Antigua and Barbuda

Antigua and Barbuda is a federation of two islands in the Caribbean. It is located southeast of Puerto Rico, with an area of 443 square kilometers (Antigua 280; Barbuda 161) and a population of 67,897 people (July 2003 estimate). Discovered by Columbus in 1493, Antigua became a British colony with only a brief occupation by the French in 1666. Initially, Antigua was used as a colony for producing tobacco, indigo, and ginger, but a sugar plantation established on the island in 1674 changed its economy and demographics, as slaves from West Africa were brought to the island to work. Barbuda, also used for sugar production, legally became part of Antigua in 1860. Although independence movements started in the 1960s, Antigua and Barbuda didn't become fully independent until 1981. In negotiations over independence, Barbuda, which had had its own secessionist movements, agreed to remain united with Antigua on the condition of having limited autonomy. The economy is currently primarily based on tourism.

Antigua is a parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy. A member of the Commonwealth of Nations, its head of state is the British crown, which is represented by a governor general who acts on the advice of the prime minister and the cabinet. Antigua and Barbuda has a bicameral legislature: a 17-member Senate appointed by the governor general and a 17-member popularly elected House of Representatives. It is a member of the eastern Caribbean court system, and jurisprudence is based on English common law.

The Royal Antigua and Barbuda Police Force is responsible for national security; there are separate administrative departments for immigration and drivers' licenses. The Police Force, a constabulary modeled on British colonial lines, has approximately 600 members (including the Fire Brigade and Coast Guard). Its work is augmented by the small national defense force. It is headed by a Police Commissioner, and has 25 senior officers and 23 inspectors. Complaints are managed through internal disciplinary procedures. The Police Welfare Association, an independent body closely associated with the police, is said to have advocated management training for senior police officers and other advanced training for the force in the early 2000s.

Antigua and Barbuda's location close to the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico makes it an attractive transshipment point for narcotics traffickers. To address these problems, the U.S. and Antigua and Barbuda have signed a number of counternarcotic and anticrime treaties and agreements.