Antigua and Barbuda

Flag Proportion: 2:3

Capital: St. John's

Language: English

Currency: East Caribbean dollar

Continent: North America

Independent island state, West Indies, in the eastern Caribbean Sea. It consists of three of the Leeward Islands' Antigua and two smaller islands, Barbuda to the north and Redonda, an uninhabited rocky islet, to the southwest. The total area is 443 sq km (171 sq mi), and the country had a population of 62,922 (1991 census). Antigua is a generally low-lying island but rises to 405 m (1330 ft) atop Boggy Peak. Barbuda is a flat coral island with fine beaches. The climate is tropical, but the islands are subject to drought. The country's economy is largely dependent on tourism; also important are the raising of cotton, fruits, and sugarcane. Antigua and Barbuda's gross domestic product (GDP) was $457 million in 1993. Fishing is important in Barbuda. Manufactures include refined petroleum, rum, clothing, furniture, and electrical equipment. The unit of currency is the East Caribbean dollar of 100 cents (2.7 East Caribbean dollars equal U.S.$1, fixed rate since 1976). Saint John's (population, 1986 estimate, 36,000), the capital and principal port, is located on the northwestern coast of Antigua. The country's people are mostly of African descent.

Christopher Columbus was the first European to land on the island he named Antigua in 1493. Inhabited by the Carib tribe, the island was not successfully colonized until 1632, when the British established a settlement. Barbuda was colonized by settlers from Antigua in 1661. From 1958 to 1962 Antigua (which included the dependencies of Barbuda and Redonda) was a member of the Federation of the West Indies. In 1967 it became an internally self-governing state in association with Great Britain. On November 1, 1981, it became the independent state of Antigua and Barbuda. Executive power is nominally invested in a governor-general, who represents the British crown. Actual executive power belongs to a prime minister, who is a member of the parliament.

In September 1995 Hurricane Luis tore through the eastern Caribbean, inflicting great destruction upon Antigua and Barbuda. The tropical storm damaged or destroyed more than 75 percent of the island nation's buildings, causing an estimated $300 million in property damage. The government declared a national emergency and asked the United Nations for financial and technical assistance. According to officials of the United Nations Development Program, development in Antigua and Barbuda was set back by at least 10 years.

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Dominica

Flag Proportion: 1:2

Capital: Roseau

Language: English

Currency: East Caribbean Dollar

Continent: North America

Island republic in the West Indies, lying in the Caribbean Sea, approximately midway between the islands of Guadeloupe (on the north) and Martinique (on the south). One of the Windward Islands, Dominica is about 47 km (about 29 mi) long and has an area of some 751 sq km (some 290 sq mi).

Dominica is volcanic in origin and has a mountainous terrain, with several peaks rising above 1220 m (about 4000 ft); the highest point is Morne Diablotins (1447 m/4747 ft). The island has a tropical climate with an average annual temperature of about 26.7 C (about 80 F). The annual rainfall is considerable, ranging from about 1780 mm (about 70 in) on the coast to more than three times that figure in the mountains. The island has many small unnavigable rivers; Boiling Lake, from which sulfurous gases frequently arise, is located in the south. Luxuriant forests cover the mountains. Dominica has a total population (1989 estimate) of 82,800. More than 90 percent of the inhabitants are black, descendants of slaves brought from Africa in the 18th century. A small number of Carib also live on the island. English is the official language, but a French patois is widely spoken. Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion. Roseau (population, 1987 estimate, 22,000) is the capital and chief port.

Dominica has fertile soils that provide a good basis for farming, the principal economic activity. Agricultural products include bananas, citrus fruit (especially grapefruit and limes), coconuts, cocoa, cinnamon, vanilla beans, and vegetables. Pumice is quarried and exported. Manufacturing is limited to the processing of farm products. The main manufactures are fruit juices, alcoholic beverages, soap, and essential oils. The currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar (2.6925 Eastern Caribbean dollars equal U.S.$1; 1990).

Dominica was sighted and named by Christopher Columbus on November 3, 1493. The indigenous Carib people successfully resisted early European attempts at colonization. In 1632 the French gained a foothold on the island, and they retained parts of it until 1763, when it was assigned to Great Britain by the Treaty of Paris. Under British rule Dominica became part of the Leeward Islands dependency in 1833 and was attached to the Windward Islands group in 1940. In 1967 it became an internally self-governing state associated with Great Britain. Dominica attained full independence on November 2, 1978, and subsequently joined the Commonwealth of Nations and the United Nations. The republic's first prime minister was Patrick R. John; he was succeeded by Oliver Seraphin in 1979 and by Mary Eugenia Charles in 1980, 1985, and 1990.

