Difference between revisions of "Antigua and Barbuda" - New World Encyclopedia

From New World Encyclopedia
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=== Facts and figures ===
 
=== Facts and figures ===
  
*Household income or consumption by percentage share.
+
*Household income or consumption by percentage share
 
**highest 10%: NA%  
 
**highest 10%: NA%  
'''Labour force bu occupation'''
+
*Labour force bu occupation
  agriculture: 7%  
+
**agriculture: 7%  
  industry: 11%  
+
**industry: 11%  
  services: 82% (1983)
+
**services: 82% (1983)
'''Agriculture - products'''
+
*Agriculture - products
  cotton, fruits, vegetables, bananas, coconuts,    
+
**cotton, fruits, vegetables, bananas, coconuts, cucumbers, mangoes, sugarcane; livestock  
  cucumbers, mangoes, sugarcane; livestock  
+
*Industries
'''Industries'''
+
**tourism, construction, light manufacturing (clothing, alcohol, household appliances)
  tourism, construction, light manufacturing (clothing, alcohol, household appliances)
+
*Electricity - production
'''Electricity - production'''
+
**105 million kWh (2004)
  105 million kWh (2004)
+
*Electricity - consumption
'''Electricity - consumption'''
+
**97.65 million kWh (2004)
  97.65 million kWh (2004)
+
*Oil - consumption
'''Oil - consumption'''
+
**3,800 bbl/day (2004 est.)
  3,800 bbl/day (2004 est.)
+
**transhipments of 29,000 bbl/day (2003)
  transhipments of 29,000 bbl/day (2003)
+
*Exchange rates
'''Exchange rates'''
+
**East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7 (2006), 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003), 2.7 (2002)  
  East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7 (2006), 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003), 2.7 (2002)  
+
**note: fixed rate since 1976
  note: fixed rate since 1976
 
  
 
==Demographics==
 
==Demographics==
Line 212: Line 211:
  
 
With the onset of the Internet, more Antiguans are completing online degrees.
 
With the onset of the Internet, more Antiguans are completing online degrees.
 +
 +
===Facts and figures===
 +
 +
'''Population'''
 +
:69,481 (July 2007 est.)
 +
'''Age structure'''
 +
:0-14 years: 27.3% (male 9,647/female 9,306)
 +
:15-64 years: 69% (male 24,137/female 23,801)
 +
:65 years and over: 3.7% (male 965/female 1,625) (2007 est.)
 +
'''Median age'''
 +
:total: 30.3 years
 +
:male: 29.8 years
 +
:female: 30.8 years (2007 est.)
 +
'''Population growth rate'''
 +
:0.527% (2007 est.)
 +
'''Birth rate'''
 +
:16.62 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
 +
'''Death rate'''
 +
:5.31 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
 +
'''Net migration rate'''
 +
:6.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
 +
'''Sex ratio'''
 +
:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
 +
:under 15 years: 1.037 male(s)/female
 +
:15-64 years: 1.014 male(s)/female
 +
:65 years and over: 0.594 male(s)/female
 +
:total population: 1 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
 +
'''Infant mortality rate'''
 +
:total: 18.26 deaths/1,000 live births
 +
:male: 21.99 deaths/1,000 live births
 +
:female: 14.36 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
 +
'''Life expectancy at birth'''
 +
:total population: 72.42 years
 +
:male: 70.03 years
 +
:female: 74.94 years (2007 est.)
 +
'''Total fertility rate'''
 +
:2.23 children born/woman (2007 est.)
 +
'''Nationality'''
 +
:noun: Antiguan(s), Barbudan(s)
 +
:adjective: Antiguan, Barbudan
 +
'''Ethnic groups'''
 +
:black 91%, mixed 4.4%, white 1.7%, other 2.9% (2001 census)
 +
'''Religions'''
 +
:Anglican 25.7%, Seventh Day Adventist 12.3%, Pentecostal 10.6%, Moravian 10.5%, Roman Catholic 10.4%, Methodist 7.9%, :Baptist :4.9%, Church of God 4.5%, other Christian 5.4%, other 2%, none or unspecified 5.8% (2001 census)
 +
'''Languages'''
 +
:English (official), local dialects
 +
'''Literacy'''
 +
:definition: age 15 and over has completed five or more years of schooling
 +
:total population: 85.8%
  
