Bonisle and San Fernando
| [[File:|150px|Flag of Bonisle and San Fernando]] | Bonisle and San Fernando Bonilla y San Fernando (Ingerish/Creole, Castellanese) Capital: Puerto Ristley
Population: TBD (2021) Motto: TBD Anthem: N/A |
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Bonisle and San Fernando (Castellanese: Bonilla y San Fernando), officially Bonisle, San Fernando and the Windies (Castellanese: Bonilla, San Fernando y las Ventosas) and colloquially Bonilla or Bonisle is an island territory of Castellan in the Sea of Uthyra, located roughly halfway between Vodeo and Bonavista. Bonisle and San Fernando is made up of two main islands and 23 other islands and cayes. The capital and most populated town is Ristley (or Port Ristley).
Bonisle and San Fernando was home to indigenous peoples for many centuries prior to discovery by Ulethans, possibly the Sandrins of coastal Vodeo settled the islands. Hellanesians may have been present in the islands too but its likely that this history has been confused with that of Bonavista. The Castellanese were the first to discover the islands and attempt a settlement but there was a large period of Ingerish rule and exchanges of the islands with the Castellanese until confirmed as part of Castellan in 1807. Self rule was achieved in the 1970s and in 2006 locals defeated a referendum to become independent.
The islands of Bonisle and San Fernando are mountainous, the highest point is Parrot's Hill (833 m), the other islands are flat mostly sandy cays.
History
Early history
Bonisle and San Fernando was home to indigenous peoples for many centuries prior to discovery by Ulethans, possibly the Sandrins of coastal Vodeo settled the islands. Hellanesians may have been present in the islands too but its likely that this history has been confused with that of Bonavista. In 1489-90 the Castellanese explored much of eastern Tarephia and eventually founded a colony in Vodeo, they discovered the main islands of San Fernando and Bonilla in that time. After the Vodean colony failed 1505 they attempted in 1506 with 15 families settling in the area between Nuevo Willhed and Sally Side. The local indigenous quickly attacked the colony and it did not survive the first winter. A second attempt came in the summer of 1507 and the colonists managed one year until forced to abandoned. For the next century the island was still claimed by Castellan but not settled.
Bonny Isle Colony and Ingerish settlement
In 1616 the Ingerish took over the colonies of the Vodean coast and began looking to expand east to counter the Castellanese threat. In 1619 Alexander MacHale led 400 colonists from northern Ingerland to Bonilla, raising funds for a Wesfolkian colony. They landed near today's Coral Town and built the Bonny Isle settlement. The colony struggled to defend itself and suffered a lot. Eventually in early 1620 the territory was placed under the administration of Cambria Colony (Vodeo). Hundreds more settlers arrived in Bonilla and San Fernando islands. Conflicts with the indigenous were brutal and between 1620 and 1626 most of them were killed and only a few survived and married with the settlers. Because of the distance and already an increasing population the islands were separated and made the separate Bonny Isle and St. Ferdinand colony. In 1628 the city of Port Ristley was founded and a wooden fortification was built in the hill overlooking the town. The nearby Windy Cayes were included within the Cambria Colony but by the later 17th century were slowly settled as "free towns" outside of the Ingerish control. An Ingerish-Castellanese war broke out in 1658, the Castellanese lost Bonavista and attempted to take Bonisle, they bombarded the town but eventually could not take the island. By 1710 the Windies were placed under the Governor of Bonisle as the islands became home to piracy.
Era of Piracy
During the Ingerish civil war the Castellanese took advantage to drive out the Ingerish from Bonisle in 1719, an invasion on San Fernando failed and it stayed with the Ingerish. The improved some of the defenses and began the work on the Gun Hill castle. In this period piracy was present in the Uthyran sea and Gorda Town was a haven for pirates in the area. Cayan pirate Charles Griffith (brother of James Griffith) was active out of Gorda Town after the death of his brother in 1723. Captain James Kelly became the most famous pirate, attacking mainly the Castellanese but also Ingerish ships too. He was captured by the Castellanese in 1726 and hung. Four pirates were found at Lonely Caye in 1721, supposedly they had been marrooned after a mutiny. In 1733 an invasion force of 9 Ingerish ships of the line sailed from Saviso to invade Bonisle. There were only 3 defending ships and other small gun boats and the battle was an Ingerish victory. Afterwards the Gun Hill fort was enlarged and improved and newer cannons were placed in the 1740s. In 1756 a Castellanese invasion force tried to take over the island of Bonisle but a few ships sank in a storm off the coast and the invasion was called off.
