Antigua and Barbuda country profile

Antigua and Barbuda is one of the Caribbean's most prosperous nations, thanks to its tourism industry and offshore financial services.

But a reliance on tourism makes the nation vulnerable to downturns in the world market.

Antigua has tangled with the United States over its online gambling industry, which at its height employed more than 4,000 people and was a major contributor to the economy. But it shrunk drastically because of US restrictions, the Antiguan government says.

The Bird family has dominated the country's politics since its independence in 1981 until 1994. Underlying this stability was a succession of scandals, including allegations of corruption. The Bird family was also accused of abuse of authority.

In 2009, the country's economy was rocked by news that its single biggest investor, Texan billionaire Allen Stanford, had been charged with massive fraud by the US authorities.

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FACTS

LEADERS

Head of state: King Charles III, represented by a governor-general

Prime minister: Gaston Browne

Gaston Browne took over as prime minister when his Labour Party won the general elections in June 2014 after defeating the ruling United Progressive Party (UPP). He won a second term in office when the Labour Party won the March 2018 general elections.

Mr Browne has pledged to transform the financially crippled twin island nation into an "economic powerhouse" by attracting investment.

His vision has been to transform Antigua and Barbuda into "a globally competitive, premier tourism and financial services economy, producing well-paying jobs and a higher standard of living for the people".

Most of Barbuda was devastated in September 2017 by Hurricane Irma, which brought winds with speeds of up to 295 km/h (185 mph). The storm damaged or destroyed 95% of the island's buildings and infrastructure.

MEDIA

ABS is the national TV and radio broadcaster. Ownership of private media is concentrated among a small number of companies.

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TIMELINE

Some key dates in the history of Antigua and Barbuda:

1493 - Christopher Columbus visits Antigua and names it after the Church of Santa Maria de la Antigua in Seville, Spain.

1632 - Antigua colonised by English settlers from St Kitts.

1967 - Antigua and Barbuda becomes a self-governing state within the British Commonwealth, with Britain retaining control of defence and foreign affairs.

1976 - Antigua Labour Party (ALP), led by Vere Bird, returns to power after winning the general election.

1981 - Antigua and Barbuda becomes independent.

1990 - Prime Minister Vere Bird's son, Vere Jr, removed from public office in the wake of allegations of gun-running.

1993 - Vere Bird resigns as prime minister and is replaced by his son, Lester.

2008 July - Tourism industry rocked by shooting of British honeymoon couple in holiday cottage.

2009 - Antigua's single biggest private investor, Sir Allen Stanford, is charged with massive investment fraud by the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

2013 - Antigua wins World Trade Organization permission to suspend American copyrights and patents, in a possible retaliatory response to US restrictions on the island's online gambling industry.

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Antigua and Barbuda is a major sailing centre