Antigua and Barbuda: Difference between revisions

Antigua and Barbuda is composed of [[Parishes and dependencies of Antigua and Barbuda|six parishes and two dependencies]]. [[Saint John, Antigua and Barbuda|Saint John]] is the most populous parish, home to well over half of Antigua and Barbuda's population.<ref>{{cite web |author= |date=October 2020 |title=Antigua and Barbuda 2018 Labour Force Survey Report |url=https://statistics.gov.ag/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/2018-Antigua-and-Barbuda-LFS-Report.pdf |access-date=2022-09-03 |website=Antigua & Barbuda Statistics Division (statistics.gov.ag) |quote=Table 6.2.1}}</ref> During colonial times, the parishes were governed by parish vestries, however, the parishes now lack any sort of government.<ref name=":02">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ib5FAAAAcAAJ&q=parish&pg=PA245 |title=The Laws of the Island of Antigua: Consisting of the Acts of the Leeward Islands, Commencing 8. Novem. 1690 Ending 21. April 1798, and the Acts of Antigua Commencing 10. April 1668, Ending 7. May 1804 : with Prefixed to Each Volume, Analytical Tables of the Titles of the Acts, and at the End of the Whole, a Copious Digested Index |date=1805 |publisher=Bagster |language=en}}</ref> Since the 2023 general elections, various proposals have been made to establish parish councils, however, as of June 2024, none have been established.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Manifesto |url=https://asotmichael.com/manifesto/ |access-date=2023-01-19 |website=Asot A Michael |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Policy Highlight: Parish Councils |url=https://dnaab.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/RACK-CARDS-PARISH-WEB.pdf}}</ref> The dependency of Redonda is part of the parish of Saint John under the Redonda Annexation Act, in Magistrates' District "A".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Redonda Annexation Act |url=https://laws.gov.ag/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/cap-373.pdf}}</ref>

[[Local government in Antigua and Barbuda]] is completely inactive, except for the [[Barbuda Council]] which is enshrined in the Constitution.<ref name=":03">{{Cite web |title=Voice, Participation and Governance: The Case of the Eastern Caribbean |url=http://web.worldbank.org/archive/website00951/WEB/OTHER/CC47E0-5.HTM?OpenDocument&ExpandSection=4 |access-date=2023-01-06 |website=web.worldbank.org}}</ref> Antigua historically had a system of [[Village councils (Antigua and Barbuda)|village councils]] in the 1940s (although the legislation was never repealed), however, the [[Gaston Browne]] administration has expressed opposition to all forms of local governance.<ref>{{Cite web |last=jennelsa.johnson |date=2020-03-12 |title=The political Neanderthal |url=https://antiguaobserver.com/the-political-neanderthal/ |access-date=2023-02-05 |website=Antigua Observer Newspaper |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-09-04 |title=Hurst Says Request For Barbuda To Separate Is "Nonsense Talk" |url=https://antiguanewsroom.com/hurst-says-request-for-barbuda-to-separate-is-nonsense-talk/ |access-date=2024-06-22 |website=Antigua News Room |language=en-US}}</ref> St. John's also historically had a city council during the late 1800s and early 1900s,<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Public Health Act |url=http://laws.gov.ag/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/cap-353.pdf}}</ref><ref name=":12">{{Cite news |title=At a meeting of the Saint John’s City Commissioners held at their office in Church Lane on Thursday the 16th day of July, 1914. |url=https://ufdcimages.uflib.ufl.edu/UF/00/07/68/63/01698/1914081301.pdf}}</ref> however the St. John's Development Corporation has since consumed most of its functions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=St. John's Development Corporation Act |url=https://laws.gov.ag/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/cap-392.pdf}}</ref>