 
==Culture==
 
==Culture==

Revision as of 19:15, 28 July 2007

Antigua and Barbuda
Flag of Antigua and Barbuda Coat of arms of Antigua and Barbuda
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: "Each Endeavouring, All Achieving"
Anthem: Fair Antigua, We Salute Thee
Location of Antigua and Barbuda
Capital Saint John's
17°7′N 61°51′W
Largest city capital
Official languages English
Government Federal constitutional monarchy
 - Head of State Elizabeth II
 - Governor-General Louise Lake-Tack
 - Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer
Independence from the United Kingdom 
 - Date November 1, 1981 
Area
 - Total 442 km² (198th)
171 sq mi 
 - Water (%) negligible
Population
 - 2005 estimate 82,786
 - Density 184/km²
394/sq mi
GDP (PPP) 2005 estimate
 - Total US$875.8 million
 - Per capita US$12,586
HDI  (2004) Green Arrow Up (Darker).png 0.808 (high)
Currency East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Time zone AST (UTC-4)
 - Summer (DST) ADT (UTC-3)
Internet TLD .ag
Calling code +268

Antigua and Barbuda is an island nation located in the eastern Caribbean Sea on the boundary with the Atlantic Ocean. This country has two major islands: Antigua and Barbuda. They are located in the middle of the Leeward Islands in the Eastern Caribbean, roughly 17 degrees north of the equator. Antigua and Barbuda are part of the Lesser Antilles archipelago with the islands of Guadeloupe, Dominica, Martinique, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Barbados, Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago to the south, Montserrat to the southwest, Saint Kitts and Nevis to the west and Saint Barthélemy, Saint Martin and Anguilla to the northwest.

Geography

Antigua and Barbuda map.png

Antigua, Barbuda, and Redonda make up a three-island nation located in the eastern arc of the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean Sea, 692 kilometers (430 miles) off the coast of Venezuela. It is roughly 17 degrees north of the equator. Its neighbors are Montserrat (U.K.) and Guadeloupe (Fr.) to the south, Saint Kitts and Nevis to the west, and Anguilla (U.K.) to the northwest. Antigua is the largest of the Leeward Islands with an area of 280 square kilometers (108 square miles). It is about two-thirds the size of New York City, or seven eights the area of Inner London. About 40 kilometers (25 miles) northeast of Antigua lies Barbuda, with an area of 161 square kilometers (62 square miles). And 40 kilometers (25 miles) southwest of Antigua lies Redonda, the smallest of the three islands, with an area of 1.6 square kilometers (0.6 square miles). The capital of Antigua and Barbuda is St. John's located at St. John's Harbour on the northwest coast of Antigua. The principal city of Barbuda is Codrington located in Codrington Lagoon. Redonda is inhabited.

Antigua's shoreline has many bays and harbours. Barbuda has one very large harbour on the west side of the island. The coastline of Antigua and Barbuda is 153 kilometers (95 miles) long. The highest point in the nation is Boggy Peak, at 402 meters (1,319 feet). Antigua and Barbuda are low islands whose landscape is composed of limestone and coral with some volcanic formations and tropical vegetation. They have been worn mostly flat by the wind and rain. The island' white-sand beaches are famous. Redonda, on the other hand, is barren and rocky.

The climate is warm and tropical. It is tempered by sea breezes and the trade winds. There is little variation in temperature throughout the year. The average temperature ranges between 27 and 33 degrees Celsius (81 and 93 degrees Fahrenheit). Rainfall is very light. Both islands lack adequate amounts of fresh groundwater. Hurricanes and tropical storms strike the island between July and October, and sometimes these storms cause damaging floods.

