History of Antigua and Barbuda (1871–1958)

Last updated
Presidency of Antigua
1871-1958
Coat of arms of Antigua and Barbuda (1956-1967).svg
Coat of arms
Recognised national languagesEnglish
GovernmentPresidency of the British Leeward Islands
Currency British West Indies dollar
Today part of Antigua and Barbuda

This article covers the history of the Presidency of Antigua from 1871 until 1958. During this period, Antigua was a presidency part of the British Leeward Islands, also including the islands of Barbuda and Redonda. During this era, universal suffrage was established, and local government thrived. In 1958, Antigua joined the West Indies Federation.

Contents

Government

During the late 1800s and early 1900s, Antigua was a member of the British Leeward Islands, which also included the presidencies of St. Kitts-Nevis, Dominica, and Montserrat. [1] Antigua was governed by a legislative council, with bills passed by the council being assented to by the Governor of the Leeward Islands. [2]

On 14 August 1914, the Antigua Defence Force was put on active duty, composed of members of the Leeward Islands Police and the Defence Reserve Corps. [3]

On 1 December 1951, Antigua adopted its first constitution, titled the "Constitution and Elections Ordinance". In the ordinance, Antigua was referred to as a "colony". The ordinance remained the constitution until 27 February 1967 when it was replaced by that of the Associated State of Antigua. The Legislative Council remained the presidency's legislature, now being composed of the attorney general, two nominated members, and ten elected members. [4] At the time of adoption, the council had ten electoral districts. [5]

Elections

Three nationwide elections were held during the period of 1871 to 1958. The first was the 1946 general election, held under limited suffrage. [6] After the adoption of the Constitution and Elections Ordinance, the first election under universal suffrage was held, the 1951 general election. [7] [8] The final election held under the period was the 1956 Antiguan general election. [9] All three elections were landslide victories for the Antigua Trades and Labour Union and the Antigua Labour Party.

Demographics

In 1911, the racial makeup of the population was as follows: [10]

RacePopulation
Black27,224
Coloured4,032
White1,015
32,271

History by area

St. John's

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the city of St. John's was governed by a city board. [11]

Barbuda

Before the adoption of the Barbuda Ordinance, Barbuda did not have many governmental organs other than its magistrates' court. By 1898, the building was in need of repairs, and a proposal was made to construct an "overseer's house". [12] On 30 April 1904, the Barbuda Ordinance went into force, establishing official boundaries for Codrington, making various regulations for the governance of the island, and establishing limited autonomy for the island. [13] Per the ordinance, Barbuda was overseen by a warden. [14]

Other villages

In 1945, a system of village councils was established for the island of Antigua. In 1950, the terms for the councils were extended. [15] In December 1950, the registration process for the January 1951 village council elections began. On 4 December 1950, the village councils were as follows: [16]

Village councilChairperson
Swetes, Buckleys, and John Hughes Ernest Williams (Swetes)
St. Johnston and Clare Hall D. W. Hurst (Clare Hall)
Liberta J. M. A. Edwards
Five Islands W. J. Buntin
Bethesda and Christian Hill Vida Martin (Bethesda)
Piggotts and Osbourn S. T. James
Sea View Farm and Freemans Christopher Reynolds (Sea View Farm)
Johnsons Point and Crabs Hill John Sebastian
Potters Village F. O. Benjamin
Bolans Clifford Parker
Cedar Grove M. C. Joseph
Parham and Pares Rolston Williams

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antigua and Barbuda</span> Country in the Lesser Antilles of the West Indies

Antigua and Barbuda is a sovereign island country in the Caribbean. It lies at the conjuncture of the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean in the Leeward Islands part of the Lesser Antilles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Indies Federation</span> 1958–1962 political union of British island colonies in the Caribbean

The West Indies Federation, also known as the West Indies, the Federation of the West Indies or the West Indian Federation, was a short-lived political union that existed from 3 January 1958 to 31 May 1962. Various islands in the Caribbean that were part of the British Empire, including Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Jamaica, and those on the Leeward and Windward Islands, came together to form the Federation, with its capital in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. The expressed intention of the Federation was to create a political unit that would become independent from Britain as a single state — possibly similar to Canada, the Federation of Australia, or the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. Before that could happen, the Federation collapsed due to internal political conflicts over how it would be governed or function viably. The formation of a West Indian Federation was encouraged by the United Kingdom, but also requested by pan-Caribbean nationalists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leeward Islands</span> Subgroup of islands in the West Indies

The Leeward Islands are a group of islands situated where the northeastern Caribbean Sea meets the western Atlantic Ocean. Starting with the Virgin Islands east of Puerto Rico, they extend southeast to Guadeloupe and its dependencies. In English, the term Leeward Islands refers to the northern islands of the Lesser Antilles chain. The more southerly part of this chain, starting with Dominica, is called the Windward Islands. Dominica was originally considered a part of the Leeward Islands, but was transferred from the British Leeward Islands to the British Windward Islands in 1940.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British West Indies</span> British territories in the Caribbean, sometimes including former colonies

The British West Indies (BWI) were the territories in the West Indies under British rule, including Anguilla, the Cayman Islands, the Turks and Caicos Islands, Montserrat, the British Virgin Islands, Bermuda, Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, British Honduras, British Guiana and Trinidad and Tobago.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Progressive Party (Antigua and Barbuda)</span> Political party in Antigua and Barbuda

