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63-530: The Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party ( ABLP ) is a political party in Antigua and Barbuda . The current leader of the party is Gaston Browne , who serves as the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda . The party had previously been led by Lester Bird , who was chairman of the party since 1971, and was Prime Minister and political leader in 1994. The party was founded in 1946, during the first national elections, as

126-547: A citizenship by investment program. The country levies no personal income tax . Antigua is Spanish for 'ancient' and barbuda is Spanish for 'bearded'. The island of Antigua was originally called Wadadli by the Arawaks and is locally known by that name today; the Caribs possibly called Barbuda Wa'omoni . Christopher Columbus , while sailing by in 1493, may have named it Santa Maria la Antigua , after an icon in

189-584: A degree of political stability, and boosting tourism to the country, the Bird governments were frequently accused of corruption, cronyism and financial malfeasance. Vere Bird Jr. , the elder son, was forced to leave the cabinet in 1990 following a scandal in which he was accused of smuggling Israeli weapons to Colombian drug-traffickers. Another son, Ivor Bird , was convicted of selling cocaine in 1995. In 1995, Hurricane Luis caused severe damage on Barbuda. The ABLP's dominance of Antiguan politics ended with

252-606: A small number of East Asians and Sephardic Jews make up the remainder of the population. An increasingly large percentage of the population lives abroad, most notably in the United Kingdom ( Antiguan Britons ), the United States and Canada. A minority of Antiguan residents are immigrants from other countries, particularly from Dominica, Guyana and Jamaica , and, increasingly, from the Dominican Republic, St. Vincent and

315-400: Is Codrington . It is estimated that 25% of the population lives in an urban area, which is much lower than the international average of 55%. Antigua and Barbuda consists mostly of its two namesake islands, Antigua , and Barbuda . Other than that, Antigua and Barbuda's biggest islands are Guiana Island and Long Island off the coast of Antigua, and Redonda island, which is far from both of

378-849: Is La Grande Soufrière in Guadeloupe . The Caribs , after whom the Caribbean is named, are believed to have migrated from the Orinoco River area in Venezuela in South America to settle in the Caribbean islands about 1200 AD, according to carbon dating . Over the century leading up to Columbus ' arrival in the Caribbean archipelago in 1492, the Caribs mostly displaced the Maipurean -speaking Taínos , who settled

441-469: Is a constitutional monarchy with Charles III as its head of state. The economy of Antigua and Barbuda is largely dependent on tourism, which accounts for 80% of its GDP. Like other island nations , Antigua and Barbuda is vulnerable to the effects of climate change , such as sea level rise , and increased intensity of extreme weather like hurricanes . These cause coastal erosion , water scarcity , and other challenges. Antigua and Barbuda offers

504-693: Is a sovereign archipelagic country in the Caribbean . It lies at the conjuncture of the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean in the Leeward Islands part of the Lesser Antilles . The country consists of two major islands, Antigua and Barbuda , which are approximately 40 km (25 mi) apart, and several smaller islands, including Great Bird , Green , Guiana , Long , Maiden , Prickly Pear , York , and Redonda . The permanent population

567-472: Is a unitary parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy . The current Constitution of Antigua and Barbuda was adopted upon independence on 1 November 1981. This replaced the pre-independence constitution of the Associated State of Antigua , which did not thoroughly define the relationship between the two islands. The island of Barbuda maintains much autonomy, while the island of Antigua

630-499: Is a small, uninhabited island located about 40 kilometres (25 miles) to the south-west of Antigua. Redonda is a rocky island. In Antigua and Barbuda forest cover is about 18% of the total land area, equivalent to 8,120 ha of forests in 2020, down from 10,110 ha in 1990. The most populous cities in Antigua and Barbuda are mostly on Antigua, being Saint John's , All Saints , Piggotts , and Liberta . The most populous city on Barbuda

693-519: Is approximately 97,120 (2019 estimates), with 97% residing in Antigua. St. John's , Antigua, is the country's capital, major city, and largest port. Codrington is Barbuda's largest town. In 1493, Christopher Columbus surveyed the island of Antigua, which he named for the Church of Santa María La Antigua . Great Britain colonized Antigua in 1632 and Barbuda in 1678. A part of the Federal Colony of

