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Antigua and Barbuda is a sovereign country in the West Indies. It lies at the juncture of the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean in the Leeward Islands part of the Lesser Antilles,at 17°N latitude. The country consists of two major islands,Antigua and Barbuda,approximately 40 km. (25 mi.) apart;and several smaller islands,including Great Bird,Green,Guiana,Long,Maiden,Prickly Pear,York Islands,and Redonda. The permanent population is approximately 97,120,97% residing in Antigua. St. John's,in Antigua,is the country's capital,major city,and largest port. Codrington is Barbuda's largest town.
The politics of Antigua and Barbuda takes place in a framework of a unitary parliamentary representative democratic monarchy,wherein the Sovereign of Antigua and Barbuda is the head of state,appointing a Governor-General to act as vice-regal representative in the nation. A Prime Minister is appointed by the Governor-General as the head of government,and of a multi-party system;the Prime Minister advises the Governor-General on the appointment of a Council of Ministers. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the two chambers of the Parliament. The bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
The history of Antigua and Barbuda covers the period from the arrival of the Archaic peoples thousands of years ago to the present day. Prior to European colonization,the lands encompassing present-day Antigua and Barbuda were inhabited by three successive Amerindian societies. The island was claimed by England,who settled the islands in 1632. Under English/British control,the islands witnessed an influx of both Britons and African slaves migrate to the island. In 1981,the islands were granted independence as the modern state of Antigua and Barbuda.
Sir Lester Bryant Bird KNH was an Antigua and Barbuda politician and athlete who served as the second prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda from 1994 to 2004. He was chairman of the Antigua Labour Party (ALP) from 1971 to 1983,then became prime minister when his father,Sir Vere Bird,the previous prime minister,resigned.
Sir Vere Cornwall Bird,KNH was the first Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda. His son,Lester Bryant Bird,succeeded him as Prime Minister. In 1994 he was declared a national hero.
Winston Baldwin Spencer is an Antiguan politician who was the third Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda from 2004 to 2014.
The monarchy of Antigua and Barbuda is a system of government in which a hereditary monarch is the sovereign and head of state of Antigua and Barbuda. The current Antiguan and Barbudan monarch and head of state since 8 September 2022,is King Charles III. As sovereign,he is the personal embodiment of the Crown of Antigua and Barbuda. Although the person of the sovereign is equally shared with 14 other independent countries within the Commonwealth of Nations,each country's monarchy is separate and legally distinct. As a result,the current monarch is officially titled King of Antigua and Barbuda and,in this capacity,he and other members of the Royal Family undertake public and private functions domestically and abroad as representatives of Antigua and Barbuda. However,the King is the only member of the Royal Family with any constitutional role.
Sir George Herbert Walter,KNH was an Antiguan politician of the Progressive Labour Movement and Premier of Antigua and Barbuda from 14 February 1971 to 1 February 1976.
The following outline is provided as an overview of and introduction to Antigua and Barbuda:
Sir Robert Hall (1909–1994) was a politician of Antigua and Barbuda. Hall was an opponent of the dominant Antigua Labour Party throughout his career. He was politically active mainly during Antigua and Barbuda's time as a West Indies Associated State.
Vere Bird Jr. was an Antiguan lawyer and politician who served as chairman of the Antigua Labour Party (ALP) and a government minister. He was the son of Vere Bird,the former Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda,and brother of Lester Bird,who later held the same position.
Robin Yearwood is an Antiguan politician and member of the Antigua Labour Party (ALP). Entering Parliament in 1976,Yearwood served as Minister of Agriculture,Land and Fisheries in the ALP administration until a cabinet reshuffle in 1987 saw him take over Vere Bird,Jr.'s portfolio for Aviation,Public Information and Public Utilities. Despite a failed attempt to oust the Prime Minister he retained this position,and kept it when he became Deputy Prime Minister on 9 September 2002 and Minister of Finance a year later. Following the ALP's loss in the 2004 election,Yearwood was one of only three ALP members left in the lower house,and became Leader of the Opposition. He held this position until 2006,when he was replaced with Steadroy Benjamin.
Asot Michael is the Member of the Parliament of Antigua and Barbuda elected from Saint Peter Constituency. He was also the Minister of Tourism,Economic Development,Investment and Energy under Prime Minister Gaston Browne. He is a member of the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party.
Sir Molwyn Joseph,KGCN,is an Antiguan politician and Chairman of the Antigua Labour Party (ALP). First entering politics in 1984 when he was made a Minister without Portfolio in the government of Vere Bird,Joseph became Minister of Finance seven years later,renegotiating the Antiguan national debt and introducing fiscal reforms. After a 1996 scandal in which it was discovered he had used his position to import a 1930s Rolls Royce for a friend,bypassing normal import duties and taxes,he was dismissed from the Bird administration,returning 14 months later to serve as Minister for Planning,Implementation and the Environment. Following the 1999 general election he became Minister of Heath and Social Improvement before being made Minister of Tourism and the Environment a few months later. As Minister,Joseph attempted to improve the perception of Antigua as a tourist destination and invest in the industry,spending 2 million US dollars increasing the number of hotel rooms on the island and providing money for both Air Jamaica and Air Luxor to provide flights to the island.
Steadroy "Cutie" Benjamin is an Antiguan lawyer and politician,who is the current minister of Justice and Attorney General of Antigua and Barbuda. He previously served as Leader of the Opposition in the Parliament of Antigua and Barbuda.
Samantha Nicole Marshall is an Antiguan MP and Cabinet Minister. Marshall represents St. Mary's South in the Antigua and Barbuda Parliament. She is a member of the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party.
Saint John's City West is a parliamentary constituency located in the city of St. John's,Antigua and Barbuda.
Joanne Maureen Massiah is an Antiguan and Barbudan politician and former Cabinet Minister and Member of Parliament for All Saints East and St. Luke. Currently,she is the President of the Democratic National Alliance.
Osbert Richard Frederick is an Antiguan and Barbudan politician. He was appointed senator by Prime Minister Gaston Browne. After his appointment,he was elected the Deputy senate president in the Upper House of Parliament in Antigua and Barbuda.
Royal tours of Antigua and Barbuda by its Royal Family have been taking place since the 20th century. The Queen of Antigua and Barbuda,Elizabeth II,has visited the country three times;in 1966,1977,and 1985. Other members of the Royal Family have also paid visits.
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Samuel leaves legacy of political achievement". Antigua Sun. 2008-02-01. Retrieved 2008-02-02.
- ↑ "Antigua Agriculture Official Missing". Associated Press. 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-02.[ permanent dead link ]
- 1 2 "Charlesworth Samuel: A gentleman and a politician". Antigua Sun. 2008-02-01. Retrieved 2008-02-02.
- ↑ Weston, Tahna (2006-09-25). "Walter declares interest in All Saints East seat". Antigua Sun. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
- ↑ "Chester says he's ready for All Saints". Antigua Sun. 2006-09-07. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
- ↑ "Antigua police investigate death of agriculture minister after body found on beach". The San Diego Union-Tribune . 2008-01-31. Retrieved 2008-02-02.
- ↑ "Antiguan minister found dead". Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation. 2008-02-01. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2008-02-02.
- 1 2 "Antigua police launch investigation into minister's death". Caribbean Media Corporation. 2008-02-01.
- ↑ "PM Spencer addresses the nation". Antigua Sun. 2008-01-31. Archived from the original on 2008-02-04. Retrieved 2008-02-02.
- ↑ "Antigua flags at half mast as death of agriculture minister mourned". Caribbean Media Corporation. 2008-02-01.