Motto

Each Endeavouring All Achieving

Brief History

Prior to the arrival of the Caribs, the first inhabitants of Antigua and Barbuda are believed to be the Siboney or Arawaks, credited with introducing pineapples, corn, sweet potato, guava, pepper, tobacco and cotton to the islands. The islands were called Wadadli (oil) and Wa’omoni respectively and were first visited by Christopher Columbus in 1493, who named Antigua after the church of Santa Maria de la Antigua in Seville.

The British defeated the Caribs and colonised the islands from 1632, until it attained self-government in 1967. Independence was achieved in 1981.

During the period of colonisation, many slaves were brought from Africa to work on the plantations in Antigua. This gave rise to serious conditions of over-crowding leading, in 1736, to an unsuccessful uprising led by a slave called Prince Klaas.

During the 18th Century, Antigua became the headquarters of the Caribbean troops of the British Royal Navy, commanded by Lord Horatio Nelson.

General Information

Antigua and Barbuda is made up of three islands: Antigua, Barbuda and Redonda.

Geographic Coordinates

17.03 N, 61 48 W

Area

Antigua : 280 sq km/108.1 sq miles

Barbuda : 161 sq km/62.16 sq miles

Population

85,632 [0-14 years 26.8%; 15-64 years: 66.6%; 65 years and over: 6.6%.]

Language

English

Religions

Anglican, 7 Day Adventist, Pentecostal, Moravian, Roman Catholic, other

Capital

St. John’s

Government Type

Constitutional Monarchy with UK-type parliament. Last elections: 7 December 2005. Next in 2010.

Opposition

Hon. Lester Bird, Antigua Labour Party

Independence

1 November 1981 (from UK)

Constitution

1 November 1981

Legal System

Based on English common law

Governor General

Ms. Louisse Lake-Tack

Airport(s)

Antigua : V.C. Bird (ANU)

Barbuda : Codrington (BBQ)

Currency

Eastern Caribbean dollar. Exchange rate of EC$2.70 – US$1.00

Literacy

85.8% of population

Suffrage

18 years of age

National Flower

Hibiscus

National Bird

White Crown Pigeon

National Dish

Antigua Pepperpot

National Holidays

New Year’s Day – 1/01

Good Friday

Easter Monday

Labour Day -1st Mon in May

Whit Monday

Carnival – 1st Mon/Tue in Aug.

Independence Day 1/11

Vere Bird Day – 9/12

Christmas Day – 25/12

Boxing Day – 26/12

National Anthem

Fair Antigua and Barbuda

Working Hours

Business : Mon-Fri : 0800 – 1700

Govt. : Mon-Fri : 0830 - 1630

Economy

GDP (2009)

XCD 2,006.07 M

GDP per capita (2009)

XCD 22,505.00

Agriculture

Cotton, fruit and vegetables, including pineapples, melons, papaya, tomato, onion, peppers, carrot; livestock and fishing

Industry

Construction, light manufacturing

Services

Tourism

External Debt

XCD 1,287.31M

Government

Ministry / Office

Name of Officer

Contact Details

Prime Minister, Foreign Affairs and International Trade

Hon. Winston Baldwin Spencer

Government Headquarters, Queen Elizabeth Highway, St. John’s

Tel.: 268 460 5100 / 462 1090
Fax : 268 462 9377 / 3225

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Minister of State (Information, science and Technology, Special Projects)

Senator the Hon. Dr. Edmond Mansoor

Coolidge Business Complex, Sir George Walter Highway, St. John’s

Tel.: 268 468 4600

PS

Tel.: 268 462 1052
Fax : 268 462 2482

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Legal Affairs

Hon. Justin L. Simon

Government Offices, Parliament Drive, St. John’s

Tel.: 268 462 8867
Fax : 268 462 2465

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Minister of State (Magistrate, High, Industrial and Appeal Courts, Registrar, Legal Aid Advice Centre)

Senator the Hon. Joanne Maureen Massiah

Government Offices, Parliament Drive, St. John’s

Tel.: 268 462 8867
Fax : 268 462 2465

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Health, Social Transformation and Consumer Affairs and Deputy PM

Hon. Willmoth S. Daniel

Government Headquarters, Queen Elizabeth Highway, St. John’s

Tel.: 268 462 2997

Fax : 268 462 4622

National Security

Hon. Dr. Leon Errol Cort

Government Headquarters, Queen Elizabeth Highway, St. John’s

Tel.: 268 462 4302 / 4989
Fax : 268 462 1622

Finance, the Economy and Public Administration

Hon. Harold E.E. Lovell

Government Headquarters, Queen Elizabeth Highway, St. John’s Tel.: 268 462 0787
Fax : 268 462 2836

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Agriculture, Lands, Housing and the Environment

Hon. Hilson Baptiste

Government Headquarters, Queen Elizabeth Highway, St. John’s

Tel.: 268 462 1007 / 8
Fax : 268 462 6104

Minister of State (Marine Resources, Agro-Industries, Environment, DCA)

Hon. Chanlah Codrington

PS

Tel.: 268 462 1213

Education, Sports, Youth and Gender Affairs

Hon. Dr. Jacqui Quinn-Leandro

Government Headquarters, Queen Elizabeth Highway, St. John’s

Tel.: 268 462 4422 / 0192

Minister of State (Sports, Local Govt., Special projects)

Senator the Hon. Winston Vincent Williams

PS

Tel.: 268 462 2387

Tourism, Civil Aviation and Culture

Hon. John Herbert Maginley

Government Headquarters, Queen Elizabeth Highway, St. John’s

Tel. : 268 460 8594
Fax : 268 460 6093

Minister of State (Culture, Heritage, Festivals, Carnival, Independence)

Hon. Eleston Montgomery Adams

Director of Tourism

Tel.: 268 463 0125
Fax : 268 460 6093

Attorney General

Hon. Justin Simon

Ministry of Legal Affairs, Government Complex, Parliament Drive, St. John’s

Tel.: 268 462 8867
Fax : 268 462 4867

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National Authorising Officer

Dr. Clarence Henry

Ministry of Planning, P.O. Box W1164, Woods Centre, Dickenson Bay, St. John’s

Tel. : 268 562 4504 /5
Fax : 268 562 4506

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Deputy NAO

Ms. Anne Jones, Executive Assistant

Ministry of Education
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Tel.: 268 462 4959
Fax : 268 462 4970

GIS

Alex Nicholas – ABS Radio (Antigua Broad-casting Service)

Tel.: 268 462 2998 / 468 774 4222

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Ambassador to OECS

H.E. Mr. Colin Murdoch

Ministry of Finance, the Economy and Public Administration

Tel. : 268 462 1532
Fax : 268 462 1625

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