Local name Antigua and Barbuda
Timezone GMT -4 Area 442 km²/171 sq mi; (Antigua: 280 km²/108 sq mi; Barbuda: 161 km²/62 sq mi; Redonda: 1 km²/0·4 sq mi) population total (2002e) 76 400 Status Independent republic within the Commonwealth Date of independence 1981 Capital St John's (on Antigua) Language English (official) Ethnic groups African descent (92%), Portuguese, Lebanese, British (4%) Religions Anglican (80%), Roman Catholic (10%) Physical features Group of three islands in the Leeward group of the Lesser Antilles, E Caribbean; W part of Antigua rises to 470 m/1542 ft at Boggy Peak. Barbuda is a flat coral island reaching only 44 m/144 ft at its highest point, with a large lagoon on its W side; Redonda is an uninhabited, volcanic island, rising to 305 m/1000 ft at its highest point. Climate Tropical; temperatures range from 24°C (Jan) to 27°C (AugSep); mean annual rainfall 1000 mm/40 in. Currency 1 East Caribbean Dollar (XCD) = 100 cents Economy Tourism; sugar (40% of national income, marked decline in 1960s, now recovering); cotton. GDP (2002e) $750 mn, per capita $11 000 Human Development Index (2002) 0·800 History Antigua claimed for Spain by Columbus, 1493; colonized by British, 1632; ceded to Britain, 1667; Barbuda colonized from Antigua, 1661; administered as part of the Leeward Is Federation, 18711956; associated state of the UK, 1967. Independence achieved, 1981; legislative power is vested in a bicameral parliament; Governor-General appoints the Prime Minister and Cabinet.| Antigua and Barbuda | |||||
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| Motto: Each Endeavouring, All Achieving | |||||
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Anthem: Fair Antigua, We Salute Thee Royal anthem: God Save the Queen1 |
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Capital (largest city) |
Saint John's 17°7′N 61°51′W |
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| Official language | English | ||||
| Government | Federal const. monarchy | ||||
| - Head of State | Elizabeth II | ||||
| - Governor-General | James Carlisle | ||||
| - Prime Minister | Baldwin Spencer | ||||
| Independence | |||||
| - From the UK | November 1, 1981 | ||||
| Area | |||||
| - Total |
442 km² (198th) 171 sq mi |
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| - Water (%) | negligible | ||||
| Population | |||||
| - 2005 estimate | 81,479 (197th) | ||||
| - Density |
184/km² (57) 394/sq mi |
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| GDP (PPP) | 2005 estimate | ||||
| - Total | US$750 million (170th) | ||||
| - Per capita | US$11,523 (59th) | ||||
| HDI (2005) | 0.797 (medium) (60) | ||||
| Currency | East Caribbean dollar (XCD) | ||||
| Time zone | AST (UTC-4) | ||||
| - Summer (DST) | ADT (UTC-3) | ||||
| Internet TLD | .ag | ||||
| Calling code | +Area code 268 | ||||
| 1 God Save The Queen is officially a national anthem but is generally used only on regal and vice-regal occasions. | |||||
Antigua and Barbuda is an island nation located in the eastern Caribbean Sea on the boundary with the Atlantic Ocean. Antigua (IPA: [ænˈtiːgə]) and Barbuda (IPA: [bɑrˈbjuːdə]) are located in the middle of the Leeward Islands in the Eastern Caribbean, roughly 17 degrees north of the equator. Antigua and Barbuda are part of the Lesser Antilles archipelago with the islands of Guadeloupe, Dominica, Martinique, St. Lucia, St. Vincent &
History
Main article: History of Antigua and Barbuda
Pre-ceramic Amerindians were the first to inhabit the islands of Antigua and Barbuda in 2400 BC. The island of Antigua was originally named Wadadli by the natives. Christopher Columbus landed on his second voyage in 1493 and gave the island the name Antigua. Early settlements by the Spanish and French were succeeded by the English who formed a colony in 1667 by transporting Irish Catholic slaves to Antigua. Slavery, established to run the sugar plantations on Antigua, was abolished in 1834.