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756-582: Is completely inactive, except for the Barbuda Council which is enshrined in the Constitution. Antigua historically had a system of village councils in the 1940s (although the legislation was never repealed), however, the Gaston Browne administration has expressed opposition to all forms of local governance. St. John's also historically had a city council during the late 1800s and early 1900s, however

819-527: Is directly governed by the national government. The executive branch has two primary leaders. The Governor-General , currently Rodney Williams , exercises the functions of the Monarch of Antigua and Barbuda , in whom executive power is vested in. The Governor-General serves at the pleasure of the Monarch, and usually serves a similar term to that of the Prime Minister . The Prime Minister, currently Gaston Browne ,

882-723: Is responsible for the national security of Antigua and Barbuda . The Defence Force consists of the Regiment (army), the Air Wing , the Coast Guard , and the Service and Support Battalion. The Defence Force is led by the Chief of Defence Staff, who is subject to the orders of the Governor-General. The Defence Force is headquartered at Camp Blizzard . The National Security Council is responsible for

945-554: Is the head of government , and is appointed by the Governor-General. The Prime Minister must be a member of the House of Representatives , and must be the member of the House of Representatives who is most likely to command the support of the majority of members. The Governor-General has the ability to dissolve Parliament on the advice of the Prime Minister, or when the majority of the members of

1008-542: Is the highest point on both Antigua and Barbuda. It is the remnant of a volcanic crater and rises a total of 402 meters. Boggy Peak is located in the southwest of Antigua (1,319 feet). Both of these islands have very irregularly shaped coastlines that are dotted with beaches, lagoons, and natural harbours. There are reefs and shoals that surround the islands on all sides. Because of the low amount of rainfall, there are not many streams. On neither of these islands can sufficient quantities of fresh groundwater be found. Redonda

1071-615: The 2004 Antiguan general election , which was won by Winston Baldwin Spencer 's United Progressive Party (UPP). Winston Baldwin Spencer was Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda from 2004 to 2014. However the UPP lost the 2014 Antiguan general election , with the ABLP returning to power under Gaston Browne . ABLP won 15 of the 17 seats in the 2018 snap election under the leadership of incumbent Prime Minister Gaston Browne. In 2016, Nelson's Dockyard

1134-533: The Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) (Premier from 1967 to 1971 and 1976 to 1981) and the Progressive Labour Movement (PLM) of George Walter (Premier 1971–1976). Eventually, Antigua and Barbuda gained full independence on 1 November 1981; Vere Bird became prime minister of the new country. The country opted to remain within the Commonwealth , retaining Queen Elizabeth as head of state , with

1197-608: The Blessed Virgin of the Monastery of Montserrat , which is located on the Mountain of Montserrat , the national shrine of Catalonia . Mont serrat in Catalan means " saw mountain", referring to the serrated appearance of the mountain range. The Leeward Islands became a British colony in 1671, with William Stapleton as its first governor. Although comparatively much smaller than

1260-935: The Caribbean Community , the Alliance of Small Island States , and the World Trade Organization . Antigua and Barbuda's foreign policy has been described by Gaston Browne as "we are friends of all; enemies of none". Antigua and Barbuda has rejected the notion that it is in any country's "backyard". Antigua and Barbuda usually maintains close relations with other Small Island Developing States , and has hosted various summits on that subject. The United Nations has also praised Antigua and Barbuda for its "United Nations-based multilateralism" efforts. Antigua and Barbuda also has close relations with many Caribbean countries and territories, especially Montserrat , which Antigua and Barbuda accepted 3,000 refugees from in 1997 after

1323-732: The Progressive Labour Movement government (predecessor of the UPP) from 1971 to 1976, and the United Progressive Party government from 2004 until 2014. On Barbuda, dominant party is traditionally the Barbuda People's Movement , being the only political grouping in the Barbuda Council since 2023 . Antigua and Barbuda is composed of six parishes and two dependencies . Saint John is the most populous parish, home to well over half of Antigua and Barbuda's population. During colonial times,