Antigua and Berbuda were largely deforested when the trees were cut down to make room for sugarcane plantations. The national plant is the West Indian dagger log. It has been used for many purposes through the years, from fiber for robes to medicine for tuberculosis. The national bird is the Frigate Bird, which grows as large as 1.4 kilograms (3 pounds) with a wingspan of up to 2.4 meters (8 feet). Barbuda has the largest bird sanctuary in the Caribbean housing over 170 different species. The national animal is the fallow deer. It is originally brought from Europe. The national sea creature is the hawksbill turtle. Antigua has one of the most rarest snakes in the world, the Antigua Racer Snake.

History

Native People

The earliest known inhabitants of Antigua were the Siboney, (Guanahuatebey). It means "Stone People" in Arawak. The Siboney arrived about 2400 B.C.E.. They lived throughout the Caribbean, subsisting on shellfish and fish. Little is known about them, but artifacts such as jewelry and tools of stone and shell have been found at different archeological sites in the islands. The Siboney were replaced by the Arawak (also called Taino and Lucayan), who are believed to have originated in what is now Venezuela during the early decades of the first century. They had agricultural skills. They cultivated cotton, indigo, sweet potatoes, beans, corn and pineapple. In the twelfth century, the more aggressive Caribs, for whom the Caribbean Sea is named, drove much of the region's Arawakan population away from islands on which they wished to settle. The Caribs used Antigua only as a supply base. Both the Arawaks and the Caribs were skilled boat-builders.

European colonization

File:Harbour.jpg
English Harbour and the Falmouth Harbour on Antigua

Christopher Columbus discovered the islands on his second voyage to the Americas in 1493. He did not settle on either of the two islands because of the scarcity of available fresh water and aggressiveness of the Caribs. Nevertheless, he named the larger island "Santa Maria de la Antigua" after a church in Seville where is said that he prayed before departure.

After intermittent Spanish and French attempts to settle the islands, the British colonized Antigua in 1632, with Thomas Warner from St. Kitts as the first leader and governor. Settlers produced cash crops of tobacco, indigo, ginger, and sugar. In 1666, the French occupied Antigua for eight months until it was given back to the British in the 'Treaty of Breda'. The other islands changed hands many times, but Antigua remained British from that time on.

Sir Christopher Codrington established 'Betty’s Hope' in 1674, Antigua’s first full-scale sugar plantation. He did it in the island of Barbuda establishing Barbuda’s only town, Codrington, which is named after him. He was so successful that other planters switched from tobacco to sugar. This resulted in a huge increase of slaves to work in the sugarcane fields. By the mid-eighteenth century Antigua, which has consistently had more economic activity and a larger population than Barbuda, was the site of 150 sugar cane mills, an astonishing number for such a small island.

Settlers treated slaves brutally. In the early eighteenth century 'Prince Klaas' together with other slaves planned a rebellion to massacre all whites present in the island, but their plot was first discovered, and every person involved was tortured to death.

By the end of the eighteenth century Antigua had become an important strategic port as well as a valuable commercial colony. Known as the "gateway to the Caribbean," it was situated in a position that offered control over the major sailing routes to and from the region's rich island colonies. Therefore, the British chose Antigua as their headquaters for the British Royal Caribbean fleet. They started to build the harbour, so called English Dockyard, in 1725. Local merchants were not very pleased when the British Royal Caribbean fleet's admiral, Horatio Nelson, enforced the Navigation Act. The rule was that British ships could only trade with British colonies, leaving out Antigua's best client, the United States.