Castellanese colony
The last major conflict took place in 1807 when a conflict over trade saw several Castellanese ships and crews captured. In retaliation the Castellanese launched a large invasion of Bonilla and San Fernando and took the two main islands. In early 1808 a treaty was signed ceding "Bonisle, San Fernando, The Windy Cays and her other islands". The Ingerish determined that the treaty words did not include Lonely Caye∈⊾ since it was not an island of the Windies and sent some impressed sailors to occupy the island.
In 1826 there was a slave revolt that was put down in Bonisle, around 40 people died but it led to further discussions on the status of slaves on the island. In 1840 laws were passed freeing slaves above 60 years of age, women and any newborns of slaves from that date on. In 1855 slavery was fully abolished in the colony.
The Castellanese built more defenses in the Ristley area. In 1854 the Castellanese ordered construction of the San Francisco castle, a polygonal fort that was much newer than the rest of the defenses in the colony. By the time it was completed in 1863 was slightly outdated and unnecessary as the threat of war with Ingerland was reduced.
By 1845 Lonely Cay (Cayo Solo) was being patrolled by the Castellanese navy but remained in dispute between Bonilla and San Fernando and Bonavista colonies.
Modern period
In 1924 self government was given to Bonisle and San Fernando in limited matters. In 1956 it became an overseas territory instead of a colony. In 1951 the Bonisle airport was inaugurated as the first airport in the islands.
In 2006 a proposal was submitted as a referendum whether Bonisle and San Fernando should be independent or remain as an overseas territory, 86% voted in favor of remaining as a territory.
Geography
Bonisle and San Fernando consists of two mountainous islands and over 20 islets and cayes.
Settlements
- Bonisle
- Ristley
- Nuevo Willhed: 77 inh.
- Greysides
- Santa Carolina
- Matilda
- San Nicolás Town
- Turkey Hill: 101 inh.
- Old Bay Town
- Maria Town
- Jonas Point
- Coral Town
- Caney: 153 inh.
- San Fernando
- San Fernando: 313 inh.
- El Rinconcito: 66 inh.
- Santa Bárbara: 103 inh.
- Admiral's Harbour:
- Curry Village
- Windies
- Gorda Town: 189 inh.
- Bight Side: 80 inh
- North Village: 58 inh.
- Little Windy Caye: 50 inh.
Government and politics
Bonisle and San Fernando is an overseas territory of Castellán. The monarch of Castellan is the head of state and there is a president who is the head of government. A governor represent the monarch on the islands. Because of their staus Bonisle and San Fernando are not part of the Association of South Ulethan Nations (ASUN) or Southern Uletha Economic Cooperation Council (SUECC) but there are certain treaties and agreements. Foreign affairs and defense of the territory are managed by Castellan but other government affairs are the responsibility of the Bonillian government.
The Parliament of Bonisle and San Fernando (Parlamento de Bonilla y San Fernando) is the unicameral legislature of the territory. 12 people are elected to the parliament, 6 from Bonisle, 4 from San Fernando and 2 from the Windies.
Margarita Ferguson is the current governor and Toney Brooks García is the current president (elected 2017 and 2021).
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The King |
Mrs. Margarita Ferguson |
Economy
The economy of Bonisle and San Fernando is centered around tourism, agriculture and aquaculture and through finances and investment. Traditionally crops like fruit, sugar cane, cacao and seafood like fish, crab have been the main exports. Salt is also a small industry in Big Windy, the northern half of Sonny Bight is full of salt ponds. Starting in the 20th century tourism was developed in the islands as a more affordable alternative to traditional resort locations like Arecales and others.
BSF is not particularly known for banking and is not usually considered an offshore financial centre but is often believed to be a tax haven due to lack of business taxation and low personal taxation. The territory is outside of the ASUN and SUECC and has not joined either in part because of the revenue losses from imposing higher taxes.
Demographics
The population of Bonisle and San Fernando was around TBD. Most 2/3 of the population lives in Bonisle and the rest in San Fernando, Windy Cayes and other small cayes.
Ingerish and Castellanese are the most common languages of the territory. Ingerish is spoken as the most common maternal language, specifically the Bonillian ingerish variety. A creole dialect is also informally used. Castellanese is the main language of government and education. Most islanders are fairly fluent in Castellanese.
48% of islanders belong to one of several protestant religions, 37% are Ortholic and the remainder. The remainder are not religious or other religions.
Transport
Bonilla International Airport∈⊾ is the main airport and point of entry of the islands. San Fernando Airport and Windy Airport are the two others. There is a small local airline, Go Islas, operating flights. There are ferries between Bonisle and San Fernando and both of the Windies.