Archive for the 'commonwealth' Category

Montserrat

Published July 14th, 2008 in british empire, montserrat, British Overseas Territory, ambrand and commonwealth. 0 Comments

Some day, when I have the money I hope to visit the Island Paradise of Montserrat. I’s nice flag speaks for itself…

… whats that? you’re lost?. Well let me be your John Locke and interpret what the island has to say.

Montserrat is often referred to as the Emerald Isle of the Caribbean, due both to its resemblance to coastal Ireland and to the Irish descent of most of its early European settlers. It is a British overseas territory.

Montserrat is located in the Leeward Islands, part of the chain of islands called the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean Sea. It measures approximately 16 km long and 11 km wide, giving 40 kilometres of coastline. Montserrat was given its name by Christopher Columbus on his second voyage to the New World in 1493, after its namesake located in Catalonia.

Its Georgian era capital city of Plymouth was destroyed and two-thirds of the island’s population forced to flee abroad by an eruption of the previously dormant Soufriere Hills volcano that began on 18th July 1995. The eruption continues today, but on a much reduced scale with the damage being confined to the areas around Plymouth including its docking facilities and the former W.H. Bramble Airport. The subsequent  exclusion zone extends from the south coast of the island north to parts of the Belham Valley has been closed because of an increase in the size of the existing volcanic dome. This zone includes St. George’s Hill which provided visitors with a spectacular view of the volcano and the destruction it has wrought upon the capital. A new airport at Gerald’s in the northern part of the island opened in 2005. Appropriately we understand it was constructed by a Northern Irish company.

The village of Brades currently serves as the de facto centre of government.

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Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda

Published February 1st, 2008 in WI, British West Indies, British Overseas Territory, BWI, caribbean, anglosphere, ambrand, west indies and commonwealth. 0 Comments

Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda… the names call forth images of white sandy beeches and warm green waters, but what exactly is the difference between these three nations?

Bahamas

north caribbean
independence from the United Kingdom 1973 (now a commonwealth realm)
population 330,549
currency Bahamian dollar (pegged to USD 1:1)

Barbados

south-east caribbean
independence from the United Kingdom 1966 (now a commonwealth realm)
population 279,000
currency Barbadian dollar

Bermuda

north east atlantic (east of the USA, north of the caribbean)
British Overseas Territory
population 66,163
currency Bermudian dollar

All were part of the British West Indies/British Caribbean/Anglophone Caribbean (the politically correct terms keep changing), so English is an official language, two are commonwealth realms, and one is still a British Overseas Territory. But even though information about the islands in English is easy to find it is still hard for our European minds to tell them apart. Perhaps a resident can shed some light on the differences for us.

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Irish Lordships for sale

Published May 23rd, 2007 in titles, lordships, commonwealth and uncategorized. 0 Comments

On May 24th we will cast votes for the next government of the Republic of Ireland. Across the channel in England an “auction” of a different kind will be taking place.

Ordinary citizens with illusions of grandeur are being offered the chance to become Irish “Lords of the Manor” as five feudal baronies, and more than 30 lordships will come under the hammer.


However, while the new owners will be able to call themselves ‘Lord of X’, they cannot be known as ‘Lord X’, and cannot sit in the United Kingdom House of Lords.


The feudal baronies of Castle Knock in Co Dublin, Carrigaline in Co Cork and Clanwilliam in Co Tipperary are to be auctioned off by the Anglo named Strutt & Parker.


The feudal barony and lordship of Carrigaline has a guide price of GBP 25,000 (approx EUR 37,000)


Jtold the BBC News Website that there had been a lot of interest in the 24 May sale, with several bids already received.

“A lot of the titles come with ancient grants. Many of them have not been used for a long time and research into the titles may show that the grants may still be able to be used,” said Mr Chaplin… One title sold previously came with rights to a harbour. The government wanted to rebuild the harbour and the title owner received £4m - but that is a complete extreme.” - Jonathan Chaplin of Strutt and Parker


Some of the titles give the owner rights governing local markets and fairs.


Title owners will be able to apply to the United Kingdom College of Arms for a personal coat of arms for their exclusive use.


Manorial lordships date back 1,200 years to Saxon times when they were formed part of the feudal system.


A 1922 United Kingdom property act allowed lordships to be sold separately from the estate they related to, but they continue to be conveyed in the same way as property.


Mentioning “Titles” in Ireland can be risky, while there are many “Lords” and “Ladys” etc in the country there are many people of an Anti-British sentiment here, and the question as to whether or not the titles were nullified upon Independence is complicated.


Article 40, of BUNREACHT NA hEIREANN (CONSTITUTION OF IRELAND) which dates from 1937 reads

1. Titles of nobility shall not be conferred by the State. 2. No title of nobility or of honour may be accepted by any citizen except with the prior approval of the Government.

This paragraph stopped the Order of St Patrick, which was seen as too British. But could it also make the purchase of a title pointless? Indeed are titles pointless?


Well, pontification aside, if I had the money I would bid at the auction, and I imagine there are many of a similar mind in todays Celtic Tiger/SSIA Ireland who do have a bank balance to support their illusions of grandeur.

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