The islands became an independent state within the Commonwealth of Nations on 1 November 1981, and Vere Bird became the first prime minister.
Politics
Politics of Antigua and Barbuda takes place in a framework of a federal parliamentary representative democratic monarchy, whereby the Prime Minister is the head of government, and of a pluriform multi-party system. The Antigua Labour Party got 4 seats, while the United Progressive Party got 13.
Government
Since 1949 the party system had been dominated by the personalist Antigua Labour Party. However the Antigua and Barbuda legislative election, 2004, saw the defeat of the longest-serving elected government in the Caribbean. The elder Bird had been Prime Minister from independence in 1981, and before independence had been Chief Minister of Antigua from 1960, except for the period 1971-76.
Structure
The Head of State is the Queen, who is represented by the Governor-General. Antigua is also a member of the Caribbean Court of Justice.
Administrative divisions
The island of Antigua is divided into six parishes:-
| 1 Saint George (4,473) 2 Saint John (14,121) 3 Saint Mary (5,303) | 4 Saint Paul (6,117) 5 Saint Peter (3,622) 6 Saint Philip (2,964) |
The island of Barbuda (1,241) and the uninhabited island of Redonda each enjoy dependency status.
The capital is the city of Saint John's (21,514)
Geography
The country consists of a number of islands, of which Antigua is the largest one, and the most populated. Barbuda, just north of Antigua is the other main island. Redonda – annexed in the 1860s when Phosphate reserves were noted, unoccupied since 1930 also belongs to the nation of Antigua and Barbuda.
The islands are mostly low-lying, with the highest point being Boggy Peak, at 402 metres (1,319 ft). The small country's main town is the capital Saint John's on Antigua;
Economy
Tourism dominates its economy, accounting for more than half of its GDP.
Manufacturing comprises enclave-type assembly for export with major products being bedding, handicrafts, and electronic components.
Demographics
Most of the population are descendants of the slaves that used to work in the sugar plantations, but there are also groups of Europeans, notably Irish, British and Portuguese.
Almost all Antiguans are Christians, with the Anglican Church (about 44%) being the largest denomination.
Places of interest
The following information is derrived from the Antiguan website "Antigua Nice"
Museum of Antigua & Barbuda
The Museum of Antigua & The exhibits, which interpret the story of Antigua from its geological birth to political independence, are placed in the old St. John's Court House of 1750, a very historic building.
Collecting is central to the mission of the Museum. Some of the Museum's programmes include an education programme for Antigua &
Come in and enjoy the historic atmosphere in a cool oasis in the middle of St. John's, purchase gifts, meditate and forget the cares of the world.
Dockyard Museum
The Dockyard Museum interprets the story of Antigua's famous English Harbour.
It was not until 1725 the first buildings were erected for maintaining British ships on the West Indies Station.
A fine figurehead welcomes visitors to the museum.
There is a library of reference books embracing many subjects. A large database of naval history is available for researchers, as well as all the historical databases available at the Museum of Antigua &
Nelson's Dockyard
English Harbour has been the haunt of many famous naval officers including Rodney, Nelson, Collingwood, Prince William Henry, Hood, and Cochrane.
At the yard, there were skilled resident tradesman and artificers, many of them black.
Today you can visit Nelson's Dockyard where many of the restored buildings house modern facilities that still reflect the naval heritage of English Harbour.
Devil's Bridge
At the north-eastern point of Antigua there is a remote wild area known as Indian Town Point.
Within the park there is a remarkable example of sea-water erosion. Geological, Devil's Bridge is a natural arch carved by the sea from soft and hard limestone ledges of the Antigua formation, a geological division of the flat north-eastern part of Antigua.
Sammy Smith, a 104 year old Antiguan patriot had the answer.
"On the east coast of the island is the famous Devil's Bridge.
