Pitcairn Island

The Pitcairn Island, comprises of the Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands, is located in the southern Pacific Ocean. It is a British overseas territory. Among the four islands, only Pitcairn Island is inhabited. It is a least populated jurisdiction in the world. It is included in the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories by the United Nations Committee on Decolonization. Adamstown is capital of the Pitcairn Island. UK looks after the defense responsibilities of the island.

HISTORY:- The Polynesians were the earliest inhabitants of the island. The island was discovered in 1767 by the British. The Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian companions settled in the island in 1790. The island became a British colony in 1838.

GEOGRAPHY:- The Pitcairn Island is located at 25 04 S, 130 06 W in Oceania. The archipelago comprises the main island of Pitcairn and the three uninhabited islands of Henderson, Duicie, and Oeno in the South Pacific Ocean. The total area of the archipelago is 47 sq km. the coastline is 51 km long bordering the Pacific Ocean. The lowest point is Pacific Ocean (0 m) and the highest point is Pawala Valley Ridge (347 m). The islands are rugged, and volcanic in origin with rocky coastline with cliffs.

CLIMATE:- The climate of Pitcairn Island is mostly tropical, hot and humid, modified by the southeast trade winds. The rainy season persists from November to March.

GOVERNMENT:- Pitcairn Island is an overseas territory of UK. The constitution is adopted on 30th November 1838. The three major branches of the government are:

Executive branch comprises the Queen Elizabeth II (chief of state), the Governor (head of government), the Commissioner, and the Mayor and Chairman of the Island Council. The island mayor is elected by popular vote on a 3-year term. Both the governor and the commissioner are appointed by the monarch.

Legislative branch comprise the unicameral Island Council (10 seats).

Judicial branch comprises the Magistrate's Court, the Supreme Court, and the Court of Appeal. The Judicial Officers are appointed by the Governor.

  

Queen                     Elizabeth II

Governor                 George Fergusson

Commissioner          Leslie Jaques

Mayor                      Mike Warren

CULTURE:- English and Tahitian influences are prominent in the Pitcairn culture.

ECONOMY:- The small economy of the island depends mainly on fishing, subsistence farming, handicrafts, and postage stamps.

GDP (purchasing power parity): $NA.

Labor force: 15 (2004).

Budget:  

Revenues: $746,000

Expenditures: $1.028 million (FY04/05).

Agriculture - products: Honey; wide variety of fruits and vegetables; goats, chickens, fish.

Industries: Postage stamps, handicrafts, beekeeping, honey.

Exports: $NA.

Exports - commodities: Fruits, vegetables, curios, stamps.

Imports: $NA.

Imports - commodities: Fuel oil, machinery, building materials, flour, sugar, other foodstuffs.

Currency: New Zealand dollar (NZD).

LANGUAGE:- English and Pitkern are the official languages of the Pitcairn Island.

CITIES:- Adamstown is the capital and the largest city of the Pitcairn Island.

POPULATION:- The approximate population of the island nation is 48 (July 2008 est.).

Density per sq mi: 3.

RACE:- The descendants of the Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian wives reside in the archipelago.

RELIGION:- Seventh-Day Adventist 100%

TRANSPORTATION:-

Ports and terminals: Adamstown (on Bounty Bay)