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1386-580: The Soufrière Hills eruption. Many policies adopted by the Antiguan and Barbudan government have also often had an impact on Montserrat, due to Antigua and Barbuda hosting the only air and transportation links into the territory. The Minister of Finance, Corporate Governance & Public Private Partnerships is responsible for the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force , the country's military. The Minister of Legal Affairs, Public Safety, Immigration and Labour

1449-838: The Supreme Court including the High Court and the Court of Appeal, and finally the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council , the country's final court. Antiguan and Barbudan voters rejected a proposal to make the Caribbean Court of Justice the final court in 2018. Antigua and Barbuda is composed of three magistrates' courts districts, and is part of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court system. The acting chief justice of

1512-476: The ABLP's first defeat in 28 years in the 2004 elections . First, an Electoral Commission was introduced after the 1999 election . According to international observers, the 1999 election was rife with irregularities. The report from an observer group from across the Commonwealth concluded that "voting rolls appeared to be inflated" and recommended "the establishment of an independent electoral commission to improve

1575-459: The ABLP's leader until 2012, when he was defeated by Gaston Browne in a leadership challenge. The Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party won 14 of the 17 seats in the Legislature in the 2014 general elections , forming a majority government with Browne as Prime Minister. They won 15 seats in the 2018 general elections and thereby retained power. Despite having been founded as a partisan expression of

1638-477: The Antigua Labour Party (ALP). Its founders included Vere Bird , father of Lester. The ABLP later came to be seen as a political arm of the Bird family. With the exception of five years in the 1970s, the ABLP ruled Antigua and Barbuda for over four decades leading up to 2004. It was in the opposition from 2004 to 2014, and then returned to power in the 2014 general election . Two major events precipitated

1701-553: The Barbudan one. When compared to Antiguan Creole , Standard English was the language of choice in the years leading up to Antigua and Barbuda's attainment of their independence. The Antiguan Creole language is looked down upon by the upper and middle classes in general. The Antiguan Creole language is discouraged from use in the educational system, and instruction is carried out in Standard (British) English instead. A significant number of

1764-532: The Grenadines and Nigeria . An estimated 4,500 American citizens also make their home in Antigua and Barbuda, making their numbers one of the largest American populations in the English-speaking Eastern Caribbean. 68.47% of the population was born in Antigua and Barbuda. The language most commonly used in business is English . There is a noticeable distinction between the Antiguan accent and

1827-534: The House of Representatives as an ex officio member. The Attorney-General also attends sittings of the Senate. Any bill except money bills may be introduced in either chamber: money bills may only be introduced in the House. Parliament may not amend the Barbuda Local Government Act without the consent of the Barbuda Council. The judiciary of Antigua and Barbuda is composed of the magistrates' courts,

1890-525: The House of Representatives pass a motion of no confidence, and the Prime Minister does not within seven days resign or advise the Governor-General to dissolve Parliament. The legislative power of Antigua and Barbuda is vested in Parliament, which is composed of the Monarch, the Senate , and the House of Representatives . The Senate is composed of seventeen members, who are appointed by the Governor-General. Ten of

1953-602: The Leeward Islands from 1871, Antigua and Barbuda joined the West Indies Federation in 1958. With the breakup of the federation in 1962, it became one of the West Indies Associated States in 1967. Following a period of internal self-governance, it gained full independence from the United Kingdom on 1 November 1981. Antigua and Barbuda is a member of the Commonwealth and a Commonwealth realm ; it

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2016-923: The Leeward Islands. Dominica was transferred to the British Windward Islands in 1940 and is now considered part of the Windward Islands . However, even in modern usage in languages other than English, notably Dutch, French, and Spanish, all of the Lesser Antilles from the Virgin Islands to Trinidad and Tobago are known as the Windward Islands ( Bovenwindse Eilanden in Dutch, Îles du Vent in French, and Islas de Barlovento in Spanish). The ABC islands and

2079-570: The Spanish Seville Cathedral . The "bearded" of Barbuda is thought to refer either to the male inhabitants of the island, or the bearded fig trees present there. Antigua was first settled by archaic age Indigenous hunter-gatherers called the Ciboney . Carbon dating has established the earliest settlements started around 3100 BC. They were succeeded by the ceramic age pre-Columbian Arawak -speaking Saladoid people who migrated from

