| ANTIGUA & BARBUDA |  |
The Siboney were the first to inhabit the islands
of Antigua and Barbuda in 2400 B.C., but were replaced by the Arawak and
Carib Indians by the time Columbus landed on his second voyage in 1493.
The islands had been settled by the Spanish and French until the English
formed a colony in 1667.
Antigua and Barbuda became independent from the United
Kingdom in 1981. Tourism dominates the economy, accounting for more
than half of GDP. Major agricultural products are cotton, fruits,
vegetables, bananas, coconuts, cucumbers, mangoes, and sugarcane.
The major manufacturing products are bedding, handicrafts, and electronic
components. The present Prime Minister is Baldwin Spencer whose
party handed Lester Bird a crushing 14-4 defeat
.
Economic Notes:
Size: (Antigua 280 sq km; Barbuda 161 sq km)
Population: 67,897
Ethnic groups: black, British, Portuguese, Lebanese,
Syrian
Capital: St. John's
Parishes: 6 parishes and 2 dependencies.
Parishes: Saint George, Saint John, Saint Mary, Saint Paul, Saint
Peter, Saint Philip. Dependencies: Barbuda, Redonda
Governor General: James Beethoven Carlisle (since
1993)
Prime Minister: Baldwin Spencer (2004) The
government is formed by the United People's Party (UPP).
Deputy Prime Minister:
Opposition Leader: Lester Bird
Independence Day: 1 November, 1981 (from UK)
Parliament: Parliament has two chambers. The House of
Representatives has 18 members, elected for a five year term in single-seat
constituencies. The Senate has 17 appointed
members.
Last elections held: Tuesday, 23rd March when Baldwin
Spencer's UPP handed Lester Bird's ALP a crushing 14-4 defeat.
Election links:
BBC
, Antigua
Sun
Bird Dynasty
Thrown Out In Antigua - The
Scotsman
Bird concedes
defeat in Antigua elections - The
Guardian
For election results, visit antiguaelections.com
Political Parties:
United Progressive
Party (founded in 1992 by a merger of the Antigua Caribbean Liberation
Movement, the Progressive Labour Movement and
the United National Democratic Party).
Antigua Labour Party
(formed in 1946. The party was in power from 1946 until 1971 and from 1976
until 2004).
Barbuda People's
Movement.
Barbuda People's
Movement For Change.
Political Parties with web sites
Antigua Government Media
Antigua Political Newspapers
(Not yet available)
Antigua Government Institutions
Government
of Antigua
Prime
Minister's Office
Tourism
Department
Websites with information about Antigua elections
(Not yet available)
Antigua Newspapers
Antigua
Sun
Major Country websites
Chief Ministers
Vere Cornwall Bird
1 Jan 1960 - 27 Feb 1967 (ALP)
Premiers
Vere Cornwall Bird
27 Feb 1967 - 14 Feb 1971 (ALP)
George Herbert Walter 14
Feb 1971 - 1 Feb 1976
Vere Cornwall Bird
1 Feb 1976 - 1 Nov 1981 ( ALP)
Prime Ministers
Vere Cornwall Bird
1 Nov 1981 - 9 Mar 1994 (ALP)
Lester Bryant Bird
9 Mar 1994 - 24 Mar 2004 (ALP)
Baldwin Spencer
24 Mar 2004 - present (UPP)