Antigua and Barbuda

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Antigua and Barbuda

The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition | 2008 | The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Copyright 2008 Columbia University Press. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Antigua and Barbuda , independent Commonwealth nation (2005 est. pop. 68,700), 171 sq mi (442 sq km), West Indies, in the Leeward Islands. It consists of the island of Antigua (108 sq mi/280 sq km) and two smaller islands, sparsely populated Barbuda (62 sq mi/161 sq km) and uninhabited Redonda (0.6 sq mi/1.6 sq km). Saint John's , on Antigua, is the capital. Antigua is a hilly island with a heavily indented coast, while Barbuda is a flat coral island dominated by a large lagoon on its western side. Most residents are of African ancestry. Anglicanism is the predominant religion. Tourism is the most important industry, and the on-line gambling and offshore financial services sectors generate additional foreign currency earnings. Agriculture, fishing, and manufacturing (bedding, handicrafts, and electronics) also contribute to the economy. There is a U.S. air force tracking station on the north coast of Antigua. Periodic hurricanes can cause heavy damage to the islands. The country has a parliamentary-style government with a bicameral legislature. The British monarch is the titular head of state, but primary executive power lies with the prime minister.

History

Antigua was sighted by Columbus in 1493 and named for a Spanish church in Seville. The islands were successfully colonized in 1632, when the British introduced sugarcane from St. Kitts. Barbuda was colonized from Antigua in 1661. The abolition of slavery in 1834 hurt the sugar industry; sugar has not been commercially grown on the island since 1985. Antigua, with Barbuda and Redonda as dependencies, became an associated state of the Commonwealth in 1967 and achieved full independence within the Commonwealth in 1981. The Labor party, and the Bird family, led the nation in its first decades. Vere Bird was the nation's first prime minister and was succeeded by Lester Bird, his son, in 1994. The islands suffered extensive damage from Hurricane Luis in 1995. Six consecutive terms of Labor governments ended in 2004 when the United Progressive party won the election; Baldwin Spencer became prime minister. Many inhabitants of Barbuda, culturally and politically distinct from Antiguans, have pressed for independence from the larger island.

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Antigua and Barbuda

World Encyclopedia | 2005 | © World Encyclopedia 2005, originally published by Oxford University Press 2005. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Antigua and Barbuda Caribbean islands in the Leeward Islands group, part of the Lesser Antilles. The capital is St John's (on Antigua). Antigua is atypical of the Leeward Islands in that, despite its height – rising to 405m (1328ft) – it has no rivers or forests; Barbuda, in contrast, is a wooded, low coral atoll. Only 1400 people live on the game reserve island of Barbuda, where lobster fishing is the main occupation, and none on the rocky island of Redondo. Antigua and Barbuda were linked by Britain after 1860, gained internal self-government in 1967, and independence in 1981. The islands are dependent on tourism, though some attempts at diversification (notably Sea Island cotton) have been successful. Other industries: livestock rearing, market gardening, fishing. Area: 440sq km (170sq mi). Pop. (2000) 65,000. See West Indies map

http://www.antigua-barbuda.org; http://www.antigua.net

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Antigua and Barbuda

A Dictionary of Contemporary World History | 2004 | | © A Dictionary of Contemporary World History 2004, originally published by Oxford University Press 2004. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Antigua and Barbuda A country consisting of the Caribbean islands of Antigua, Barbuda, and the uninhabited Redonda, which came under British sovereignty in 1632. Apart from 1971–6, it was governed by Vere Cornwall Bird and his Antigua Labour Party (ALP) (founded 1938) from 1946. Universal adult suffrage was introduced in 1951, and in 1967 it became an independent country in ‘association’ with Britain. Antigua and Barbuda gained full independence on 1 November 1981. The 1980s were marked by considerable tensions within the ALP caused by corruption allegations against, and hostilities between, Bird and two of his sons in the government. After winning the 1994 elections with a reduced majority, the country's leadership passed to Bird's younger son, Lester, who had campaigned against government corruption for some time. In 2001, Bird was concerned to counter US allegations that his country was a major centre for international money laundering and drug trafficking.

