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Antigua and Barbuda is a sovereign archipelagic country composed of Antigua,Barbuda,and numerous other small islands. Antigua and Barbuda has a total area of 440 km2,making it one of the smallest countries in the Caribbean. The country is mostly flat,with the highest points on Antigua being in the Shekerley Mountains and on Barbuda the Highlands. The country has a tropical savanna climate,with pockets of tropical monsoon in Antigua's southwest. Its largest city is St. John's.
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 Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) is a political party in Antigua and Barbuda. The current leader of the party is Gaston Browne,who serves as the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda. The party had previously been led by Lester Bird,who was chairman of the party since 1971,and was Prime Minister and political leader in 1994.
The governor-general of Antigua and Barbuda is the representative of the monarch of Antigua and Barbuda,currently Charles III. The governor-general is nominated by the prime minister,and appointed by the monarch. The governor-general exercises the powers of the monarch,and thus appoints ministers,senators,judges,and ambassadors;gives royal assent to legislation;and issues writs for election. The governor-general also exercises the powers of the commander-in-chief of the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force. The governor-general serves at His Majesty's pleasure,although in practice is usually removed following the election of a new party into power.
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.
Antiguan and Barbudan passports are issued to nationals of Antigua and Barbuda for international travel. The passport is a CARICOM passport as Antigua and Barbuda is a member of the Caribbean Community.
Sir Robin Yearwood KGCN 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.
The Constitution of Antigua and Barbuda is the supreme law that governs the country. The Constitution lays out the legal foundation for the Antigua and Barbuda government as well as the rights and obligations of the general public and other public servants. In 1981,the Constitution went into effect. The Antigua Constitution and Elections Order,as well as the Constitution of the Associated State of Antigua,are among the texts pertaining to Antigua and Barbuda's governance that have been superseded by the 1981 document.
Maria Vanessa Bird-Browne is a politician in Antigua and Barbuda. She was elected as a member of the House of Representatives for St. John's Rural East in the Parliament of Antigua and Barbuda in 2018,becoming the youngest lawmaker in the country. She is the country's minister for housing,lands,and urban renewal.
Trevor Myke Walker is a Barbudan politician,current member of parliament for Barbuda,and former Cabinet Minister under the Baldwin Spencer administration. He is a member of the Barbuda People's Movement,a party that seeks the independence of Barbuda from Antigua and Barbuda.
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.
Cheryl Mary Clare Hurst is an Antiguan and Barbudan politician. She is a senator of the Upper House of Parliament in Antigua and Barbuda. She was appointed senator by Prime Minister Gaston Browne. She is also the General Secretary of the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party. Hurst was appointed senator after the 2014 general elections held in Antigua and Barbuda.
Gail Christian is an Antiguan and Barbudan politician and senator. She is a senator of the Upper House of Parliament in Antigua and Barbuda. She was appointed senator by Prime Minister Gaston Browne.
Antigua,officially the Associated State of Antigua,was an associated state of the United Kingdom,which was established on 27 February 1967. The associated state was abolished on November 1,1981,by the Antigua Order.
Royal tours of Antigua and Barbuda by its royal family have been taking place since the 20th century. Elizabeth II,Queen of Antigua and Barbuda,visited the country thrice:in 1966,1977,and 1985.
Dean Jonas is an Antiguan Labour Party politician who was elected as Member of Parliament for St. George in the general election held on 12 June 2014. On 28 December 2022,he has been nominated as ABLP candidate for 2023 General Elections. On 18 January 2023 he was defeated by UPP candidate Algernon Watts. He was afterwords appointed as Advisor to the Minister with Responsibility for the Blue Economy,but he had his appointment revoked by Prime Minister Gaston Browne on 1 November 2023. On 19 September 2024 Jonas was appointed as Ambassador at large.
Federalism in Antigua and Barbuda refers to political theories that the central government of Antigua and Barbuda should share a certain degree of sovereignty with its parishes and dependencies under a form of federalism. These proposals were first made during the era of the Associated State of Antigua,prior to independence. However,due to disputes during the Barbuda Land crisis since 2017,members of the Barbuda People's Movement,the United Progressive Party,and other entities have proposed this in an effort to avoid Barbudan secession. In Antigua and Barbuda,the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis is usually used as an example of how an Antiguan and Barbudan federal system could work.
The Barbudan independence movement is a political movement that seeks the independence of Barbuda from Antigua. Proponents state that Barbudan independence would allow Barbudans to exercise their right to self-determination,especially after the start of the Barbuda land crisis,while opponents state that this movement would set a precedent for other small islands in the region to secede,and would deprive Antigua of critical resources.
The history of Antigua and Barbuda since 2014 began with the election of Gaston Browne as prime minister. Since then,the Barbudan independence movement has resurged and the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party has cemented control over the country. Relations between the two islands have largely deteriorated.
The political history of Antigua and Barbuda covers the history of political movements and systems of government in Antigua and Barbuda. Since Antigua's colonisation in 1632,the archipelago has seen various governments and political conflicts,as well as democratic backsliding and attempts to redevelop the country. Now,Antigua and Barbuda is a fully independent unitary parliamentary monarchy.
References
- ↑ "Editorial: A new chapter in e-books". Antigua Observer Newspaper. 2017-06-10. Retrieved 2022-04-03.
- ↑ "The High Commission of Antigua and Barbuda. Tourism, travel, business, politics, finance and investments". 2008-05-14. Archived from the original on 14 May 2008. Retrieved 2022-04-03.
- ↑ "SKNVibes | Antigua And Barbuda Implements E-Grip Project". www.sknvibes.com. Retrieved 2022-04-03.
- ↑ "Michael William-Paul Opening night Speaker - Antigua & Barbuda St. John's - ICT Fest". Michael William Paul. 2013-01-14. Retrieved 2022-04-03.
- ↑ "SKNVibes | Papua New Guinea's Mining Provinces To Benefit From Digicel And Government Partnership". www.sknvibes.com. Retrieved 2022-04-03.
- ↑ "Dr Edmond Mansoor Reportedly Resigns from Executive Role in UPP". Antigua News Room. 2024-08-30. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
- ↑ "RESIGNATION LETTER: Dr. Mansoor exited UPP over failed leadership of Chairperson and Political Leader Et Al". Antigua News Room. 2024-09-07. Retrieved 2024-09-08.
- ↑ "Dr. Edmond Mansoor joins the ruling ABLP". Antigua News Room. 2024-09-07. Retrieved 2024-09-07.