Abolition of Slavery

Slavery was abolished in Antigua and Barbuda, and throughout the British Empire, in 1834. The plantation economy was already in decline, and the emancipation process occurred with no record of major unrest on the islands. The freed slaves did not have much of an opportunity in sustaining themselves independently because of the limited availability of farming land, therefore many had to rely on poorly paid intensive labor from a few sugar holdings that remained in operation. There were not credit opportunities for the former slaves and their descendents. The islands remained economically underdeveloped and overwhelmingly dependent on agriculture well into the 20th century. The lack of enough farmland for all the people, which became more severe as the population multiplied, induced the islanders to construct shantytowns and attempt to provide for their families as occasional laborers. Some shantytowns are still visible on the outskirts of the capital, St. John's.

Political development

In 1939, a royal commission recognized the legitimacy of trade unions. Vere Cornwall Bird became president fo this union becoming the pillar for a prominent political career and leadership. Bird and other trade unionists founded the Antigua Labour Party (ALP), in 1943, and first ran candidates in local assembly elections in 1946. In 1970, emerged a rival political party, called Progressive Labour Movement (PLM), led by George Walter. PLM defeated ALP in 1971's elections. Therefore, Walter replaced Bird in leadership for a few years until 1976. In 1976's elections Vere Bird retook power. In 1978, Bird's ALP government announced the intention to seek full indipendence from Great Britain.

Independent Antigua and Barbuda

Antigua and Barbuda received complete national sovereignity on November 1, 1981, becoming the nation of Antigua and Barbuda. It remained part of the Commonwealth of Nations and a constitutional monarchy with Queen Elizabeth II as Queen of Antigua and Barbuda. Vere Bird became Antigua and Barbuda first Prime Minister and his political party, ALP, continuosly won successive elections. Vere Bird succeeded his power to his son, Lester Bird, who governed from 1994 to 2004. Accompanying Bird's government grasp for power came an ascendant perception that Antigua and Barbuda was one of the most corruptly run Caribbean State.

In 2004, the United Progressive Party won the elections positioning Baldwin Spencer as the new Prime Minister.

Government and Politics

Structure

The government is a parliamentary democracy. The prime minister is the head of government, the leader of the majority party in parliament, and authorized to conduct all affairs of state in conjunction with the cabinet. Elections must be held at least every five years. Queen Elizabeth II is technically the head of state, in Antigua and Barbuda, but serves only as a figurehead function with no substantive power. The queen is represented by a governor general. Antigua and Barbuda has a bicameral legislature. It consists of the House of Representatives (17 seats, Members are elected by proportional representation to serve for five years) and the Senate ( 17 members, ten are recommended by the prime minister, four by the opposition leader, one additional on the advice of the prime minister with the condition that is a Barbudan, one chosen by the Barbudan Council, and one picked directly by the governor general from the ranks of very important citizens. Antigua and Barbuda is a member of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court system. Jurisprudence is based on English common law. In 2005, the Trinidad-based Caribbean Court of Justice (CCP) replaced the United-Kingdom Privy Council as the court of appeals. There is also an Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based in Saint Lucia); one judge of the Supreme Court is a resident of Antigua and Barbuda and presides over the Court of Summary Jurisdiction. The current political parties and leaders are:

  • Antigua Labor Party or ALP (Lester Bryant BIRD).
  • Barbuda People's Movement or BPM (Thomas H. FRANK).
  • United Progressive Party or UPP (Baldwin SPENCER), a coalition of three opposition parties - United National Democratic Party or UNDP, Antigua Caribbean Liberation Movement or ACLM, and Progressive Labor Movement or PLM.

Foreign relations

Antigua and Barbuda's primary diplomatic relations are with other Caribbean countries (Caricom), the United States, Britain, and Canada. Firmly anticommunist, Antigua and Barbuda in 1987 was considered to be one of the most ardent supporters of the United States in the Caribbean area. Various forms of United States aid were important to Antigua and Barbuda, as was North American tourism. Of importance to the United States was the fact that Antigua occupied a strategic position and hosted a United States military presence, including air force and naval facilities. After Antigua and Barbuda gained independence, the United States consulate that had been established in 1980 was upgraded to an embassy in 1982, with a staff of eighteen. The embassies of China and Venezuela are also present. Norway, Danmark, Italy, France, and Germany are represented with consulates.

