Ambassador Dario Item shares the history of Antigua and Barbuda
When Dario Item joined the diplomatic corps in 2016, he became Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda. Now he represents his country in the Principality of Monaco, in Spain and in the Principality of Liechtenstein.
As Ambassador, Dario Item has had three important meetings. On December 13, 2018, he met Prince Alois in the Principality of Liechtenstein, to whom he presented his credentials. On January 16, 2019, Dario Item travelled to the Kingdom of Spain to hand over his letters of credence to King Felipe VI of Spain. On February 28, he was in the Principality of Monaco for the accreditation ceremony in the presence of Prince Albert II of Monaco.
The main purpose of the Caribbean State ambassador is to promote culture and increase awareness of the country he represents. Therefore, we’ll take a closer look to this beautiful Caribbean Country.
The history of Antigua and Barbuda, similarities and differences between the two island
Antigua and Barbuda is an archipelago located in the Caribbean Sea that consists of three main island: Antigua, Barbuda and Redonda. This Country today is a popular destination for many tourists, who every year populate the beautiful beaches.
Antigua and Barbuda was discovered in the late fifteenth century by Christopher Columbus. The islands became English colonies in the seventeenth century. During those years a lot of plantations of sugar cane, cotton and tobacco, in which slaves worked, were created.
During the eighteenth century, Antigua became the headquarters of the British Caribbean fleet, commanded by Lord Horatio Nelson. In 1981 the State of Antigua and Barbuda gained independence from the United Kingdom. Despite this, it is still part of the Commonwealth and remains a constitutional monarchy, with Queen Elizabeth II as its monarch.
Although the islands are close together, Antigua and Barbuda are very different. In both islands the official language is English, in addition to Creole, and the economy is based mainly on tourism.
Antigua is the most densely populated island, characterized by colorful houses and crowded markets. Barbuda, on the other hand, is the quietest one, still very much linked to traditions, and where you can spend a relaxing holiday. Antigua has a coral and limestone nature and has a single mountain range, Mount Boggy, 402 meters high. Barbuda, also of coral origin, is instead completely flat.