Betty's Hope
Betty's Hope is located in the limestone district of Antigua's tranquil rural area, with beautiful vistas over the rolling landscape to the distant ocean. The founder of Betty's Hope was Governor Keynell, whose widow inherited the estates upon is death in 1663, but had to flee Antigua during the French occupation in 1666. When Antigua was reoccupied by the British, Parliament annulled all land claims prior to the French occupation, (of those who had fled or been disloyal to the Crown).
Like other large plantations, Betty's Hope was an agricultural as well as an industrial enterprise, and home to a large number of people.
Today an active restoration of Betty's Hope is under way.
A visitor center has been created by converting a former cotton house storeroom into a museum.
Antigua Cruise Ship Dock
If you are on a Cruise ship Holiday in the Caribbean and visiting Antigua, this is your first stop on our little corner of paradise. The Antigua cruise ship dock is located at Heritage and Redcliffe Quay, in the capital of St, John's. From here shop, have lunch, or take one of the popular taxi tours around the island or to one of our fantastic Antigua beaches.
For more ideas on things to do take a look at our Great Days Out category.
We hope you enjoy your visit to Antigua on your Caribbean Cruise Ship holiday. If you want to talk to others who have stopped off on a cruise for the day in Antigua visit the Cruise Critic Forum and find out what they did and what they thought about it.
If you like a town with atmosphere and entertainment then cruise ship days are a great day to visit St. John’s.
The Bethesda Tamarind Tree
In 1951, when the Antigua Trades &
Sugar cane cutters had already been on strike for three months and both the workers and the Antigua Sugar Estates were losing money.
The employer, sitting on his white horse, insisted on speaking first, "I know you are losing a lot of money, you are losing wages and may I admit that I am losing much myself.
The people went into the fields, picked natural resources such as Widdy-Widdy bush Corchorus siliquosus and went down to the sea to collect cockles and wilks Livona pica. It was one of the greatest accomplishments of Antigua people.
This historical landmark may be found about one and a half miles from Bethesda on the road towards the northeast.
Potworks Reservoir
This expanse of freshwater is reputed to be largest in the Eastern Caribbean.
The Potworks dam was planned in the late 1960's. Antigua's average rainfall is 44 inches a year.
There is interesting bird watching around the western edge of the reservoir.
St. John's Cathedral
Two St. John's Anglican Churches have already stood on the site of the present cathedral.
The church was designed by Mr. Robert Cullen and had a short steeple at its western end. After over a century, the church was elevated to the status of a cathedral when the Diocese of Antigua was created in August 1842. Temporary repairs were made and in it Bishop Daniel Davis was enthroned as the first Bishop of Antigua.
The Cathedral is built of freestone and the architect was Mr. J.
A centenarian, Samuel Smith in his memoirs (To Shoot Hard Labour), says the planters called the Cathedral 'Big Church' and that it frightened the people as a symbol of English power.
Wallings Reservoir
One of the finest mixed evergreen deciduous forest walks may be had at Wallings.
After walking about half a mile along dry scrubland with scattered trees, the spillway of the dam appears.
In 1912, after three years of drought, Wallings became empty, but later heavy rains fell in October and November of that year.
In 1915, 13 acres of the reservoir catchment area were sown with tree seeds with a view to reforestation, as the area had become denuded after the turn of the century.
The predominant tree species are locust Hymenaea courbaril, ironwood Exostema caribaeum, mahoe Daphnosis caribaea, black loblolly Pisonia fragrans, and mango, Mangifera indica.
In a certain area near the reservoir, picnic tables have been installed. Plan to make an outing into this section of Antigua's forest - a perfect place for peace and quiet in this bustling world - full of history and natural history.
Culture
Sport
Cricket is very popular in Antigua and Barbuda, along with most Commonwealth nations. Antigua hopes to host some matches at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, which is still under construction, and will hold 20,000 people at full capacity.
Football (Soccer) is also a very popular sport and in its season, it seems to be the topic on everyones' mind. Antigua has a national football team but because of lack of experience not much has come out in that sector.
Athletics is also big in Antigua. Janelle Williams, a young athlete with much promise hails from Grey's Farm, Antigua. Also, there is Sonia Williams and Heather Samuel who have represented Antigua at the Olympic Games.
