Antigua and Barbuda Country & Tourist Information

Location
Caribbean, Leeward Islands.

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
81,000 (UN estimate 2005).

Population Density
174.4 per sq km.

Capital
St John’s.
Population: 28,000 (UN estimate 2003).

Government
Constitutional monarchy. Gained internal full independence in 1981.

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.

Head of Government
Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer since 2004.

Head of State
HM Queen Elizabeth II, represented locally by Governor-General Sir James Carlisle since 1993.

Telephone
Country code: 268.

Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Unregistered roaming is available – visitors with TDMA handsets can make calls without registering, provided they can give a credit card number. Coverage is average.

Internet
Available in large cities and resorts.

Media
Many of Antigua & Barbuda’s broadcast media is politically owned or controlled, although this is now changing. The country’s first independent radio station, Observer Radio, launched in 2001 after a five-year struggle to obtain a license. The daily and weekly press carries a spectrum of opinion, including criticism of the government.

Post
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 (published Monday to Saturday) and the Daily Observer.
• The Worker’s Voice is published twice-weekly by Antigua Labor Party and Antigua Trades and Labor Union.

Radio
• Observer Radio and ZDK are commercial broadcasters.
• Sun FM is private and commercial.
• Some radio stations are owned by political or religious factions, such as Crusader Radio, which is owned by the United Progressive Party.

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2007-December 2008 period.

2007
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
6 Apr Good Friday.
9 Apr Easter Monday. 
7 May Labor Day.
28 May Whit Monday.
2 Jul Caricom Day.
6 Aug Carnival Monday.
7 Aug Carnival Tuesday.
1 Nov Independence Day.
9 Dec National Heroes Day.
25-26 Dec Christmas.

2008
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
21 Mar Good Friday.
24 Mar Easter Monday. 
5 May Labor Day. 
12 May Whit Monday. 
7 Jul Caricom Day.
4 August Carnival Monday.
5 Aug Carnival Tuesday.
1 Nov Independence Day.
9 Dec National Heroes Day.
25-26 Dec Christmas.

Contact Information:

Antigua & Barbuda High Commission in the UK
2nd floor, 45 Crawford Place, London W1H 4LP, UK
Tel: (020) 7258 0070.
Website: www.antigua-barbuda.com
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1600; 0900-1730 (telephone enquiries).

Antigua & Barbuda Tourist Office in the UK
Address and telephone number as above.
Website: www.antigua-barbuda.com

Embassy of Antigua & Barbuda in the USA
3216 New Mexico Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20016, USA
Tel: (202) 362 5122 or 362 5166.
E-mail: embantbar@aol.com

Antigua & Barbuda Department of Tourism and Trade in the USA
305 East 47th Street, New York, NY 10017, USA
Tel: (212) 541 4117.
Website: www.antigua-barbuda.org

Caribbean Tourism Organization in the UK
22 The Quadrant, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1BP, UK
Tel: (020) 8948 0057.
Website: www.doitcaribbean.com


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