which generates an estimated 45% of the national income. In 1985, the government began offering offshore registration to companies wishing to incorporate in the islands, and incorporation fees now generate substantial revenues. The adoption of a comprehensive insurance law in late 1994, which provides a blanket of confidentiality with regulated statutory gateways for investigation of criminal offenses, is expected to make the British Virgin Islands even more attractive to international business. Livestock raising is the most important agricultural activity; poor soils limit the islands' ability to meet domestic food requirements. Because of traditional close links with the US Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands have used the dollar as their currency since 1959.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $133 million (1991 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 2% (1991 est.)
GDP per capita: $10,600 (1991 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.5% (1990 est.)
Labor force: 4,911 (1980)
by occupation: NA
Unemployment rate: NEGL% (1992)
Budget:
revenues: $77.1 million
expenditures: $76.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY93/94)
Industries: tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete block, offshore financial center
Industrial production growth rate: 4% (1985)
Electricity:
capacity: 10,500 kW
production: 50 million kWh
consumption per capita: 3,148 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: fruits, vegetables; livestock, poultry; fish
Exports: $2.7 million (f.o.b., 1988)
commodities: rum, fresh fish, gravel, sand, fruits, animals
partners: Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US
Imports: $11.5 million (c.i.f., 1988)
commodities: building materials, automobiles, foodstuffs, machinery
partners: Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US
External debt: $4.5 million (1985)
Economic aid: $NA
Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: US currency is used
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March