1988 Edition

Boundary disputes

none; possible territorial claim in complex dispute over Spratly Islands involving China, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam

Capital

none

Climate

subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds

tropical; hot, humid, rainy

Coastline

80 km

161 km

Comparative area

about the size of Washington, D. C.

slightly larger than Delaware

Continental shelf

200 meters or to depth of exploitation

Environment

subject to hurricanes and tropical storms

typhoons, earthquakes, and severe flooding are rare

Ethnic divisions

over 90% black, remainder of white and Asian origin

64% Malay, 20% Chinese, 16% other

Exclusive fishing zone

200 nm

200 nm

Government leaders

W. Marsden, Commissioner (since 1986; resident in UK); T. C. Stilt, Administrator (since 1986)

Labor force

68,128 (includes members of the Army); 50.4% production of oil, natural gas, and construction; 47.6% trade, services, and other; 2.0% agriculture, forestry, and fishing (1984)

Land boundary

381 km with Malaysia

Land use

20% arable land; 1% permanent crops; 33% meadows and pastures; 1% forest and woodland; 33% other

1% arable land; 1% permanent crops; 1% meadows and pastures; 79% forest and woodland; 18% other; includes NEGL% irrigated

Language

English (official)

Malay (official), English, and Chinese

Life expectancy

73.7

Literacy

98.3%

45%

Nationality

noun — Virgin Islanders); adjective — Virgin Islander

noun — Bruneian(s); adjective— Bruneian

Organized labor

2% of labor force

Population

12,374 (July 1987), average annual growth rate 2.12%

249,961 (July 1987), average annual growth rate 3.67%

Religion

majority Methodist; others include Anglican, Church of God, SeventhDay Adventist, Baptist, and Roman Catholic

60% Muslim (official); 8% Christian; 32% Buddhist and indigenous beliefs

Special notes

strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico

close to vital sea lanes through South China Sea linking Indian and Pacific Oceans; two parts physically separated by Malaysia; almost an enclave of Malaysia

Terrain

coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly

flat coastal plain rises to mountains in east; hilly lowland in west

Territorial sea

3 nm

12 nm

Total area

150 km2; land area: 150 km2

5,770 km2; land area: 5,270 km2

Type

colony administered by United Kingdom

Work force

4,911 (1980)

Administrative divisions

9 electoral districts

four administrative districts

Branches

Executive Council (cabinet) consists of the Governor as chairman, four ministers of the legislature, and an ex officio member who is the attorney general; Legislative Council consists of the Speaker (elected from outside the Council), nine elected members, and an ex officio member who is the attorney general

chief of state is Sultan (advised by appointed Privy Council), who appoints Executive Council and Legislative Council

Capital

Road Town

Bandar Seri Begawan

Communists

probably none

probably none

Elections

at least once every five years; last general election held 30 September Political parties and leaders: United Party (UP), Conrad Maduro; Virgin Islands Party (VIP), H. Lavitty Stoutt; Independent, C. B. Romney

last elections — March 1965; further elections postponed indefinitely Political parties and leaders: Brunei National Democratic Party (established on 18 September 1985, the first legal political party), Abdul Latif bin Abdul Hamid, Chairman; Brunei National United Party (established on 4 February 1986), Anak Hasanuddin, chairman

Government leader

Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah, Sultan and Prime Minister (since August 1968)

Government leaders

Mark HERDMAN, Governor and Chairman of the Executive Council (since 1986); H. Lavitty STOUTT, Chief Minister (since 1986)

Legal system

English law; justice is administered by the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court and Courts of Summary Jurisdiction and Magistrates; there is a resident puisne judge on the islands; new constitution in 1977

based on Islamic law; constitution promulgated by the Sultan in

Member of

Commonwealth

National holiday

Territory Day, 1 July

National Day, 23 February

Official name

British Virgin Islands

State of Brunei Darussalam

Suffrage

universal adult over 18

universal at 21; three-tiered system of indirect elections; popular vote cast for lowest level (district councilors)

Type

British dependent territory

constitutional sultanate; became a sovereign state and fully independent from United Kingdom on 1 January 1984

Voting strength

1986 elections— UP 2 seats; VIP 5 seats; Independents 2 seats

Agriculture

limited — livestock (including poultry), fish, fruit, and vegetables

Budget

revenues, $19.79 million; expenditures, $19.0 million (1984 est.)

Electric power

provided by US military

7,500 kW capacity; 33 million kWh produced, 2,750 kWh per capita (1986)

Exports

$2.0 million (1981); fresh fish, gravel, sand, fruits, and vegetables

Fiscal year

1 April-31 March

Fishing

293 metric tons fish, 25 metric tons crustaceans (1975) Brunei

GDP

$77.1 million (1983)

Imports

$49.8 million (1981); building materials, automobiles, foodstuffs, machinery

Major industries

tourism (over 45%), construction, rum, concrete block

Major trade partners

mostly with neighboring US Virgin Islands

Monetary conversion rate

official currency is the US dollar

Airfields

1 total, 1 usable with permanent-surface runways over 3,659 m on Diego Garcia

3 total; 3 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways

Highways

short stretch of paved road between port and airfield on Diego Garcia

106 km motorable roads (1983)

Inland waterways

none

none

Ports

1 major (Diego Garcia)

1 major (Road Town)

Railroads

none

none

Telecommunications

minimal telecommunications facilities; US Navy operates 1 AM, 1 FM, and 1 TV stations Defense Forces United Kingdom and United States defense facilities North Atlantic Ocean Jost Van " ROAD T Tortola Sceregionll miplll Caribbean Sea

3,000 telephones — worldwide external telephone service and cable communication links; 1 AM and 1 TV stations Defense Forces Defense is the responsibility of the United Kingdom BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN South China Sea