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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.
Antigua and Barbuda was first successfully colonised by the English in 1632, led by Sir Thomas Warner, the island's first governor. [1] The Government House was located in Falmouth, the main village, which was subject to Carib attacks. [2] During the Commonwealth of England, the colony was against Oliver Cromwell. [3] In 1666, Antigua was invaded by the French, who ruled Antigua from the governors of its other colonies until it was returned to the English in 1667 under the Treaty of Breda. [4]
On 13 April 1668, Antigua's legislative assembly met for the first time in Parham. The office of governor is the predecessor of the modern day governor-general, and the Parliament of Antigua and Barbuda is the direct descendant of the legislative assembly. [5] Parham became the administrative centre of Antigua in 1663. In April 1668, the legislative assembly also authorised a plan to build a town on St. John's Harbour. [6] On 9 January 1685, Christopher and John Codrington were granted a fifty-year lease of Barbuda. Barbuda was not part of Antigua at the time, nor was it a formal colony. Rather, it was treated as private property of the Codringtons, who ruled it like a semi-independent state. [7]
In 1692, the parishes of Antigua were finalised, and were governed by vestries. The parishes were further subdivided into divisions. The central government occasionally authorised the vestries to levy taxes. [8] For most of the late 1600s, the Antiguan legislature would sit in various settlements, especially the designated towns of trade. [5] In 1702, St. John's elected its first town wardens. [9] In 1725, the parish of Saint George was established. [10] In 1747, lieutenant governors were no longer appointed in Antigua. In 1791, Antigua underwent a judicial reform. In the early 1800s, the modern-day Government House was completed. [11]
After the abolishment of the slave trade in 1808, a five-man police force was established in 1813. [12] In 1816, the colony of Antigua-Barbuda-Montserrat was established after the abolishment of the British Leeward Islands. Antigua had been subordinated to the British Leeward Islands and ruled by a lieutenant governor since 1671. [12]
In 1832 the Leeward Islands were re-instated, and the governor of Antigua became the ex officio governor of the Leeward Islands. The Leeward Islands colony was based in St. John's, and the title of governor of Antigua was later renamed to the governor of the Leeward Islands. [13] On 1 August 1860 Barbuda was merged into the colony of Antigua, ending Codrington rule. By 1871, Antigua was a presidency of the Leeward Islands colony, and the legislative assembly had become the legislative council. Any bill passed by the legislative council was to be assented by the Leeward governor. [14] In 1904 the position of warden was established for Barbuda, which was later replaced by the chairperson of the Barbuda Council. [14]
In 1936, the position of governor was replaced by the administrator. The administrator resided [15] in Government House and had similar functions. In 1946, Antigua held its first election, which resulted in V. C. Bird being appointed to the Executive Council, the predecessor to the Cabinet. In 1951, the first Antiguan constitution was adopted. The composition of the legislative council was changed, now to be composed of the attorney general, two nominated members, and ten elected members. This is when the Bird dynasty began to emerge, who controlled Antiguan politics until 2004. [16] [17] [18] In 1958 Antigua joined the West Indies Federation, and in June 1959 a constitutional conference was held for Antigua, granting it autonomy on 1 January 1960. [19]
V. C. Bird was the first chief minister of Antigua. The Executive Council was now composed of the Chief Minister, three other ministers, one member without portfolio, and the ex officio attorney-general. The Chief Minister had to command the support of the majority of members of the legislative council. All executive officials were to be appointed by the administrator. [20] On 31 May 1962 the West Indies Federation was abolished and Antigua was no longer subordinated to another colony. [21] The post-federation history of Antigua and Barbuda was largely quiet, until the 1966 Antigua Constitutional Conference laid the groundwork for the establishment of a semi-independent associated state. [22] On 27 February 1967, Antigua gained associated statehood and adopted its present-day national symbols. [23]
Upon associated statehood, the legislative council was renamed to Parliament, and its members became part of the House of Representatives. A Senate was also established, being composed of members appointed by the governor. The position of administrator had been replaced by that of the governor. Antigua was able to handle all internal affairs and had limited control over its defence. [24] In 1971, Antigua and Barbuda experienced its first change of government, resulting in the Bird family being removed from office, and George Walter becoming the state's second premier. However, due to poor economic management, the Labour Party had returned to power by 1976. [25] That year, the Barbuda Local Government Act was adopted, giving the island a limited form of autonomy, described in 1982 by the Antigua Broadcasting Service as the most comprehensive in the Caribbean. [26]
After the collapse of Walter's government, the Labour Party successfully revitalised the economy and became committed to independence. This was the main theme of the 1980 general election, which resulted in successfully negotiations on the country's independence. The primary focus of the independence negotiations were the situation in Barbuda, due to fears that Barbuda would attempt a rebellion similar to that in the Republic of Anguilla. A compromise was reached however, by enshrining the Barbuda Local Government Act in the future Constitution. [25] Antigua and Barbuda gained independence on 1 November 1981. [27]
