Antigua

For other places with the same name, see Antigua.

For more detailed information on Antigua as a political entity, see Antigua and Barbuda.

Photograph of Antigua taken from space

Antigua (pronounced /ænˈtiːgə/) is an island in the Caribbean, part of the country of Antigua and Barbuda. It is also known as Wadadli, which means approximately "our own". The island has a population of about 68,000 and is 54 miles in circumference, with an area of 108 square miles. It is the largest of the Leeward Islands and the most developed. Antigua is one of the more prosperous nations in the Caribbean thanks to its upscale tourism industry, offshore banking, internet gambling services and now education services (with the opening of a second medical school).

Over 31,000 people live in the capital of St. John's, at 17° 6' N. and 61° 45' W. Other leading population settlements are All Saints (3,412) and Liberta (2,239), according to the 2001 Census. The capital is situated in the northwest, near to V.C. Bird International Airport, and has a deep harbour which is able to accommodate large cruise ships.

English Harbour on the southeastern coast is famed as a "hurricane hole" (protected shelter during violent storms) and the site of a restored British colonial naval station. The latter is called "Nelson's Dockyard". Nelson was at the time a Captain and in correspondence made it clear he would prefer not to be there, but rather facing the French. Today English Harbour and the neighbouring village of Falmouth are an internationally famous yachting and sailing destination and provisioning centre. At the end of April and beginning of May Antigua Sailing Week, an annual world-class regatta started in 1967, brings many sailing vessels and sailors to the island to race and party.

Geography

• Capital: St. John's
• Land area: 108 sq. mi. (280 km²)
• Location : 17.09°N 61.80°W / 17.09; -61.80
• Capital and largest city: St. John's, pop. 31,000
• Climate: tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation.
• Terrain: mostly low-lying limestone and coral islands, with some higher volcanic areas.
• Elevation extremes: 402 m (Boggy Peak), sea level.

The high rocky coast is indented by many bays and arms of the sea, several of which form excellent harbours. The surface is comparatively flat, and there is no central range of mountains as in most other Caribbean islands, but among the hills in the southwest an elevation of 1,319 feet (402 m) feet is attained on Boggy Peak. Owing to the absence of rivers, the paucity of springs, and the almost complete deforestation, Antigua is subject to frequent droughts, and although the average rainfall is 45.6 inches, the variations from year to year are great. The problem is partly solved by desalination of sea water.

Economy

Antigua's economy is reliant upon tourism, and it markets itself as a luxury Caribbean escape. Many hotels and resorts are located around the coastline, and the island's single airport is serviced by several major airlines including Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, US Airways, American Airlines, Continental, Delta Air Lines, BWIA and Air Canada. The only regular service to Barbuda flies from VC Bird Airport. The United States Air Force maintains a small base near the airport mostly used for space missions and communications.

The country's official currency is the East Caribbean Dollar. However, many prices in tourist oriented businesses are shown in US dollars. The EC dollar is pegged to the US dollar at a fixed rate of $1 US = $2.67 EC.

History of Antigua

Antigua was first inhabited by the Siboney, which means "stone people" in the Arawak language, whose settlements date at least to 2400 BC. The Siboney were great craftsmen; they were skilled at making such things as jewelry and stone tools. The Arawaks—who originated in Venezuela, and gradually migrated up the chain of islands now called the Lesser Antilles—succeeded the Siboney. The Arawaks brought farming to the island, cultivating crops of pineapples, peppers, corn, sweet potatoes, guava, cotton, and tobacco. The Carib people drove the Arawaks from neighbouring islands but apparently did not settle on either Antigua or Barbuda.

Antigua was stumbled upon by accident in 1493 by Christopher Columbus, who is said to have named it after a church in Seville, Spain, called Santa Maria la Antigua. It remained, however, virtually uninhabited until 1632, when a body of English settlers took possession of it. This settlement was abandoned following attacks by Carib Indians. In 1663 another group English established a settlement that was effected under the direction of Lord Willoughby, to whom the entire island was granted by Charles II of England. It was ravaged by the French in 1666, but was soon after reconquered by the British and formally restored to them by the Treaty of Breda. In 1674, Sir Christopher Codrington arrived on Antigua, bringing with him the newest techniques in sugarcane /slavery farming. Over the next half century, sugarcane dominated the island's economy, and by the 18th century, there were more than 150 sugarcane processing windmills on the island. Antigua remained under British control until 1981, when Antigua and Barbuda was ejected from the British Empire. The current government is a sad imitation of a democracy, with a few families controlling the "country"'s votes in the UN, The IMF, and ironically. the International Whaling Commission.

Sport

The major Antiguan sport is cricket. Antigua is the location of a 2007 Cricket World Cup site, on a new Recreation Ground constructed on an old cane field in the north of the island. Sir Vivian ("Viv") Richards is one of the most famous Antiguans, who played for, and captained, the West Indies team. Both soccer and basketball are becoming popular among the island youth.

Internet hosting

Antigua is a recognized centre for online gambling companies. Antigua was one of the first nations to legalize, license and regulate online gaming. Some countries, most notably the United States, argue that because the gaming transaction is initiated in their jurisdictions that the act of online wagering is illegal. This argument has been repudiated by the World Trade Organization. However in 2006 the United States Congress voted to approve the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act which criminalizes the operations of offshore gaming operators which take wagers from American-based gamblers.

Slysoft, a vendor of CD- and DVD-copying software designed to overcome anti-copy technologies is also operated from Antigua.

Notable residents

• Paget Henry, Brown University professor. Writer of "Caliban's Reason", Introduction to Caribbean Philosophy.
• Marie-Elena John, an Antiguan writer and former Africa Development specialist. Her debut novel, Unburnable, which celebrates the African origins of Caribbean culture, was selected Best Debut of 2006 by Black Issues Book Review, and Essence magazine identified her as "a major new voice in fiction."
• Jamaica Kincaid, novelist famous for her writings about life on Antigua. Her book A small place was banned under the V.C. Bird administration. She lives in Massachusetts now where there are more libraries where they don't ban books.
• Sir Vivian Richards, West Indian cricket legend,after whom the Chinese built Sir Vivian Richards Stadium was named in Antigua.
• Shermain Jeremy, Who abandoned Antigua in her teens and went to college at John Jay in Brooklyn, NY and now lives in New York City, Most Promising Female Singer at the 4th Annual Underground Music Awards.
• Radha Panwar, Famous Indian Model
• Bradford Maxwell Endicott, American philanthropist, created a pioneering fish farming business on Antigua in the 1970s has been dead for about 15-20 years. despite being surrounded by pristine Caribbean waters, Antigua has yet to develop a commercial fishing industry,
• Collin Richards, Owner/CEO of Don Official Inc. Antigua's top Event Promoter. Creator of West Indie Sound Clash.
• Eric Clapton, Established a drug treatment centre for people who need help. Also has a home on the south of the island.
• Oprah Winfrey, American entertainment icon once visited.
• Giorgio Armani, Italian fashion designer. Owns a home near Galley Bay, Antigua.
• Calvin Ayre, billionaire founder of Bodog Entertainment Group. An internet gambling company that is (in the US) illegal now

See also

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Antigua Paper Money