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THE BRITISH EMPIRIC : — LEEWARD ISLANDS
The following table shows the area and population of the Leeward Islands: —
__
Area:
Square miles
Population 1901
Population according to
Census taken on 2nd April,
1911
Males
Females
Total
Antigua
Barbuda and Redonda .
108 ) 62 \
35,073
13,989
18,280
32,269
Virgin Islands
58
4,908
2,613
2,949
5,562
Dominica
305
28,894
15,231
18,632
33,863
St. Kitts
65
29,782
10,969
15,314
26,283
Nevis
50
12,774
5,521
7,424
12,945
Anguilla
35
3,890
1,562
2,513
4,075
Montserrat .
32
12,215
5,245
6,951
12,196
Total .
715
127,536
55,130
72,063
127,193
The" principal religious bodies are Anglican, Roman Catholic, Wesleyan, and Moravian. Education is denominational, except in Dominica, where, with four exceptions, the schools are under Government control, and in Antigua, where the schools were placed entirely under Government control in April 1914, and were reduced to 17 in number ; the schools in the Presidency of St. Kitts-Nevis were also placed under entire Government control in April, 1915, and were reduced to 33. In 1918-19, 98 schools with average attendance of 11,228 ; Government grant 8,854Z. ; 8 secondary schools, average attendance of 256; Government grant 1,7651. ; an agri- cultural school, and an industrial school.
In 1919 there were 9,301 summary convictions, and 64 convictions at the Circuit Court.
Sugar and molasses are the staple products in most of the islands. The production of lime-juice and the manufacture of citrate of lime is carried on in Dominica and Montserrat. The cultivation of cocoa and of onions is successful, and tobacco and cotton, except in Dominica, are being suc- cessfully grown.
Financial and commercial statistics for six years : —
-
1913-14 (pre-war)
1915-16
1916-17
1917-18
1918-19
1918-20
£
£
£
£
£
£
Revenue
174,331
162,239
190,060
192,047
198,019
•-•40,471'.
Customs
99,425
94,028
110,866
112,861
114,424
141,421
Expenditure
171,128
187,615
185,094
198,157
202,054
250,578
Public debt
244,1
201,250
259,850
259, H50
259,450
251,250
Imports
58S.302
584,518
642,249
901,779
908,401
—
Exports
568,903
670,101
1,121,568
1,094,081
912,877
Total shipping (1917), 2,135,489 tons.
Antigua, area of 108 square miles ; Islands of Barbuda (62 square miles) and Redonda are dependencies. Antigua is the seat of government of the Colony. There is an Executive Council, nominated, and a Legislative Council consisting of eight official and eight unofficial members. The Governor presides at both Councils. Chief town, St. John, 9,262. In Antigua in 1919 the birth-rate per 1,000 was 34-12 ; the death-rate, 26*88 ;
