<text><span class="style42"></span><span class="style12">ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA</span><span class="style13"></span><span class="style14"></span><span class="style42">Member of: </span><span class="style13">UN, CARICOM, Commonwealth, OAS</span><span class="style42">Area: </span><span class="style13">442 km2 (170.5 sq mi)</span><span class="style42">Population: </span><span class="style13">66000 (1993 est)</span><span class="style42">Capital: </span><span class="style13">St JohnΓÇÖs 36000 (1986 est)</span><span class="style42">Language: </span><span class="style13">English (official)</span><span class="style42">Religions: </span><span class="style13">Anglican (44%), Moravian</span><span class="style42">GOVERNMENT</span><span class="style13">The 17-member House of Representatives is elected by universal adult suffrage for five years. The 17-member Senate is appointed. A Prime Minister and Cabinet of Ministers, commanding a majority in the lower house, are appointed by the Governor General, the representative of the British Queen as sovereign of Antigua.</span><span class="style42">GEOGRAPHY</span><span class="style13">Antigua is a low limestone island, rising in the west to Boggy Peak (402 m / 1319 ft). Barbuda ΓÇô 45 km / 25 mi to the north ΓÇô is a flat wooded coral island. Redonda is a rocky outcrop. </span><span class="style42">Climate: </span><span class="style13">The tropical climate is moderated by sea breezes. Rainfall is low for the West Indies, and Antigua island suffers from drought.</span><span class="style42">ECONOMY</span><span class="style13">Tourism is the mainstay of the country. In an attempt to diversify the economy, the government has encouraged agriculture, but the lack of water on Antigua island is a problem. </span><span class="style42">Currency: </span><span class="style13">East Caribbean dollar.</span><span class="style42">HISTORY</span><span class="style13">Antigua was discovered by Columbus in 1493, and colonized by English settlers in 1632. Black slaves were imported to work the sugar plantations. Barbuda was colonized from Antigua (1661) and run as a private estate by the Codrington family until it was annexed to Antigua in 1860. Britain granted Antigua complete internal self-government in 1967 and independence in 1981.</span></text>