Today in 1981, Antigua and Barbuda celebrated their independence from the United Kingdom, although it remained a member of the Commonwealth of Nations (an association of 56 states, most of which are former territories of the British Empire). As its name suggests, Antigua and Barbuda are two major Caribbean islands surrounded by several smaller ones, although nearly all of their population lives on Antigua, whose gross domestic product is dominated by tourism dollars. Amid its five-star hotels, Antigua includes homes owned by Oprah Winfrey, Eric Clapton, and the author Ken Follett, among others, and its flag (pictured), designed by Reginald Samuel, features a typical beach scene complete with white sand and blazing sun, cossetted by a “V” for “victory.”
NCPA
