Antigua and Barbuda

Overview

Pink and white sandy beaches, reefs and some interesting mammals and natural formations make Antigua and Barbuda wonderful destinations. Barbuda is a flat coral island which is nearly uninhabited. It is a short flight from Antigua or a reasonable boat ride.

The Frigate Bird Sanctuary is high amongst the main attractions which also include diving, fishing and tennis. Antigua's English Harbour, where Nelson established a Caribbean bas for Great Britain is part of Nelson's Dockyard National Park. A good view can be gained from Shirley heights. The capital, St. John's has a dominating cathedral of the same name, a farmer's market and a heavy emphasis on sailing. This is particularly the case during the annual sailing where all types of craft can be seen. Swim with stingray, explore hundreds of wrecks and reefs or stroll through the calming Bird Island. Historic sites are not neglected with Fort George, Fort Barrington and Fort James all easy to reach. The Museum of Antigua and Barbuda provides visitors with the full history of the region.

History

Antigua was first inhabited by the Siboney ("stone people") whose settlements date at least to 2400 BC. The Siboney were succeeded by the Arawaks who originated in Venezuela and gradually migrated up the chain of islands now called the Lesser Antilles. The warlike Carib people drove the Arawaks from neighboring islands but apparently did not settle on either Antigua or Barbuda.

Christopher Columbus landed on the islands in 1493 naming the larger one "Santa Maria de la Antigua." The English colonized the islands in 1632. Sir Christopher Codrington established the first large sugar estate in Antigua in 1674 and leased Barbuda to raise provisions for his plantations. Barbuda's only town is named after him. Codrington and others brought slaves from Africa's west coast to work the plantations.

Antiguan slaves were emancipated in 1834 but remained economically dependent on the plantation owners. Economic opportunities for the new freedmen were limited by a lack of surplus farming land no access to credit and an economy built on agriculture rather than manufacturing. Poor labor conditions persisted until 1939 when a member of a royal commission urged the formation of a trade union movement.

The Antigua Trades and Labor Union formed shortly afterward became the political vehicle for Vere Cornwall Bird who became the union's president in 1943. The Antigua Labor Party (ALP) formed by Bird and other trade unionists first ran candidates in the 1946 elections and became the majority party in 1951 beginning a long history of electoral victories.

Voted out of office in the 1971...more