Antigua is a constituent republic of Kalina Region.
| Antigua Republic | |
|---|---|
| Island of Antigua | |
| Constituent Republic of Vekllei | |
| Part of the Kalina Region | |
| Accession | 1836, as part of the British Atlantic Territories |
| Area | 281 kmยฒ |
| Capital | Caribbea |
| Languages | English, Arawak Creole |
| Population | 327,800 |
The Antiguan Republic is a constituent republic of Vekllei in the Kalina archipelago, northeast of Allia and south of Barbary. It is roughly triangular, with an intricate coastline ringed by smaller islands and islets. Redonda, a small uninhabited island used historically for guano mining, lies between Allia and Oualie.
Antigua was originally inhabited by Arawaks, who were displaced by Caribs in the 12th Century. Antigua still has a large indigenous Carib minority population today. It was discovered by Europeans in the 15th Century and colonised by the British 200 years later. Antigua acted as a gateway for British interests in the Caribbean, and became a very successful sugar plantation with the labour of enslaved Caribs and Africans. Production there was disturbed by slave rebellions, but remained lucrative until the abolishment of slavery in the 19th Century, from which it declined for the next 100 years.
In place of sugar, Antigua has had to leverage its history as an entrepรดt and invested in its education sector. Antigua is the site of the original Commonwealth National University of the West Indies ( CUWI) campus, founded in 1849. Today, education makes up most of the Antiguan economy, and is a primary destination for students relocating from smaller neighbouring islands like Allia and Karu. It is also a major sponsor of foreign exchange and overseas study for the wider Caribbean, and hosts several prestigious international schools. It is home to the headquarters of the Curriculum and Qualifications Council.
Antigua is mostly flat, with hills in its southwest culminating in Independence Peak at 400m. Settlements and agriculture cover most of the flat land, the largest of which is the capital, Caribbea. Its prosperous colleges and universities are located there, and the settlements leading southeast are involved in tropical crops and textiles. Cosgrove, in Antigua’s southwest coast, is the site of a major Universal Cotton factory, which serves as a regional ginning and spinning hub for the improved Sea Island cotton grown across the northern Kalina republics.
Fast hydrofoils leave Caribbea’s port daily, collecting students from neighbouring islands. V.C. Bird International is its major airport and has daily service to other parts of Kalina Region. Two main rail lines run across and around the island respectively, and both Caribbea and Cosgrove have tram networks. Caribbea is also home to Naval Station Antigua, the second-largest naval service base and dockyard in Kalina.
- Adhesives
- Ammunition
- Barley
- Electronic Components
- Fabric
- Fruit
- Glass
- Leather
- Molasses
- Palm Oil
- Paper
- Plastics
- Printing Ink
- Pulp
- Rare Earths
- Salt
- Sea Island Cotton
- Silk
- Sugar
- Timber
- Vegetables
- Vinegar
- Water
- Wheat
- Wool
Climate
Tropical, with a dry season from January to June and a wet season from July to November. Antigua receives less rainfall than most of its neighbours due to its lower elevation, and enjoys abundant sunshine year-round. Hurricanes are a seasonal hazard.
Public Holidays
- New Year’s Day 1 Jan
- Good Friday
- Easter Monday
- Commonwealth Day 1 May
- Whit Monday
- Emancipation Day First Mon in Aug
- Republic Day 1 Nov
- Christmas Day 25 Dec
- Boxing Day 26 Dec
- Universal Cotton Plant of the West Indies: Large textiles manufacturer that produces much of Vekllei’s clothing output in the Kalina region.
- Commonwealth Industrial Caribbean Bank: Modernist bank headquarters that regularly hosts visitors from the US and Central America.
- Antigua Recreational Grounds: Large cricket stadium and host of the North Kalina Regional Cup.
- Dickenson Bay: Beautiful white beach with old-fashioned promenade and arcade.
- Nelson’s Dockyard: Historic British naval dockyard open to the public, now part of Naval Station Antigua.
- Devil’s Bridge: Eroded limestone arches, rumoured to be the site of mass suicides during the slavery era.
- Antigua National Gallery: Cosmopolitan and modern art, and the stomping ground of emerging student artists.
- [[Curriculum and Qualifications Council]]: Develops and regulates the national curriculum and standard examinations in Vekllei.
- Office of Industrial Research SIRO
- Atlantic Antigua Store Atlantic Department Company 180
- The Admiral's Inn Atlantic Hotel 30
- Caribbean Hospitality Institute Atlantic Hotel 45
- Antigua Freight Exchange Atlantis 520
- Office of Volcanic & Seismic Hazards Bureau of Meteorology 420
- Verdean Section Bureau of Accreditation 120
- Office of Interface Protocols Bureau of Automatics 480
- Office of Ecological Assessment Bureau of Conservation 420
- Office of Threatened Species Bureau of Conservation 540
- Office of Interpreting & Translation Bureau of Courts 700
- Office of Long-Range Forecasting Bureau of Economic Forecasting 380
- Office of Surgeons & Specialists Bureau of Health Services 900
- Office of Genomics Bureau of Health Services 480
- Office of Biomass Conversion Bureau of Hydrocarbons 340
- Office of Tidal & Oceanographic Data Bureau of Oceans 380
- Office of Marine Scientific Research Bureau of Oceans 460
- Verde & African Section Bureau of Post and Telecommunications 7,600
- Office of Comparative Studies Bureau of Production Surveillance 210
- Education Technology Centre Bureau of Public Education 600
- Allied Academies Council Bureau of Public Education 340
- Office of Foreign Outreach & Technology Exchange Bureau of Public Education 260
- Caribbean Institute for Youth & Education Bureau of Public Education 400
- Office of the Chief Medical Scientist Bureau of Public Health 210
- Office of Cancer Screening Bureau of Public Health 3,400
- Science Office Bureau of Space 340
- Office of Land & Environment Bureau of Statistics 300
- Office of Overseas Assets Bureau of Trade 190
- Office of Recycled Water Bureau of Water 260
- Airlink Antigua Station Commonwealth Airways 60
- Ferry Kalina Antigua Terminal Commonwealth Lines 310
- Caribbea Metropolitan Railway CommRail 946
- Dockyard Heritage Line CommRail 339
- Coastal Express Railway Company CommRail 259
- National Littoral Training School Equatorial Division 2,250
- Common Navy Anchorage Equatorial Division 2,750
- University of Antigua University of Antigua
- Naval Station Antigua
- Commonwealth Forensic Science Laboratory Commonwealth Police College
-
1924
The Caribbean Quarterly journal is founded in Antigua to catalogue regional studies
-
1849
Royal University of the West Indies is founded in Antigua, the predecessor to the University of Antigua
- 1695
-
1492
Antigua is discovered by Europeans
-
1200
Arawaks are displaced by Caribs in Antigua
- 1100