NEW YORK 1st November, 2022 - The Church of the Crucifixion in Harlem erupted in joyful praise as flags were raised high by an appreciative congregation of Antiguans and Barbudans attending the Independence Service of Thanksgiving this past Sunday. Pews were filled this year as compared to last year when the service had to be held remotely due in large measure to the pandemic. 

My recent trip to Antigua & Barbuda included a visit to the historical Betty’s Hope sugar plantation established in 1650 shortly after the island became a crown colony. It was the first large-scale sugar plantation to operate on the island and belonged to the Christopher Codrington family from 1674 to 1944. He named the property Betty’s Hope after his daughter. The emphasis centered on sugar, following the earlier dominance of tobacco, indigo, and ginger crops.

The World Health Summit is the unique international strategic forum for global health. Held annually in Berlin, it brings together stakeholders from politics, science, the private sector, and civil society from around the world to set the agenda for a healthier future by inspiring innovative solutions for better health and well-being for all.

Our stories matter. They define who we are as a people and provide us with a sense of community. We all share stories. Around the world, people share stories about anything and everything. Storytelling is an important part of the human experience. We tell stories to entertain and connect with each other, teach others valuable lessons, and document history.

Antigua Black pineapple, is known world-round as the sweetest and rarest variety. The Antigua Back pineapple grown near the tropical rain forest in Cades Bay actually grows upside down with the actual fruit in the earth and its rear spiked leaves above.  They were once grown only by small, independent farmers, who worked the land according to the rules of nature.

I noticed on a recent trip to Antigua & Barbuda that not only does the Island have some of the most beautiful beaches in the world but also It has in the south of the island a deep and beautiful Rain Forest full of wondrous vegetation to explore.

Christal Clashing is an aquatic adventurer. Born in Costa Rica, the adventure capital of Central America and raised in the Caribbean, Christal grew up with the ocean as her playground. 

Kwame Delfish is a Toronto-based artist of Antiguan and Montserratian parentage. Caribbean culture is his foundation and plays an important role in his artistry. Learning to play the drums at a young age and travelling with various Afro-Caribbean dance groups in Toronto have had a significant influence on how he expresses himself artistically. As a result, he applies rhythm to all aspects of his work. 

It’s been roughly five months since I moved to Melbourne this time around (the first time was in 2007 for a year). Somehow, I had managed to block out the winters and I have only fond memories of the summers. However, as we approach winter in the Southern Hemisphere, I’ve settled in enough to seek out the Antiguan connections I had been given contacts for before leaving Antigua back in February 2022.

The miraculous transformation of Redonda from a dry barren moonscape to a thriving lush eco-haven showcases the resilience of ecological systems and the importance of conservation efforts within the Caribbean. Located between Nevis and Montserrat, Redonda is Antigua and Barbuda’s lesser-known island.