The [[Minister of Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Trade & Barbuda Affairs]] is responsible for overseeing the foreign relations of Antigua and Barbuda.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Trade & Barbuda Affairs {{!}} Montevideo Consensus on Population and Development |url=https://consensomontevideo.cepal.org/en/institution/ministry-foreign-affairs-agriculture-trade-barbuda-affairs |access-date=2024-06-23 |website=consensomontevideo.cepal.org}}</ref> The current minister is [[Paul Chet Greene]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Government of Antigua and Barbuda |url=https://ab.gov.ag/detail_page.php?page=17 |access-date=2024-06-23 |website=ab.gov.ag}}</ref> Antigua and Barbuda is a founding member of the [[Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Administrator |first=OECS |date=2024-04-18 |title=About Us |url=https://oecs.int/en/who-we-are/about-us |access-date=2024-06-23 |website=Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States |language=en-gb}}</ref> as well as a member of the [[United Nations]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nations |first=United |title=Member States |url=https://www.un.org/en/about-us/member-states |access-date=2024-06-23 |website=United Nations |language=en}}</ref> the [[Caribbean Community]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Member States and Associate Members |url=https://caricom.org/member-states-and-associate-members/ |website=Caribbean Community}}</ref> the [[Alliance of Small Island States]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Member States – AOSIS |url=https://www.aosis.org/about/member-states/ |access-date=2024-06-23 |language=en-US}}</ref> and the [[World Trade Organization]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=WTO Members and Observers |url=https://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/org6_e.htm |access-date=2024-06-23 |website=www.wto.org |language=en}}</ref>

Antigua and Barbuda's foreign policy has been described by Gaston Browne as a system of "we are friends of all; enemies of none". Antigua and Barbuda has also rejected the notion that it is in any country's "backyard".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reporter |first=Didi Kirsten Tatlow Senior |last2=Investigations |first2=International Affairs / |date=2024-04-20 |title=Antigua says it is a friend of both U.S. and China, after Newsweek article |url=https://www.newsweek.com/antigua-says-it-friend-both-us-china-after-newsweek-article-1892475 |access-date=2024-06-23 |website=Newsweek |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Facebook |url=https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=990517419313652&set=pb.100050662081603.-2207520000 |access-date=2024-06-23 |website=www.facebook.com}}</ref> Antigua and Barbuda usually maintains close relations with other [[Small Island Developing States]], and has hosted various summits on that subject.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-27 |title=Small island development ‘a test case’ for climate and financial justice, says Guterres {{!}} UN News |url=https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/05/1150266 |access-date=2024-06-23 |website=news.un.org |language=en}}</ref> The United Nations has also praised Antigua and Barbuda for its "United Nations-based multilateralism" efforts.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Radio |first=ABS TV / |date=2024-06-18 |title=UNITED NATIONS PRAISES ANTIGUA & BARBUDA’S MULTILATERALISM EFFORTS - ABS TV Radio Antigua & Barbuda |url=https://abstvradio.com/united-nations-praises-antigua-barbudas-multilateralism-efforts/ |access-date=2024-06-23 |language=en-US}}</ref> Antigua and Barbuda also has close relations with many Caribbean countries and territories, especially [[Montserrat]],<ref>{{Cite news |title=Antigua and Barbuda and Montserrat Forge Closer Ties |url=https://caricom.org/antigua-and-barbuda-and-montserrat-forge-closer-ties/#:~:text=In%20announcing%20the%20establishment%20of,adopted%20by%20the%20OECS%20or |work=[[Caribbean Community]]}}</ref> which Antigua and Barbuda accepted 3,000 refugees from in 1997 after the [[Soufrière Hills]] eruption.<ref>{{cite news |date=23 August 1997 |title=Antigua wants Montserrat refugee help |work=United Press International}}</ref> Many policies adopted by the Antiguan and Barbudan government have also often had an impact on Montserrat, due to Antigua and Barbuda hosting the only air and transportation links into the territory.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-03-08 |title=Unvaccinated Travelers To and From Montserrat Given the Green Light to Transit through Antigua |url=https://www.zjbradio.com/news/2022/3/8/unvaccinated-travelers-to-and-from-montserrat-given-the-green-light-to-transit-through-antigua |access-date=2024-06-23 |website=ZJB Radio: Community Radio At Its Best |language=en-US}}</ref>

The [[Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda]] is the national police force of Antigua and Barbuda.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Police Act |url=https://laws.gov.ag/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/cap-330.pdf}}</ref> The Special Service Unit is Antigua and Barbuda's [[police tactical unit]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Special Service Unit |url=https://mpsl.gov.ag/departments/police/department/special-service-unit/ |website=Ministry of Public Safety and Labour}}</ref> The Police Force is composed of four lettered regional divisions, and subordinated service districts.<ref>{{Cite web |title="B" Division |url=https://mpsl.gov.ag/departments/police/division/b-division/ |website=Ministry of Public Safety and Labour}}</ref>