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Overview _____________________________ |
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Antigua and Barbuda is a twin-island state located in the Eastern Caribbean. The Siboney indians are the first inhabitants on record, their presence on Antigua and Barbuda dating back to 2400 B.C. However, by the time Christopher Columbus landed, during his second voyage to the region in 1493, Arawak and Carib indians populated the islands. Early settlements by the Spanish and French were succeeded by the English, who formed a colony in 1667. The enslavement of Africans, to support the sugar industry, was abolished in 1834. The islands became an independent state, within the British Commonwealth of Nations, in 1981. Antigua, the larger of the two islands, is 108 square miles. Its capital is St. John's. Barbuda, meanwhile, is 62 square miles, and has its principal community in Codrington. The state is a renowned and developed resort community visited by approximately half a million tourists annually. While Antigua and Barbuda is probably best known as an up-market destination for tourists, its natural and developed assets have also allowed it to emerge as an attractive offshore business center. The country is in a convenient time zone, sharing the same time as New York and Toronto, as well as Central and part of South America. It falls five hours behind the UK and Europe in the summer and four hours in the winter. This, easily, allows international business transactions to take place in a time-efficient way. Antigua's international airport - served by Air Canada, American Airlines, British Airways, BWIA, Continental, LIAT, US Air, and Virgin Atlantic, with direct flights from New York, Miami, Toronto, and London - is a major Caribbean gateway. The country's international telecommunications are excellent, with direct access into the global stream of financial and business data. Electronic funds transfer is readily accomplished, providing same day value, and securities can be placed and executed within 24 hours. There is a prosperous English-speaking community, with a resident population of approximately 60,000. Residents are, primarily, involved in enterprises related to tourism and commerce. The country enjoys the highest per-capita income in the Eastern Caribbean. First-rate professional services are widely available, including banking, law, accounting, and management resources. |
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Copyright © 2007 ABI Financial Group, All Rights Reserved
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