After independence, separatist protests began in Barbuda led by the Barbuda Council chairperson on 3 November. It was claimed that 75% of islanders supported leaving the new country. [28] On 10 November, Antigua and Barbuda joined the United Nations in a unanimous resolution. [29] In 1984 the first elections were held after independence, resulting in a landslide for the Labour Party. There were accusations of gerrymandering however in the former All Saints constituency. [30] This is when accusations of authoritarianism emerged against the Birds, and new political figures like Baldwin Spencer began to take control of the opposition. [31] In 1986 the United National Democratic Party was established. [32]
Following the 1989 elections, the country began to fall into corruption, and in 1992 the United Progressive Party was established through a merger of the UNDP and other minor parties. [33] The Guns for Antigua scandal also largely destroyed the country's reputation. Due to this, V. C. Bird announced he would not seek another term in March 1994. [33] The 1994 elections were won by V. C. Bird's son, Lester Bird, although these elections were neither free nor fair and voter intimidation was rampant. [34] The United Progressive Party gained a large number of seats in Parliament however, and the Barbuda People's Movement entered national politics for the first time. [35] By 1998 Antigua and Barbuda was not considered a democracy by Freedom House. [36]
The 1999 elections were neither free nor fair, and due to this, the Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission was established in 2001. [37] [38] State media was liberalised. [39] A small Caribbean integration movement had also emerged in Barbuda. [40] [41] [42] In 2004, democratic elections were held resulting in the UPP's Baldwin Spencer becoming the prime minister. Relations between Antigua and Barbuda also improved. [43] However, a series of political scandals later resulted in the Labour Party returning to power in 2014. [44]
Following Gaston Browne becoming prime minister, 2017's Hurricane Irma destroyed Barbuda and resulted in the destruction of relations between the two islands after Gaston Browne scheduled an election when Barbudans did not have access to a polling station within their constituency. [45] The Barbuda land crisis also emerged, causing the Barbuda Council to request independence in 2020. [46] After Labour's near-loss in the 2023 elections, [47] tensions within the United Progressive Party resulted in Anthony Smith's depature, causing the party an ongoing credibility crisis exacerbated by the 2025 St. Peter by-election. [48]
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.
St. John's is the largest city of Antigua and Barbuda. It is located in the western part of Antigua, surrounding St. John's Harbour. The city is Antigua and Barbuda's primate city, having a population of 22,219. St. John's also tends to dominate the parish of Saint John, which composes much of the city's metropolitan area. From its establishment after the French invasion in 1666, the city has rapidly grown, eventually replacing Falmouth as the island's dominant city.
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 was an Antiguan 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".
The following is an alphabetical list of topics related to the nation 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.
Betty's Hope was a sugarcane plantation in Diamonds, Antigua. It was established in 1650, shortly after the island had become an English colony, and flourished as a successful agricultural industrial enterprise during the centuries of slavery. It was the first large-scale sugar plantation to operate in Antigua and belonged to the Codrington family from 1674 until 1944. Christopher Codrington, later Captain General of the Leeward Islands, acquired the property in 1674 and named it Betty's Hope, after his daughter.
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.
Gaston Alfonso Browne is an Antiguan politician serving as the prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda and leader of the Labour Party since 2014. Before entering politics, he was a banker and businessman.
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.
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.
This article covers the history of Antigua and Barbuda from 1958 to 1962, when it was a territory of the West Indies Federation.
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.
This article covers the history of Antigua and Barbuda from the end of the Pre-Columbian period in 1493 to 1687. During this era, the first African slaves were brought to Antigua and Barbuda, and the native population was driven to near-extinction. For much of this period, Antigua and Barbuda was officially known as the Colony of Antigua.
This article covers the history of Antigua and Barbuda from 1688 until the prelude to emancipation in 1832. During this era, the parishes and government were properly established, as well as the height of slavery and the establishment of an Antiguan sugar-based economy. Antigua was often formally called the Colony of Antigua during this period. Barbuda was under the near-complete control of the Codringtons, and was not yet united with Antigua.
This article covers the history of Antigua and Barbuda from emancipation in 1833 until the British Leeward Islands were federalized in the early 1870s. During this era, the economy was significantly reformed, and many Afro-Antiguan villages were established. Antigua was often formally called the Colony of Antigua during this period. This is also when Barbuda began to merge with Antigua, and the communal land system was established.
This is a timeline of Antiguan and Barbudan history, consisting of various important political and historical events. To read about the background to these events, see the History of Antigua and Barbuda.
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.