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JAN PALMOWSKI. "Antigua and Barbuda." A Dictionary of Contemporary World History. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 9 Jul. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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Free newspaper and magazine articles

Free Article BILATERAL WORK ACCORD.(between Antigua & Barbuda and St. Vincent & the Grenadines)(Brief Article)
Newspaper article from: Caribbean Update; 6/1/2003
Free Article Antigua y Barbuda combate el tráfico de drogas.(TT: Antigua and Barbados fights drug trafficking)
Magazine article from: Américas (Spanish Edition); 3/1/1996
Free Article WTO awards sanctions in gambling case.(ANTIGUA & BARBUDA)
Newspaper article from: Caribbean Update; 2/1/2008

Related articles from newspapers, magazines, and more

BILATERAL WORK ACCORD.(between Antigua & Barbuda and St. Vincent & the Grenadines)(Brief Article)
Newspaper article from: Caribbean Update; 6/1/2003; 157 words ; The governments of Antigua & Barbuda and St. Vincent & the Grenadines...Prime Minister Lester Bird of Antigua & Barbuda and Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, Prime...involving three countries: Antigua & Barbuda and St. Vincent & the Grenadines... Read more
WTO awards sanctions in gambling case.(ANTIGUA & BARBUDA)
Newspaper article from: Caribbean Update; 2/1/2008; 360 words ; Antigua & Barbuda is entitled to compensation...Reuters (Dec. 21, 2007): Antigua can also collect the damages...on films or music so that Antigua can sell them in the US or...rld's biggest gambling market. Antigua had demanded US$3.44 billion... Read more
Antigua y Barbuda combate el tráfico de drogas.(TT: Antigua and Barbados fights drug trafficking)
Magazine article from: Américas (Spanish Edition); 3/1/1996; 204 words ; Una delegacion de Antigua y Barbuda, presidida por Clare Roberts, Procurador General...para detectar los casos de lavado de dinero en Antigua y Barbuda. Roberts manifestó que Antigua y Barbuda, como el resto del Caribe, se halla entre el mercado... Read more
Italy forgives debt.(Antigua & Barbuda)(Brief Article)
Newspaper article from: Caribbean Update; 2/1/2005; 272 words ; ...has forgiven more than 90% of Antigua & Barbuda's indebtedness, the government...The twin-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda owed Italy EC$500 million (US...Finance Minister Error Cort said: Antigua paid half of the outstanding... Read more
Antigua claims gaming dispute victory.(Antigua & Barbuda)
Newspaper article from: Caribbean Update; 5/1/2004; 376 words ; ANTIGUA CLAIMS GAMING DISPUTE VICTORY. Tiny Antigua & Barbuda, one of the world's smallest...of international trade rules. Antigua says the ban is crippling its...implications are very bad ; Antigua & Barbuda, which says online casinos provide... Read more
Pirate island: online gambling dispute.(Antigua and Barbuda's complaint against United States' online gambling )(Brief article)
Magazine article from: Reason; 4/1/2008; ; 339 words ; ...THE tiny Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda (population: 69,000) argued...ruled in the islands' favor, Antigua was widely described as the...the amount it had sought. Antigua, home to several online casinos...agreed, saying the U.S. owed Antigua compensation for the economic... Read more
BASIC EDUCATION PROJECT.(Antigua & Barbuda)(Brief Article)
Newspaper article from: Caribbean Update; 9/1/2001; 116 words ; The Government of Antigua & Barbuda has secured a loan from the Caribbean...Popeshead and North Sts. Saint John's, Antigua. (2) Tenders Board. Attn: Chairman...Chandler's Bldg., High St. Saint John's, Antigua & Barbuda. Tel: (1-268) 462-2469. (3) Caribbean... Read more
CRUISE LINER CO. PULLS OUT.(Holland America Lines has dropped Antigua & Barbuda)(Brief Article)
Newspaper article from: Caribbean Update; 9/1/2001; 220 words ; Holland America Lines has dropped Antigua & Barbuda from its list of destinations...the 2001-2002 season means that Antigua & Barbuda will lose at least 3,300 cruise...new ships would again call at Antigua in the 2002-2003 tourist season... Read more
Claim against US gambling ban.(ANTIGUA & BARBUDA)
Newspaper article from: Caribbean Update; 7/1/2007; 204 words ; Antigua & Barbuda will file a claim for compensation...the US, said Mark Mendel, Antigua's legal counsel. The US moved...year from US$1 billion among Antigua's online casinos in 2000...hurricanes in the 1990s. Antigua, the smallest nation to ever... Read more
Online gambling squabble.(ANTIGUA & BARBUDA)(Brief article)
Newspaper article from: Caribbean Update; 5/1/2006; 209 words ; Antigua & Barbuda will seek sanctions against...to foreign Internet gambling. Antigua-registered companies such as...Mendel, chief legal counsel to Antigua, said from his office in El Paso, Texas. Antigua (population 70,000) scored its... Read more

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