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Boaan Island

After the Philippines received its independence the Manila government on September 19, 1946, officially informed Great Britain of its desire to take over the administration of the islands in question. The British asked the Philippines to reconsider the matter noting the need for a real police force and the importance of the lighthouse. A joint committee was established to study the situation, but after the report of the Philippine delegation, the Manila government decided to follow its original course of action and assume the administration of the islands.

The Governor of the Colony of North Borneo was of the view that the Colony did not wish to surrender the Turtle Islands as the islands could become a refuge for pirates and smugglers and there were concerns as to the maintenance of the Taganak lighthouse.

The Virgin Islands pledge is a pledge of allegiance to the Virgin Islands. It was officially adopted on 23 June 2016. It is intended that it shall be commonly recited by Virgin Islanders in unison at public events, especially in schools, and during territorial celebrations. The pledge was first publicly recited on 1 July 2016 at Territory Day celebrations by Premier Dr. D. Orlando Smith and members of the government. The pledge reads:

"I pledge to my country, the Territory of the Virgin Islands, to encourage national pride and dignity, render patriotic service, promote justice for all, be true to God and remain dedicated to these Virgin Islands."

Adoption of the pledge was a project of Myron D. Walwyn, the territory's Minister for Education and Culture. He explained that its adoption was part of the government's efforts "to build a nation of citizens and residents that understand and have deep reverence for our heritage as Virgin Islanders". In that vein the government adopted a territorial song and an official territorial uniform. The government also erected flagpoles at each school and public schoolchildren now sing the territorial song as they raise the flag each school day morning.

The pledge has received a mixed reaction. Some questioned the need for a pledge at all. The reference to God in the pledge is a source of some element of controversy too. House of Assembly member, Alvera Maduro-Caines argued it was appropriate. She said she saw 'nothing wrong with God being a part of the pledge as we are a Christian and God fearing society'. Others felt the overtly religious reference infringed their rights. The leader of the People’s Empowerment Party, Natalio D. Wheatley, said there was a "glaring problem" with the pledge: that it is "oxymoronic" to refer to a territory as a country. The use of the capitalized term "Territory" suggests the word is part of the territory's name when it is not. Grammatically, the reference to "these Virgin Islands" rather than "the Virgin Islands" at the end of the pledge renders the pledge ungrammatical when recited outside the territory. There was little public consultation concerning the wording of the pledge prior to its adoption.

Virgin Islands

Gradual British Acquisition
In 1588 English merchants purchased from the Portuguese the exclusive right to trade between the rivers Senegal and Gambia. The transaction was confirmed for a period of ten years by Letters Patent issued by Queen Elizabeth I. Letters Patent conferring exclusive trading rights in the River Gambia were granted in 1598, 1618 and 1632. The first British settlement was established at Fort James on Dog Island (then called St. Andrew's Island) by a British chartered company, the Adventurers of London Trading with Africa, the grantees of the Letters Patent of 1618. In that year, an expedition commanded by George Thompson ws exploring the River Gambia when the crew of the ship were massacred by the Portuguese. The grantees then lost interest in the Gambia. In 1651 during the Government of the Commonwealth of England granted a further patent to London merchants, but they in their turn abandoned the enterprises when Prince Rupert sailed into the Gambia and captured their vessels. In 1651 native chiefs ceded Dog Island, Half-Die (then called Banyon Point), Jufureh and Gasson to the Duchy of Courland under Jacob Kettler, the Duke of Courland. Merchants and missionaries were then sent out and forts were erected at Dog Island and at Half-Die.

In 1662 new Letters Patent were granted to another British company, the Royal Adventurers Trading to Africa. They dispatched an expedition which, after occupying Dog Island, compelled the Duke of Courland's small garrison to surrender, took possession of Kunta Kinteh Island (renaming it James Island). A period of competition with France followed. Albreda was ceded by a native chief to France. However, by the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713, the French recognised the British title to Kunta Kinteh Island and settlements in the River Gambia.

By an Act of Parliament in 1765, the forts and settlements belonging to the Royal Adventurers Trading to Africa were transferred to the Crown. From 1765 until 1783 the Gambia formed part of the Crown Colony of Senegambia. In 1783 Senegambia was abolished. The Gambia was again transferred the Royal Adventurers Trading to Africa. However, the Royal Adventurers made no attempt to administer the Gambia.

The exact date on which Banjul, then called St. Mary's Island, was ceded to the British is not clear. It is on record that in 1806 it was purchased by the British Government. On 23 April 1816, a British officer called Captain Grant made a treaty with the King of Kombo for its cession to the United Kingdom. A further treaty made in 1827 confirmed possession of the island "and adjoining territory", as the earlier treaty could not be found.

In 1823 MacCarthy Island was ceded to the United Kingdom by King Collie and others. In 1826 MacCarthy Island was established as a settlement for liberated slaves. In 1826 the north bank of the River Gambia was ceded by the King of Barra. The town of Fattatenda, with the surrounding district, was ceded to the United Kingdom in 1829. In 1840 and 1853 there were cessions of areas of the mainland adjoining Banjul by the King of Kombo. In 1850 the King of Barra ceded sovereignty over the French enclave of Albreda, subject to French rights, which were, however ceded to the United Kingdom in 1857.

In 1887, the Emir of Betente ceded his territory and a number of treaties of protection were concluded with the principal chiefs living along the banks of the River Gambia. IN some small cases small tracts of land were ceded but it was not practicable to administer them as part of the Colony, and beginning in 1895, there was a series of Ordinances bringing them under the Protectorate system of administration; but this local legislation could not, of course, nullify the cession. From 1902 the whole of the Gambia was administered as a Protectorate, except St. Mary's Island (Banjul) and, from 1947, the Kombo St. Mary Division of the Colony.

Early Constitutional Status
During the period 1821 through 1888, there was constant merging and separation of the Colony of the Gold Coast, Colony of The Gambia, Sierra Leone and the Colony of Lagos. In 1821 the Gambia along with Gold Coast became part of Sierra Leone. In 1843 the Gambia became a separaate Coloy under Letters Patent dated 24 June 1843. A final severance of the Gambia from Sierra Leone took place in 1888 under Letters Patent dated 28 November 1888.

A Gâmbia, and later, on 25 May 1765,[4] the Gambia was made a part of the British colony when the government formally assumed control, establishing the Province of Senegambia.

VI Belongership
An applicant for permanent residence must reside in the Virgin Islands consecutively for a period of 20 years before application can be considered. An applicant can only be absent from the Territory for 90 days in any calendar year except when pursuing further education or as a result of illness. Applicant must state in his/her application his/her intentions for residing permanently in the Territory Dependents who are endorsed on their parents’ certificate should apply for their own certificates six months before their eighteenth birthday, if they wish to continue residing, permanently.