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St. Kitts-Nevis

Flag Proportion: 2:3

Capital: Basseterre

Language: English

Currency: East Caribbean Dollar

Continent: North America

Basseterre, capital of the two-island independent state of Saint Kitts and Nevis (also known as Saint Christopher and Nevis), in the West Indies, southeast of Puerto Rico. Located on the southwestern coast of the island of Saint Kitts, it is an important seaport of the Leeward Islands. Sugar, molasses, salt, cotton, and copra are the principal exports. The leading industries are sugar refining and salt extraction. Founded by the French in 1627, Basseterre came under definitive British colonial possession in 1783. It became the capital of independent Saint Kitts and Nevis in 1983. Population (1985 estimate) 18,500.

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Saint Martin

Flag Proportion: 2:3

Capital: Phillipsburg

Language: French

Currency: Franc

Continent: North America

Island in the West Indies, one of the Leeward Islands, between the islands of Anguilla and Saint-Barthemy. The northern portion, called Saint-Martin, is a dependency of Guadeloupe, an overseas department of France; the southern portion, called Sint Maarten, is internally self-governed and is part of the Netherlands Antilles. Agriculture and industry are limited, but the tropical, breezy climate and natural beauty of Saint Martin attract many tourists. The main French town, Marigot, and the principal Dutch town, Philipsburg, are both free ports. The Dutch and the French simultaneously occupied the island in 1648 and on March 23 of that year they agreed to divide it. Area of the French possession, 52 sq km (20 sq mi); area of the Dutch section, 34 sq km (13 sq mi). Population of the Dutch portion of the island (1991 estimate) 33,459. Population of the French portion (1990 preliminary) 28,518.

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St. Vincent & Grenadines

Flag Proportion: 2:3

Capital: Kingstown

Language: English

Currency: East Caribbean Dollar

Continent: North America

Independent state, West Indies, consisting of the island of Saint Vincent and the northern islands of the Grenadines group. Part of the Windward Islands group in the southeastern Caribbean Sea, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines lies south of Saint Lucia and north of Grenada. The largest of the Grenadines include Bequia, Canouan, Mustique, Mayreau, and Union. The total area is 388 sq km (150 sq mi), of which the island of Saint Vincent constitutes 344 sq km (133 sq mi). The capital and principal port, Kingstown (1991 population, 15,670), is located on the southwestern coast of Saint Vincent.

The island of Saint Vincent is volcanic in origin. It is traversed from north to south by a forested range that rises to a maximum elevation in La Soufrie (1234 m/4094 ft), an active volcano located in the northern part of the island that erupted violently in 1821, 1902, and 1979. The country has a tropical climate with an average annual temperature of about 24 C (76 F). The island's average annual rainfall ranges from 1524 mm (60 in) on the coast to 3810 mm (150 in) in the interior mountains.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines had a total population of 114,000 (1989 estimate). Blacks make up the great majority of the population, and English is the official language. Anglicans and Methodists are the two major religious groups.

The country's economy is dominated by agriculture. In the late 1980s the annual budget figures showed revenue of some $42.7 million and expenditure of about $67.5 million. Bananas are the leading crop. Other important crops include arrowroot, nutmeg and mace, and coconuts. Manufacturing is limited; products include cement, furniture, flour, and refined sugar. Tourism is a growing sector. The national currency is the East Caribbean dollar (2.69 E.C. dollars equal U.S.$1; 1990).

The governor-general represents the British sovereign, but actual power is exercised by a prime minister, who is responsible to the parliament. The parliament is the House of Assembly, consisting of 21 members; 15 are popularly elected, and 6 are appointed by the governor-general on recommendation from the prime minister and the opposition leader.

Saint Vincent was probably visited and named by Christopher Columbus in 1498. Inhabited by the fierce Carib people, the island was successfully colonized only in 1762 when the British established a settlement. The Caribs were subdued and many were deported after an uprising in 1795. Saint Vincent was a member of the Federation of the West Indies from 1958 to 1962. In 1969 it became an internally self-governing member of the West Indies Associated States. On October 27, 1979, it received full independence within the Commonwealth of Nations as Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. A separatist movement in the Grenadines resulted in a brief uprising (1979) on Union Island.

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