2142-561: The St. John's Development Corporation has since consumed most of its functions. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade & Barbuda Affairs is responsible for overseeing the foreign relations of Antigua and Barbuda. The current minister is Paul Chet Greene . Antigua and Barbuda is a founding member of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States , as well as a member of the United Nations ,

2205-482: The Supreme Court is Mario Michel , serving since 5 May 2024. Since the 1990s, the two major parties in Antigua have been the centre-right (formerly left-wing) Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party , and the left-wing social democratic United Progressive Party . The Labour Party and its predecessors have traditionally been the dominant party on the national level since the 1946 general elections , with brief pauses during

2268-469: The advice of the Barbuda Council , and an independent senator is appointed under the discretion of the Governor-General himself. The House of Representatives is currently composed of seventeen elected members, as well as the Speaker of the House , who is elected by the members of the House itself. The Attorney General , while currently an elected member of Parliament, Steadroy Benjamin , may also be appointed to

2331-824: The ages of 5 and 16 years. The system is modeled on the British educational system. The current Minister of Education, Sport & Creative Industries is Daryll Sylvester Matthew . The adult literacy rate in Antigua and Barbuda is approximately 99%. A majority (77%) of Antiguans are Christians, with the Anglicans (17.6%) being the largest single denomination. Other Christian denominations present are Seventh-day Adventist Church (12.4%), Pentecostalism (12.2%), Moravian Church (8.3%), Roman Catholics (8.2%), Methodist Church (5.6%), Wesleyan Holiness Church (4.5%), Church of God (4.1%), Baptists (3.6%), Mormonism (<1.0%), as well as Jehovah's Witnesses . Antigua and Barbuda

2394-701: The coordination of Antigua and Barbuda's national security. The National Security Adviser is a member of the council and is responsible for the gathering of intelligence and information on national security matters. The Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda is the national police department. The Special Service Unit is Antigua and Barbuda's police tactical unit . The Police Force is composed of four lettered regional divisions, and subordinated service districts. Same-sex sexual activity has been legal in Antigua and Barbuda since July 2022. Leeward Islands The name of this island group, Leeward Islands , dates from previous centuries, when sailing ships were

2457-511: The first governor , Sir Wilfred Jacobs , as governor-general . Succeeding Sir Wilfred Jacobs were Sir James Carlisle (June 10, 1993 – June 30, 2007), Dame Louise Lake-Tack (July 17, 2007 – August 14, 2014.), and the present governor, Sir Rodney Williams: (August 14, 2014 – present). The first two decades of Antigua's independence were dominated politically by the Bird family and the ABLP, with Vere Bird ruling from 1981 to 1994, followed by his son Lester Bird from 1994 to 2004. Though providing

2520-521: The following rebuilding efforts on Barbuda that were estimated to cost at least $ 100 million, the government announced plans to revoke a century-old law of communal land ownership by allowing residents to buy land; a move that has been criticised as promoting " disaster capitalism ". Limestone formations, rather than volcanic activity, have had the most impact on the topography of both Antigua and Barbuda, which are both relatively low-lying islands. Boggy Peak, also known as Mt. Obama from 2008 to 2016,

2583-624: The island are further made worse by climate change , where, not unlike other island nations affected by climate change , sea level rise and increased weather variability, create increased pressures on the communities on the islands and the land, through processes like coastal erosion and saltwater intrusion . Antigua has a population of 93,219, mostly made up of people of West African , British, and Portuguese descent. The ethnic distribution consists of 91% Black, 4.4% mixed race, 1.7% White, and 2.9% other (primarily East Indian ). Most Whites are of British descent. Christian Levantine Arabs and

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2646-519: The island chains earlier in history, by warfare, extermination, and assimilation. The islands were among the first parts of the Americas to fall under the control of the Spanish Empire . European contact commenced with Christopher Columbus 's second voyage; many of the islands' names originate from this period: Montserrat was named in honour of Santa Maria de Montserrat (Our Lady of Montserrat), after