The United Progressive Party is a political party in Antigua and Barbuda. It was previously led by Baldwin Spencer, it was the governing party from 2004 to 2014. It has been in opposition since the 2014 election. Jamale Pringle was elected leader of the party on 21 April 2024, after the resignation of Harold Lovell on 20 January 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parishes and dependencies of Antigua and Barbuda</span>

Antigua and Barbuda is an island nation made up of: Antigua island, which is divided into six parishes; and of the two dependencies of Barbuda island and Redonda island.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elections in Antigua and Barbuda</span>

Elections in Antigua and Barbuda take place in the framework of a parliamentary democracy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barbuda People's Movement</span> Political party in Antigua and Barbuda

The Barbuda People's Movement is a left-wing Barbudan nationalist political party in Antigua and Barbuda active only on the island of Barbuda. The party's symbol is the European fallow deer, national animal of Barbuda. The party seeks the secession of Barbuda from Antigua and Barbuda. The party is allied with the United Progressive Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parliament of Antigua and Barbuda</span> Bicameral legislature of Antigua and Barbuda

The Parliament of Antigua and Barbuda consists of the King of Antigua and Barbuda, the Senate and the House of Representatives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monarchy of Antigua and Barbuda</span> Head of state of Antigua and Barbuda

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Silver Palm Schoolhouse</span> United States historic place

The Silver Palm Schoolhouse is an historic school in the Silver Palm Historic District within the unincorporated community of Redland, Florida, United States. It is located at Silver Palm Drive and Newton Road. On July 2, 1987, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1984 Antiguan general election</span>

General elections were held in Antigua and Barbuda on 17 April 1984, the first after the country had become an independent Commonwealth realm in 1981.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1951 Antiguan general election</span>

General elections were held in Antigua and Barbuda on 20 December 1951. The election was the first in Antigua and Barbuda to be held under universal suffrage. Vere Bird formed the Antigua Labour Party in 1951 and led the party to victory, winning all eight elected seats on the legislative council. Voter turnout was 70%.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1956 Antiguan general election</span>

General elections were held in Antigua and Barbuda on 1 November 1956. The Antigua Labour Party retained all eight elected seats and the party's leader Vere Bird became Minister of Trade and Production after a ministerial system of government was established. Voter turnout was 57%.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1980 Guyanese general election</span>

General elections were held in Guyana on 15 December 1980. The result was a victory for the People's National Congress, which won 41 of the 53 directly-elected seats. However, the PNC's victory was the result of fraud as the government had direct control of the elections. Voter turnout was 82.3%.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1952 Saint Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla general election</span>

General elections were held in Saint Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla on 6 October 1952, the country's first elections held under universal suffrage. The Workers' League won seven of the eight elected seats.

The Honourable Attorney General of Montserrat, usually known simply as the Attorney General, is the chief legal adviser to The Crown and the Government of Montserrat. In addition to providing legal advice to government departments and various statutory boards, the Office of the Attorney General is responsible for the drafting of all of the government's legislation, and also handles all civil litigation matters for the government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Local government in Antigua and Barbuda</span>

Administrative structures for local governments can be found in Antigua and Barbuda. Antigua and Barbuda had seventeen district councils corresponding with the constituencies. Under the direction of the Local Government Officer, the district councils have been categorized into a total of four distinct zones. At a more fundamental level, village councils are encouraged the participation of local citizens. The island of Barbuda has a constitutionally-protected unique status, and it has given the authority to solicit financial contributions in order to meet the needs of its inhabitants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Antigua and Barbuda (1958–1962)</span> Territory of the West Indies Federation

This article covers the history of Antigua and Barbuda from 1958 to 1962, when it was a territory of the West Indies Federation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Antigua and Barbuda (1962–1967)</span> British colony

This article covers the history of Antigua and Barbuda from 1962 until 1967. This period began after the fall of the West Indies Federation, and concluded with the establishment of the Associated State of Antigua.

References

  1. "Leeward Islands Gazette". ufdc.ufl.edu. April 3, 1890. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
  2. "Leeward Islands Gazette". ufdc.ufl.edu. April 17, 1890. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
  3. "The people are getting vex: The beginnings of labor unrest and the growth of a peasantry" (PDF). Antigua History.
  4. "Constitution and Elections Ordinance". dloc.com. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
  5. "Electoral Districts". dloc.com. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
  6. Brian Dyde (2000) A History of Antigua: The Unsuspected Isle, Macmillan Caribbean, p237
  7. Dieter Nohlen (2005) Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume I, p66 ISBN   978-0-19-928357-6
  8. Gunson, Phil; Chamberlain, Greg; Thompson, Andrew (1991). The Dictionary of Contemporary Politics of Central America and the Caribbean. Routledge. p. 40. ISBN   0-415-02445-5.
  9. Nohlen, D (2005) Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume I, p66 ISBN   978-0-19-928357-6
  10. "UF Digital Collections". ufdc.ufl.edu. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
  11. "Leeward Islands Gazette". ufdc.ufl.edu. May 18, 1899. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
  12. "Leeward Islands Gazette". ufdc.ufl.edu. November 3, 1898. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
  13. Barbuda Act (PDF). 30 April 1904.
  14. "Barbuda Ordinance". dloc.com. 30 April 1904. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
  15. "UF Digital Collections". ufdc.ufl.edu. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
  16. "UF Digital Collections". ufdc.ufl.edu. Retrieved 2024-08-31.