Antigua and Barbuda is an island state belonging to the Antilles, in Central Caribbean America.
It is an archipelago of three major islands, Antigua, Barbuda and Redonda, and other smaller islands. The islands are part of the small Antilles, between the Caribbean Sea to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east.
Antigua and Barbuda was a British colony until 1967. It gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1981. The state is a constitutional monarchy belonging to the Commonwealth.
Here are some basic information about the state of Antigua and Barbuda.
Population
Antigua and Barbuda has a population of 102,102 inhabitants (data referring to 2017). The population of African origin represents the majority (about 91%), interethnic groups are about 4% of the population, the white Europeans constitute a minority (1.7%).
Capital
The capital of Antigua and Barbuda is Saint John’s, the most populous city of the state which is located on the island of Antigua. In 2013 it had 21,926 inhabitants.
Government
The sovereign is Queen Elizabeth II, represented by the Governor General of Antigua and Barbuda, Sir Rodney Williams.
The government of Antigua and Barbuda is composed of a Prime Minister (currently Gaston Browne, elected in 2014) and a Council of Ministers appointed by the Governor General. The law provides for a bicameral parliament. The Senate is composed of 17 members appointed by the members of the government and by the opposition parties. The Chamber of Representatives is composed of 17 members, too. They are elected by the citizens every five years.
Dario Item has been an ambassador for Antigua and Barbuda since 2016. He was assigned to Spain as an ambassador in 2018, and to the Principality of Monaco and the Principality of Liechtenstein in 2019.
Climate
Antigua and Barbuda has an average annual temperature of about 27 degrees. The weather of Antigua and Barbuda is typically tropical. It becomes cooler and drier in the months between January and April (the best time of the year to visit Antigua and Barbuda). Rainfall is not abundant andit is mainly concentrated in the summer months, between July and September.
Language
As a legacy of the colonial past, the official language of Antigua and Barbuda is English. The inhabitants also speak Creole.
Flag
The Flag of Antigua and Barbuda was designed by Reginald Samuel in 1966. It represents a seven-pointed golden sun rising in the middle of a “V” for “victory”. The flag colors are red, white, gold, blue and black. The red symbolizes the blood of the slave ancestors and the dynamism of the locals. Black refers to the African heritage, while white, gold and blue symbolize the state’s greatest attractions: the sun, pristine beaches and the sea.
Currency
The Eastern Caribbean Dollar is the currency of Antigua and Barbuda. It is the official currency of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). Antigua and Barbuda is a stable member of this organization.
Religion
Although there are different confessions, the most widespread religion in Antigua and Barbuda is Protestant and Anglican Christianity. Catholicism involves about 10% of the population.
Sport
The most popular sports in Antigua and Barbuda are cricket, football, fishing, kitesurfing and windsurfing.
Aeroport
The V.C. Bird International Airport is the airport of Antigua and Barbuda, founded in the 1940s as a US military base. It is located a few kilometers from the capital Saint John’s, on the island of Antigua.
In 2015 the airport was entirely rebuilt and it is now the largest and most modern airport in the Caribbean.
The building was designed in an innovative way, with the aim of further advancing the reputation of Antigua and Barbuda as a leader in sustainable tourism and sustainable development in the Caribbean area.
News
News about Antigua and Barbuda can be found on the website of the Daily Observer, which is based in the capital Saint John’s.