2709-415: The island has since remained uninhabited. Part of the Leeward Islands colony, Antigua and Barbuda became part of the short-lived West Indies Federation from 1958 to 1962. Antigua and Barbuda subsequently became an associated state of the United Kingdom with full internal autonomy on 27 February 1967. The 1970s were dominated by discussions as to the islands' future and the rivalry between Vere Bird of

2772-463: The islands to the west Sotavento , meaning "leeward". The islands south and east of Puerto Rico were called Islas de Barlovento , meaning "windward islands". When the British gained control of many of the Lesser Antilles , they designated Antigua , Montserrat , and the islands to the north as the Leeward Islands. Guadeloupe and the islands to the south were designated as the Windward Islands. Later on, all islands north of Martinique became known as

2835-464: The labor movement in Antigua and Barbuda and having labor and social democratic origins, the party is generally considered as an economically liberal and fiscally conservative party, defender of a market-oriented economy and tax reductions, in particular rejecting the imposition of income tax. However, the party's policy of maintaining the public sector as the largest employer in Antigua and Barbuda during its successive governments (representing up to 40% of

2898-486: The lower Orinoco River . They introduced agriculture, raising, among other crops, the famous Antigua Black Pineapple ( Ananas comosus ), corn , sweet potatoes , chiles , guava , tobacco, and cotton. Later on the Caribs settled the island. Christopher Columbus was the first European to sight the islands in 1493. The Spanish did not colonise Antigua until after a combination of European and African diseases, malnutrition, and slavery eventually extirpated most of

2961-462: The main islands. Rainfall averages 990 mm (39 in) per year, with the amount varying widely from season to season. In general the wettest period is between September and November. The islands generally experience low humidity and recurrent droughts. Temperatures average 27 °C (80.6 °F), with a range from 23 °C (73.4 °F) to 29 °C (84.2 °F) in the winter to from 25 °C (77.0 °F) to 30 °C (86.0 °F) in

3024-506: The members are appointed on the advice of the Prime Minister, these members being known as government senators. An eleventh government senator is also appointed on the advice of the Prime Minister, who must be an inhabitant of Barbuda. Four of the members are appointed on the advice of the Leader of the Opposition , these senators being known as opposition senators. One of the members is appointed on

3087-506: The native population; smallpox was probably the greatest killer. The English settled on Antigua in 1632; Christopher Codrington settled on Barbuda in 1685. Tobacco and then sugar was grown, worked by a large population of slaves transported from West Africa, who soon came to vastly outnumber the European settlers. The English maintained control of the islands, repulsing an attempted French attack in 1666. The brutal conditions endured by

3150-625: The other islands along the Venezuelan coast, known in English as the Leeward Antilles , are known in languages other than English as an equivalent of the Leeward Islands. The islands were created mostly by volcanoes in the Lesser Antilles subduction zone . Some are still active. Notable eruptions occurred in Montserrat in the 1990s and in 2009 to 2010. At 1,467 metres or 4,813 feet, the highest point

3213-425: The parishes were governed by parish vestries, however, the parishes now lack any sort of government. Since the 2023 general elections, various proposals have been made to establish parish councils, however, as of June 2024, none have been established. The dependency of Redonda is part of the parish of Saint John under the Redonda Annexation Act, in Magistrates' District "A". Local government in Antigua and Barbuda

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3276-487: The popular vote, but won only four out of 17 seats. ABLP Prime Minister and political leader Bird was also defeated in his constituency. In early 2009, the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party faced an internal leadership crisis. There was speculation that even if the ABLP won the 2009 election, Bird's leadership would be challenged. He announced that, if the ABLP failed to win the forthcoming 2009 general election , he would step down. Nevertheless, despite not winning, he remained

3339-502: The situation as follows: "Public utilities need to be rebuilt in their entirety... It is optimistic to think anything can be rebuilt in six months ... In my 25 years in disaster management, I have never seen something like this." Like other island nations , Antigua and Barbuda faces unique environmental issues created by its proximity to the ocean, and small size. These include pressures on drinking water resources, natural ecosystems, and deforestation more generally. Existing issues on

