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Country Guide > Caribbean > Antigua and Barbuda | |
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General Information Area Antigua: 280 sq km (108 sq miles); Barbuda: 161 sq km (62 sq miles); Redonda: 1.6 sq km (0.6 sq miles). Total: 441.6 sq km (170.5 sq miles). Population 77,426 (2001). Population Density 175.3 per sq km. Capital St John’s. Population: 24,000 (UN estimate 2001). Geography Antigua & Barbuda comprises three islands; Antigua, Barbuda and Redonda. Low-lying and volcanic in origin, they are part of the Leeward Islands group in the northeast Caribbean. Antigua’s coastline curves into a multitude of coves and harbours (they were once volcanic craters) and there are more than 365 beaches of fine white sand, fringed with palms. The island’s highest point is Boggy Peak (402m, 1318ft); its capital is St John’s. Barbuda lies 40km (25 miles) north of Antigua and is an unspoiled natural haven for wild deer and exotic birds. Its 8km- (5 mile-) long beach is reputed to be among the most beautiful in the world. The island’s village capital, Codrington, was named after the Gloucestershire family that once leased Barbuda from the British Crown for the price of ’one fat pig per year if asked for’. There are excellent beaches and the ruins of some of the earliest plantations in the West Indies. The coastal waters are rich with all types of crustaceans and tropical fish. Redonda, the smallest in the group, is little more than an uninhabited rocky islet. It lies 40km (25 miles) southwest of Antigua. Government Constitutional monarchy. Gained internal full independence in 1981. Head of State: HM Queen Elizabeth II, represented locally by Governor-General Sir James Carlisle since 1993. Head of Government: Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer since 2004. Language English is the official language. English patois is widely spoken. Religion Predominantly Anglican but also Methodist, Moravian, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Baptist, Seventh Day Adventist and others. Time GMT - 4. Electricity 220/110 volts AC, 60Hz. American-style two-pin plugs. Some hotels also have outlets for 240 volts AC; in this case European-style, two-pin plugs are used. Communications Telephone IDD is available to all numbers. Country code: 1 268. Outgoing international code: 011. Mobile telephone GSM 850 and 900/1900 and TDMA networks. Network providers include APUA PCS (website: www.apuatel.com) and Cable & Wireless Caribbean Cellular. Roaming agreements exist. Unregistered roaming is available – visitors with TDMA handsets can make calls without registering, provided they can give a credit card number. Fax Services are widely available. Many hotels have fax facilities. Internet ISPs include Cable & Wireless (website: www.cwantigua.com). Facilities are available at the offices of Cable & Wireless in Long Street, St John’s. Telegram Facilities are offered by Cable & Wireless (West Indies). Post Poste Restante service is available at the post office in St John’s. Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1200 and 1300-1600. Press Some newspapers have political or governmental associations. All are in English. The main newspapers are the Antigua Sun (which is published twice-weekly) and the Daily Observer. Radio BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online. |