Cuisine
The national dish is fungie (pronounced foon-gee) and pepper pot.
Although these foods are indigenous to Antigua and Barbuda and to some other Caribbean countries, the local diet has diversified and now include the local dishes of Jamaica (e.g.
A typical breakfast in Antigua might include cereal or a sandwich and tea/chocolate milk.Antiguan Creole (Dialect)
Antiguan Creole is a dialect spoken on the small Caribbean island of Antigua and Barbuda although the Barbudan accent is slightly different.
Persons of higher social status find it easier to switch between Standard English and Antiguan English (dialect) mainly because of better education.
In the years before Antigua and Barbuda's independence (in 1981), Standard English was widely spoken, but after independence, perhaps as a avenue of defiance Antiguan's taught themselves that speaking dialect was a part of their culture and that nothing at all was wrong with it.
Many of the words used in the Antiguan dialect are derived from English and also African origins.
Famous Antiguans
Paget Henry - Intellectual/Sociologist Shermain Jeremy - Singer, Beauty Queen Sir Issac Vivian Richards - Cricketer Curtly Ambrose - Cricketer Richie Richardson - Cricketer Andy Roberts - Cricketer Jamaica Kincaid - Author Ledley King - Footballer Craig Speedy Claxton - Basketball player (of Antiguan descent) Maurice Hope - Boxer Bert Williams - Actor, Singer, Writer Anna Maria Horsford - Actress (of Antiguan descent) Emile Heskey - Football player (of Antiguan descent) Colin Kazim-Richards - Football Player (of Antiguan descent) Gregory Abbott - Singer Tim Hector - Intellectual, journalist and politician Basil Hill - Author Vere Cornwall Bird - Former Prime Minister (1981-1994) Lester Bird - Former Prime Minister (1994-2004) Baldwin Spencer - Prime Minister (2004 - ) Sir James Carlisle - Govenor General/Queen's representative William Harper - US Senator (South Carolina) in the 1800s. Josiah Martin - Colonial governor of the Province of North Carolina (1771-1775) Gregson Davis - Intellectual/Classicist King Short Shirt - Calypsonian Swallow (Calypsonian) - Calypsonian King Obstinate - Calypsonian Burning Flames - Soca Band, (Official Web site ) Conrad Roberts - ActorTrivia
Antigua was an important port to Great Britain in the sailing ship days. The Antigua Racer Snake is the rarest snake in the world, with only about two hundred living. It is found on Bird Island, a island off the coast of Antigua. Dickenson Bay Beach, and Half-moon Bay, two beaches in Antigua have been named by wikipedia.co.uk as Two of the Best Beaches in the World. Antigua and Barbuda claim to collectively have 365 beaches, one for every day in the year. Vere Cornwall Bird Antigua and barbuda's first Prime Minister is accredited to have brought Antigua and the Caribbean into a New era of independence. Antigua's English Harbour Rum has been named on of The Best Rums in the World by Forbes Magazine. Claudette Peters, Antigua's Soca princess has been awarded Best new Female Aritist in the international Soca Awards. Eric Clapton, Musician, has founded a Rehabilitation Clinic, the The Crossroads Centre, in Antigua which has had celebrity visitors like Whitney Houston.Foreign relations
Antigua and Barbuda is a member of the Caribbean Community, United Nations, World Trade Organization, Commonwealth of Nations, Organization of American States, Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States, and the Eastern Caribbean's Regional Security System.
Antigua and Barbuda is also a member of the International Criminal Court with a Bilateral Immunity Agreement of protection for the US-military (as covered under Article 98).
Miscellaneous topics
Rare Animals found in Antigua and Barbuda
Antigua Racer Snake Rarest snake in the world. Antigua ground lizard West Indian Whistling Duck Hawksbill turtle Chickenhawk (bird) Communications in Antigua and Barbuda Music of Antigua and Barbuda Military of Antigua and Barbuda Transportation in Antigua and Barbuda Antigua and Barbuda Branch of The Scout Association
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