3402-431: The slaves led to revolts in 1701 and 1729 and a planned revolt in 1736, the last led by Prince Klaas , though it was discovered before it began and the ringleaders were executed. Slavery was abolished in the British Empire in 1833, affecting the economy. This was exacerbated by natural disasters such as the 1843 earthquake and the 1847 hurricane. Mining occurred on the isle of Redonda , however, this ceased in 1929 and

3465-415: The sole form of transportation across the Atlantic Ocean. In sailing terminology, " windward " means towards the source of the wind (upwind), while " leeward " is the opposite direction (downwind). In the West Indies , the prevailing winds, known as the trade winds , blow predominantly out of the northeast. Therefore, a sailing vessel departing from the British Gold Coast and the Gulf of Guinea , driven by

3528-671: The summer and autumn. The coolest period is between December and February. Hurricanes strike on an average of once a year, including the powerful Category 5 Hurricane Irma , on 6 September 2017, which damaged 95% of the structures on Barbuda. Some 1,800 people were evacuated to Antigua. Officials quoted by Time indicated that over $ 100 million would be required to rebuild homes and infrastructure. Philmore Mullin, Director of Barbuda's National Office of Disaster Services, said that "all critical infrastructure and utilities are non-existent – food supply, medicine, shelter, electricity, water, communications, waste management". He summarised

3591-483: The surrounding islands in the Caribbean, the Leeward Islands posed the most significant rebellion to the British Stamp Act , though it was decidedly less severe in comparison to that of the mainland North American colonies. In 1660, there were about 8,000 white settlers and approximately 2,000 enslaved Africans in the Leeward Islands. However, that ratio narrowed over succeeding years. In 1678, there were 10,408 white settlers and 8,449 enslaved Black people. By 1708, there

3654-407: The trade winds, would usually first encounter Dominica and Martinique, islands most to windward, in their west-northwesterly heading to the final destinations in the Caribbean , Central America , and Northern America . This location, Dominica and Martinique, becomes the rough dividing line between the Windward Islands and the Leeward Islands. The early Spanish explorers called Puerto Rico and

3717-415: The voter registration process." Second, in 2002 there was a scandal over medical benefits, in which the government failed to contribute EC$ 120 million to cover recipients' medical expenses. The opposition United Progressive Party campaigned on an anti-corruption platform they called "Government in the Sunshine." The ABLP lost its majority in the general election held on 24 March 2004. It received 41.8% of

3780-426: The words that are used in the Antiguan dialect are derived from both the British and African languages. This is readily apparent in phrases such as "Innit?" which literally translates to "Isn't it?" Many common island proverbs can be traced back to Africa, such as the pidgin language. Approximately 10,000 people are able to speak in Spanish. Education in Antigua and Barbuda is compulsory and free for children between

3843-577: The workforce) has also led to the party being considered a guarantor of a "paternalistic conservatism" or "right-wing socialism." After the death of Elizabeth II of Antigua and Barbuda , the party went on to officially support the conversion of Antigua and Barbuda into a republic. The party is also against an Antiguan and Barbudan federation. Antigua and Barbuda Antigua and Barbuda ( UK : / æ n ˈ t iː ɡ ə  ...   b ɑːr ˈ b uː d ə / , US : / æ n ˈ t iː ɡ w ə  ...   b ɑːr ˈ b j uː d ə / )

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3906-419: Was a huge disparity between the number of white settlers, which had declined to 7,311, and the number of enslaved Black people was estimated at 23,500. In 1816, the colony was dissolved as a federation of islands, and the individual islands were ruled individually. However, the colony of the Leeward Islands was re-established in 1833. There are two countries and eleven territories in the Leeward Islands. From

3969-422: Was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site . Most of Barbuda was devastated in early September 2017 by Hurricane Irma , which brought winds with speeds reaching 295 km/h (185 mph). The storm damaged or destroyed 95% of the island's buildings and infrastructure, leaving Barbuda "barely habitable" according to Prime Minister Gaston Browne. Nearly everyone on the island was evacuated to Antigua. Amidst

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