In May 1997, Prime Minister Bird joined 14 other Caribbean leaders and President Clinton for the first-ever U.S.-regional summit in Bridgetown, Barbados. The summit strengthened the basis for regional cooperation on justice and counter-narcotics issues, finance and development, and trade.

Antigua and Barbuda is a member of, among other international organizations, the Commonwealth of Nations, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the United Nations (UN) and several UN agencies (including the United Nations Education, Science, and Culture Organization), the OECS, the Regional Security System (RSS), Caricom, and the Organization of American States. As a member of Caricom and the Commonwealth of Nations, Antigua and Barbuda supports Eastern Caribbean integration efforts.

Military

The Royal Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force is the armed force of Antigua and Barbuda. The RABDF consists of four major units:

  • 1st Battalion, Antigua and Barbuda Regiment - this is the infantry unit and fighting arm of the defence force.
  • Service and Support Unit - established in 1997, this provides administrative, logistic and engineer support to the rest of the defence force.
  • Coast Guard - this is the maritime element of the defence force, and is divided into four units:
    • Commanding Officer's office
    • Engineer Unit
    • Administration Unit
    • Flotilla - the flotilla is the operational part of the Coast Guard, and consists of four vessels.
  • Antigua and Barbuda Cadet Corps

The RABDF has responsibility for several different roles: Internal security, prevention of drug smuggling, the protection and support of fishing rights, prevention of marine pollution, search and rescue, ceremonial duties, assistance to government programs, provision of relief during natural disasters, assistance in the maintenance of essential services and support of the police in maintaining law and order.

The RABDF is one of the world's smallest militaries, consisting of 170 people. It is thus much better equipped for fulfilling its civil roles as opposed to providing a deterrance against would-be aggressors or in defending the nation during a war.

Economy

File:Cruiseship.jpg
Cruise ships at St. John's

In the twentieth century, tourism took the place of the sugarcane industry as the principal means of income for Antigua and Barbuda’s economy, and it is the main source of employment for those living on the island. Most tourists come from the United States, but also Canada and other European and countries.

Agriculture is also important to Antigua and Barbuda’s economy, and it is primarily focused on the domestic market instead of the export of goods. The agricultural production consists of fruits, vegetables, bananas, mangoes, coconuts, sugarcane, cotton, and livestock. Approximately 82 percent of the island’s workforce works in commerce and service while 11 percent works in agriculture. The rest of the workforce works for the government.

The economy has become gradually more diversified, so it will not be vulnerable to forces such as hurricanes and violent storms. In recent years, Antigua and Barbuda has had a construction boom in hotels and housing, as well as in projects related to the 2007 Cricket World Cup. It has encouraged growth in transportation, communications, Internet gambling, and financial services.

Antigua and Barbuda's currency is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC$), a regional currency shared among members of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU). The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) issues the EC$, manages monetary policy, and regulates and supervises commercial banking activities in its member countries. The ECCB has kept the EC$ pegged at EC$2.7=U.S. $1.

Facts and figures

  • Household income or consumption by percentage share
    • highest 10%: NA%
  • Labour force bu occupation
    • agriculture: 7%
    • industry: 11%
    • services: 82% (1983)
  • Agriculture - products
    • cotton, fruits, vegetables, bananas, coconuts, cucumbers, mangoes, sugarcane; livestock
  • Industries
    • tourism, construction, light manufacturing (clothing, alcohol, household appliances)
  • Electricity - production
    • 105 million kWh (2004)
  • Electricity - consumption
    • 97.65 million kWh (2004)
  • Oil - consumption
    • 3,800 bbl/day (2004 est.)
    • transhipments of 29,000 bbl/day (2003)
  • Exchange rates
    • East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7 (2006), 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003), 2.7 (2002)
    • note: fixed rate since 1976

Demographics

St. John's Cathedral

The majority of the population is comprised of people of African or mixed African and European (predominately British) ancestry. There is a minority of people of Portuguese and mixed Portuguese and African ancestry, due to Portuguese indentured servants brought to the West Indies after the abolition of slavery. The remainder of the population is comprised of Europeans, notably Irish and British, and Christian Levantine Arabs (primarily of Syrian, Lebanese and Palestinian descent). There is also a small population of Sephardic Jews.

