Where Is Antigua And Barbuda?

Antigua and Barbuda is a country in the Caribbean Sea, lying at the conjunction of the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean in the Leeward Islands, part of the Lesser Antilles. It is a dual-island nation consisting of the two inhabited main islands of Antigua and Barbuda, as well as a number of smaller islands, including the uninhabited Redonda. The country gained independence from Britain in 1981 and is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations.

Antigua and Barbuda is an independent state

Antigua and Barbuda is a unitary parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy. The current monarch of Antigua and Barbuda is King Charles III, who is represented by a governor-general. The governor-general has the ability to dissolve parliament on the advice of the prime minister or when the majority of members of the House of Representatives pass a motion of no confidence. The prime minister is the head of government and is appointed by the governor-general. The current prime minister is Gaston Browne, who has held office since 2014.

Antigua and Barbuda is a sovereign country in the Caribbean, consisting of two major islands, Antigua and Barbuda, and several smaller islands, including Great Bird, Green, Guiana, Long, Maiden, Prickly Pear, York, and Redonda. The country has a permanent population of approximately 97,120 (2019 estimate), 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.

The economy of Antigua and Barbuda is largely dependent on tourism, which accounts for 80% of its GDP. The country also has a thriving offshore financial services sector. However, its reliance on tourism makes it vulnerable to downturns in the world market and natural disasters such as hurricanes.

It is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations

Antigua and Barbuda is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. It became an independent state within the Commonwealth on 1st November 1981, the same year it gained independence from the United Kingdom. It had been a part of the Federal Colony of the Leeward Islands since 1871 and joined the West Indies Federation in 1958.

The Commonwealth of Nations is an institution that Antigua and Barbuda deem very useful. It has a long history of acting to secure freedom, justice and equality for the downtrodden. Its relevance in the struggle against racial injustice, fighting against the marginalisation of small states, and promoting the development of states—especially following natural disasters—is exemplary. Antigua and Barbuda have participated in the Commonwealth Games since 1966.

The Commonwealth's role in monitoring elections, redefining security for small states, modernising and strengthening administrative processes, and fostering camaraderie among the leaders of its 53 member states, makes the Commonwealth a special institution.

The Commonwealth has also been involved in several projects in Antigua and Barbuda, including:

• Improving Capacity for Public Sector for ICT Development
• Tourism Master Plan for Antigua and Barbuda
• Voter Registration in Antigua and Barbuda
• Export Promotion for Small-Scale Garment Manufacture
• Capacity Building in Legislative Drafting

The country is in the Caribbean Sea

Antigua and Barbuda is a country in the Caribbean Sea, specifically in the Leeward Islands chain of the Lesser Antilles. It is an archipelagic country consisting of two major islands—Antigua and Barbuda—and several smaller islands, including Great Bird, Green, Guiana, Long, Maiden, Prickly Pear, York, and Redonda. The country is located at the conjunction of the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.

Antigua, the largest island, features secluded bays, sandy beaches, coral reefs, and volcanic rocks, with Mount Obama (formerly known as Boggy Peak) rising to about 400 metres. Barbuda, on the other hand, is a flat coral island with a large lagoon, while Redonda is a tiny, uninhabited, and rocky island.

The country's capital, St. John's, is located on Antigua and serves as the country's major city and largest port. Codrington, the largest town in Barbuda, is situated on a lagoon to the west of the island.

Antigua and Barbuda's location in the Caribbean Sea has played a significant role in its history and economy. Christopher Columbus visited the islands in 1493, naming Antigua after the Church of Santa Maria de la Antigua in Seville, Spain. The country's independence within the British Commonwealth of Nations was gained in 1981, and it has since maintained friendly relations with the United States.

The Caribbean setting of Antigua and Barbuda has also shaped its economy, which relies heavily on tourism and offshore financial services. The country's agricultural production is focused on domestic markets and constrained by limited water supply and labour shortages due to the lure of higher wages in the tourism and construction industries.

It consists of three islands

Antigua and Barbuda is a country in the Caribbean that consists of three islands: the major islands of Antigua and Barbuda, and the smaller island of Redonda. The country is an archipelagic nation, lying at the conjunction of the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean in the Leeward Islands, part of the Lesser Antilles.

Antigua is the largest of the three islands, boasting secluded bays, sandy beaches, coral reefs, and volcanic rocks that rise to about 400 metres at Mount Obama (formerly known as Boggy Peak). It is home to the country's capital, St. John's, and is the most populous island, with 97% of the country's residents living there. Antigua's intricate coastline is dotted with reefs and shoals, and it has several inlets, including Parham and English Harbour, that provide anchorage for shipping. The island has an area of 280 or 281 square kilometres (or 108 square miles) and is mostly low-lying, with undulating terrain. There are no rivers on the island, and few springs, leading to droughts despite a mean annual rainfall of around 40 inches (or 1,000 mm).

Barbuda, formerly known as Dulcina, is a flat coral island with a large lagoon and highlands that rise to 143 feet (44 metres) at Lindsay Hill in the northeast. It is located 25 miles (or 40 kilometres) north of Antigua and is less rainy than its larger neighbour. The island has an area of 161 square kilometres (or 62 square miles) and its only settlement is Codrington, which lies on a lagoon to the west.

Redonda is a tiny, uninhabited, rocky island located about 25 miles (or 40 kilometres) southwest of Antigua. It rises to a height of 1,000 feet (305 metres) and has an area of 1.25 or 1.6 square kilometres. Phosphate deposits can be found on the island.

The country gained independence in 1981

Antigua and Barbuda is a country in the Caribbean that gained independence from the United Kingdom on 1 November 1981. It is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary form of government. The country consists of two major islands, Antigua and Barbuda, and several smaller islands, including Great Bird, Green, Guiana, Long, Maiden, Prickly Pear, York, and Redonda. The permanent population is approximately 97,120 (as of 2019 estimates), with 97% residing in Antigua. St. John's, Antigua, is the country's capital, major city, and largest port, while Codrington is Barbuda's largest town.

The road to independence for Antigua and Barbuda began in 1967 when it became a self-governing state within the British Commonwealth, with internal autonomy. This followed a period as part of the Federal Colony of the Leeward Islands from 1871 and later the West Indies Federation from 1958 to 1962. In the years leading up to independence, the country's politics was dominated by the Bird family and the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP). Despite providing political stability, this period was marred by scandals and allegations of corruption.

Following independence, Vere Bird, the leader of the ABLP, became the first prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda. The country opted to remain within the Commonwealth, retaining Queen Elizabeth II as its head of state, with Sir Wilfred Jacobs as the first governor-general. The country's constitution, adopted upon independence, established a two-chamber legislature consisting of a Senate and a House of Representatives. The executive branch is headed by the prime minister, who is appointed by the governor-general.

The independence of Antigua and Barbuda in 1981 marked the culmination of a process of self-governance and internal autonomy. It joined the ranks of independent nations within the Commonwealth, navigating the challenges of nation-building and political stability while retaining its connection to the Commonwealth.

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