Preceden

Timeline of Antigua and Barbuda

Events

Chris Columbus names the island

1493

Antigua colonized by settlers

1632

France ends its claim to Antigua

1667

Christopher Codrington sets up first sugar plantation

1674

African slaves were brought in to grow sugarcane

1685

Slaves emancipated

1834

Island reverts to the British Crown

1860

Antigua and Barbuda administered together in the Leeward Islands federation

1871 - 1956

Vere Bird forms Antigua Labour Party

1946

Antigua and Barbuda become part of the West Indies federation

1958 - 62

Antigua and Barbuda become a self governing state with British control on some affairs

1967

Barbuda separatist movement is created

1969

George Walter replaces his dad as prime minister

1971

Sugar industry closed down

1972

ALP Wins election led by Bird

1976

Attempts made at restoring sugarcane fields-failed because of finance

1980

Antigua and Barbuda becomes independent

1981

Antigua and Barbuda supports the US invasion of Grenada

1983

Vere Bird's son removed from office

1990

Vere Bird resigns as prime minister and is replaced by his son Lester

1993

Lester Bird's ALP wins general elections

1994

Riots occur, Bird's brother convicted of smuggling cocaine, and hurricane Luis hit hard

1995

Russian Banks closed down because of accused money laundering

1998

Bird's ALP wins another election, Hurricane Jose causes extreme damage

1999

US state department says it's the most attractive place for money laundering

1999

Tourism industry taken by surprise when a British couple got shot in a holiday cottage

2008

Two men found guilty of shooting British couple in 2008

2011