An increasingly large percent of the population live abroad, most notably in the United States, Canada, and England. A minority of the Antiguan residents are immigrants from other countries, particularly Dominica, Guyana and Jamaica. There is also a significant population of American citizens estimated at 4500 people which would make it one of the largest American citizen populations in the English speaking Eastern Caribbean. [1]

Almost all Antiguans are Christians (97%[2]), with the Anglican Church (about 44%) being the largest denomination. Catholicism is the other significant denomination, with the remainder being other Protestants: including Jehovah's Witnesses, Methodists, Moravians, Pentecostals and Seventh-Day Adventists. Non-Christian religions practiced on the islands include Rastafari, Islam, Judaism, and Baha'i.

18.4% of people living in Antigua and Barbuda live below the poverty line. [3]

Language

The official language of Antigua and Barbuda is English, but many of the locals speak Antiguan Creole. The Barbudan accent is slightly different from the Antiguan one. Spanish is also widely spoken in certain communities in Antigua where immigrants from the Dominican Republic make up large numbers.[4]

In the years before Antigua and Barbuda's independence, Standard English was widely spoken in preference to Antiguan Creole, but afterwards Antiguans began treating Antiguan Creole as a respectable aspect of their culture. Generally, the upper and middle classes shun Antiguan Creole. The educational system dissuades use of Antiguan Creole and instruction is done in Standard (British) English. The higher up one goes on the socio economic ladder, the less prevalent Antiguan Creole becomes, to the extent that some Antiguans will even deny that they speak or understand Antiguan Creole

Many of the words used in the Antiguan dialect are derived from English and also African origins. The dialect was formed when en-slaved Africans owned by English planters imitated the 18th century English spoken by their masters; utilizing traditional African language structures they created an African English hybrid or pidgin. This can be easily seen in some phrases like: "Me nah go" meaning "I am not going". Another example is: "Ent it?" meaning "Ain't it?" which is in itself dialect and means "Isn't it?". Common island proverbs often can be traced to Africa.

Education

The people of Antigua & Barbuda have a high level of education with over 90% of the people being literate. In 1998, Antigua adopted a national mandate to become the preeminent provider of medical services in the Caribbean. As part of this mission, Antigua is building the most technologically advanced hospital in the Caribbean, the Mt. St. John Medical Centre. The island of Antigua currently has two medical schools: American University of Antigua College of Medicine (AUA)[5], founded in 2004 and The University of Health Sciences Antigua (UHSA)[6], founded in 1982.

There is also a government owned state college in Antigua as well as the Antigua and Barbuda Institute of Information Technology (ABIIT). The University of the West Indies has a branch in Antigua for locals to continue University studies.

With the onset of the Internet, more Antiguans are completing online degrees.

Facts and figures

Population

69,481 (July 2007 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 27.3% (male 9,647/female 9,306)
15-64 years: 69% (male 24,137/female 23,801)
65 years and over: 3.7% (male 965/female 1,625) (2007 est.)

Median age

total: 30.3 years
male: 29.8 years
female: 30.8 years (2007 est.)

Population growth rate

0.527% (2007 est.)

Birth rate

16.62 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Death rate

5.31 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Net migration rate

6.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.037 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.014 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.594 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2007 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 18.26 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 21.99 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 14.36 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 72.42 years
male: 70.03 years
female: 74.94 years (2007 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.23 children born/woman (2007 est.)

