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| National motto: ? | |||||
| Official language | English | ||||
| Capital | Adamstown | ||||
| Governor | Martin Williams[?] | ||||
| Magistrate | Jay Warren[?] | ||||
| Area - Total - % water | 47 kmē Negligible | ||||
| Population
- Total (2001) - Density |
47 1/kmē | ||||
| Dependent area of | United Kingdom | ||||
| Currency | New Zealand dollar | ||||
| Time zone | UTC +8.5 | ||||
| National anthem | None | ||||
| Internet TLD | .PN | ||||
|
History
Main article: History of the Pitcairn Islands[?]Although archaeologists assume that Polynesians lived on Pitcairn as late as the 15th century, the island was uninhabited when it was discovered by Spanish explorer Pedro Fernandez de Quiros[?]. It was rediscovered by the British in 1767, and named after the crew member that first spotted the island.
In 1790, the mutineers of the Bounty and their Tahitian companions settled on the island. The island became a British colony in 1838, but the population was moved to Norfolk Island in 1856 because of overpopulation of the island, but a part of them returned to Pitcairn.
Since a population peak of 233 in 1937, the island is suffering from outmigration, primarily to New Zealand, leaving a current population of approximately 50.
The wreck of The Bounty is still visible underwater in Bounty Bay.
There are allegations of a long history and tradition of sexual abuse of girls as young as 10 and 11.
Politics
Main article: Politics of the Pitcairn Islands[?]The island is governed by the British High Commissioner to New Zealand, Martin Williams, who is therefore not resident on the island. The island's daily affairs are taken care of by the Magistrate, chairman of the Island Council. Elections for this position take place every three years. The previous executive functions of the magistrate were assigned to the mayor of Pitcairn in 1998, currently Raymond Christian[?].
Geography
Main article: Geography of the Pitcairn IslandsThe Pitcairn Islands consist of five islands: Pitcairn Island, Sandy Island[?], Oeno Island[?], Henderson Island[?] and Ducie Island[?]. Pitcairn and Henderson are volcanic islands, and Ducie is a coral atoll.
The only inhabited island, Pitcairn, is only accessible by boat through Bounty Bay[?].
Economy
Main article: Economy of the Pitcairn Islands[?]The fertile soil of the Pitcairn valleys produces a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, including citrus, sugarcane, watermelons, bananas, yams, beans. The inhabitants of this tiny economy exist on fishing, subsistence farming, handicrafts, with barter an important part of the economy. The major sources of revenue are the sale of postage stamps to collectors, honey and the sale of handicrafts to passing ships.
Labor force: 12 able-bodied men (1997).
Demographics
Main article: Demographics of the Pitcairn Islands[?]Most of the resident Pitcairn Islanders are still descendants of the Bounty mutineers, as their surnames show. All Pitcairners are members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. An 18th century dialect of the English language is spoken along with the Tahitian language[?], the two together forming a creole language known as Pitcairnese.
Crime
More than 12 men have been accused of sexually abusing young girls. A bill was passed in 2002 to allow a trial in New Zealand, based on Pitcairn law, to be held in 2003. There will be very few men left on the islands if the trials are held in New Zealand, and satellite video-linking has been considered.
The charges include 21 counts of rape, 41 of indecent assault and two of gross indecency with a child under 14. The men of Pitcairn Island blame the police for convincing the females involved to press charges. Several women are now fighting to be allowed to withdraw their charging testimony.
External links
- Official Website of the Pitcairn Government (http://www.government.pn/)
- Pitcairn Island Website (http://www.lareau.org/pitc.html)