Nationality

noun: Antiguan(s), Barbudan(s)
adjective: Antiguan, Barbudan

Ethnic groups

black 91%, mixed 4.4%, white 1.7%, other 2.9% (2001 census)

Religions

Anglican 25.7%, Seventh Day Adventist 12.3%, Pentecostal 10.6%, Moravian 10.5%, Roman Catholic 10.4%, Methodist 7.9%, :Baptist :4.9%, Church of God 4.5%, other Christian 5.4%, other 2%, none or unspecified 5.8% (2001 census)

Languages

English (official), local dialects

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over has completed five or more years of schooling
total population: 85.8%

Culture

An independent scientific study ranked Antiugua and Barbuda as the 16th happiest country in the world.[1] The culture is predominantly British which is evident throughout many aspects of the society. American popular culture also has a heavy influence. Family and religion play an important role in the lives of Antiguans. There is a national Carnival celebration during the month of August each year: historically Carnival commemorates the abolition of slavery in the British West Indies. The annual Carnival includes pageants, shows, contests and festive activities, and is a notable tourist attraction.

Calypso and soca music are important in Antigua and Barbuda, and Burning Flames is a popular band.

Cuisine

The national dish is fungie (pronounced "foon-jee") and pepper pot. Fungie is a dish very similar to the Italian Polenta, and is almost completely made from cornmeal. Other local dishes include ducana, season rice, Saltfish and lobster (from Barbuda). There are also local confectionaries which include: sugarcake, fudge, raspberry and tamarind stew and peanut brittle.

Although these foods are indigenous to Antigua and Barbuda and to some other Caribbean countries, the local diet has diversified and now include the local dishes of Jamaica (e.g. jerk pork), Guyana (e.g. Roti) and other Caribbean countries. Chinese restaurants have also begun to become more mainstream. The supermarkets sell a wide variety of food, from American to Italian. Meals also vary depending on social class.

Lunches here typically include a starch, like rice/macaroni/pasta, vegetables/salad, an entree (fish, chicken, pork, beef etc.) and a side dish like macaroni pie, scalloped potatoes or plantains. Local drinks are mauby, seamoss, tamarind juice, raspberry juice, mango juice, lemonade, coconut milk, hibiscus juice, ginger beer, passion fruit juice, guava juice etc. Adults favor beers and rums, many of which are made locally, including Wadadli beer (named after the original name of the island).

Sunday is the main day most go to church in the country and is the day when the culture is mostly reflected in the food. For breakfast one might have saltfish, eggplant (aka troba), eggs and lettuce.

Dinner on Sundays is eaten earlier (around 2:00 pm) because parents are usually off from work and can stay home and cook. It may include pork, baked chicken, stewed lamb, or turkey, alongside rice (prepared in a variety of ways), macaroni pie, salads, and a local drink. Dessert may be ice cream and cake or an apple pie (mango and pineapple pie in their season) or Jello.

Media

There are two daily newspapers: Daily Observer, and Antigua Sun which also publishes newspapers on other Caribbean islands. Most American television networks are available in addition to the local television stations. There are several local and regional radio stations.

Sport

File:Cricket ground.jpg
Cricket ground in St. John, Antigua.

Cricket is very popular in Antigua and Barbuda, along with most Commonwealth nations. The 2007 Cricket World Cup was hosted in the West Indies from 11 March to 28 April 2007. Antigua hosted eight matches at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, which was handed over by the Chinese Government on 11 February 2007, and holds 20,000 people at full capacity. Antigua is also the Host of 20/20 Cricket created by Allen Stanford in 2006 a regional cricket game with almost all caribbean islands taking part. Next 20/20 will be in November 07.

Football (soccer) is also a very popular sport. Antigua has a national football team, albeit inexperienced.

Athletics is also big in Antigua. Talented athletes identified in schools are trained from a young age and Antigua has produced one or two fairly adept athletes. Janill Williams, a young athlete with much promise hails from Gray's Farm, Antigua. Also, there is Sonia Williams and Heather Samuel who have represented Antigua at the Olympic Games. Others to watch are Brendan Christian (100 m, 200 m), Daniel Bailey (100 m, 200 m) and James Grayman (High Jump).


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