Antigua, Barbuda
Incentives for Investors
Property in Antigua & Barbuda?
Harbour view apartments great investment
The development is set on a 14 acre site adjacent to the world famous Jolly Harbour, which is the largest marina, golf and beach resort in the Caribbean being spread over 350 acres. In Jolly Harbour you will find a vast amount of restaurants, bars, shops and a very well stocked supermarket which is open seven days a week from 8am to 8pm.
Antigua is a good spot for non-residents looking to buy property in the Caribbean, with a good business climate and a stable political system. The government in general encourages foreign investments. Also Antigua is a tax-haven however non-citizens have to acquire a license to be able to purchase property in Antigua.
Antiguans boast that they have a different beach for every day of the year. That may be an exaggeration, but the beaches here are certainly spectacular: Most are protected by coral reefs, and the sand is often sugar white.
Antigua, Barbuda, and Redonda form the independent nation of Antigua and Barbuda, within the Commonwealth of Nations. Redonda is an uninhabited rocky islet of less than a square mile, located 32km (20 miles) southwest of Antigua.
Antigua (an-TEE-gah) is an independent nation, but it is still British in many of its traditions. Economically, it has transformed itself from a poverty-stricken island of sugar plantations to a modern-day vacation haven. The landscape of rolling, rustic Antigua is dotted with stone towers that were once sugar mills.
The inland scenery isn't as dramatic as what you'll find on St. Kitts, but, oh, those beaches! Antigua does have some casinos and most of its hotels are intimate one- or two-story inns rather than glitzy, sprawling resorts. In general, the dining and shopping of Antigua are comparable to those of St. Kitts.
Most hotels, restaurants, beach bars, and water sports facilities lie north of the capital of St. John's, in the northwest. St. John's is a large, neatly laid-out town 10km (6 miles) from the airport and less than a mile from Deep Water Harbour Terminal. This port city is the focal point of commerce and industry and the seat of government and shopping. Protected within a narrow bay, St. John's is charming, with cobblestone sidewalks and weather-beaten wooden houses with corrugated iron roofs and louvered Caribbean verandas. Trade winds keep the wide streets cool. Since all the major resorts are on good beaches, most visitors tend to stay put, going into St. John's for a day's shopping jaunt or to English Harbour for some history.
Antigua
In 1493, Columbus arrived in Antigua and named it Antigua after the Church of Santa Maria de la Antigua in Seville. In 1632, the English arrived from nearby St. Kitts and established a settlement, the first of its kind from Europe. The island remained British ruled until 1967 except for a brief French occupation.
Similar to other Caribbean lands, Antigua was turned into a sugar-producing island. Slaves were imported from African countries until 1838, when slavery was abolished.
The headquarters for the English fleet was located at the Dockyard in English Harbour during the 1700's and 1800's when the sugar producing islands were of enormous value to Europe. The senior officer of the Dockyard station from the years of 1784 to 1787 was Lord Nelson. Consequently today, The Dockyard and English Harbour are known as Nelson’s Dockyard. Prince William Henry, the Duke of Clarence, who later became King William IV, was stationed as a captain under Lord Nelson. His residence was the Clarence House.
The status of Associated Statehood with Britain was first achieved in the Eastern Caribbean islands by Antigua in 1967. It formed a full government while the British would still be responsible for defense and some other aspects of external affairs. On November 1, 1981, Antigua and Barbuda was granted full independence.
Antigua is still a part of the Commonwealth of Nations and the 157th member of the United Nations. Other memberships owned by Antigua are in the Organization of American States (OAS), the Caribbean Common Market (Caricom), the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Antigua & Barbuda's beautiful Beaches
There are 365 beaches on Antigua, one for each day of the year. The great majority rest inside the calm, protected waters of the island's Caribbean side. All are open to the public, and so the challenge posed to a visitor is not how to gain access to the best of them but simply how to locate the beach that suits one's taste. Exploring on your own is the best way to do this, although it is wise to bring a companion along to particularly isolated locations. Antiguans are understandably reluctant to divulge their own favourites, so here are a number of good starters. Be sure to acquire specific directions before you go.
Northwest Coast: Dickenson Bay and Runaway Bay, located along the island's developed north-western coast, are the place to go for those who want the fully-loaded resort beach experience. The beaches most convenient to St. John's are Fort James, a locally-popular public beach, and Deep Bay. Galley Bay attracts surfers during the winter months and joggers during the evening. The series of four crescent beaches at Hawksbill are also highly regarded, one of which is nudist.
Southwest and South Coast: The beaches of the hilly southwest corner of Antigua are generally less developed than those around St. John's further north. On the road that winds along this coast are Fryes Bay, Dark wood Beach, and the beaches around Johnsons Point. Rendezvous Bay and especially Doigs Beach, both located on the central southern coast at Rendezvous Bay, are especially quiet beaches worth the rough travel necessary to reach them. Pigeon Point, near English Harbour Town, is a convenient balm after a day at Nelson's Dockyard.
East Coast: On the southeast corner of the island is Half Moon Bay, now a National Park and a good choice for a family outing. Long Bay, on the easternmost point of the island, is another good choice for families, as it is completely protected by its reef.
On Barbuda: Barbuda's smooth coastline is edged with long pink and white sand beaches protected by barrier reefs. In fact, the pristine pink beaches of the south western shore stretch as far as ten miles without interruption. The beaches of the island's eastern shore, facing the Atlantic, are somewhat rougher, although they are outstanding for beachcombing.
Carnival and Music
Carnival
It is a ten-day festival of colourful costumes, beauty pageants, talent shows, and especially good music. The festivities, which celebrate emancipation, are exciting and extensive, ranging from the Party Monarch and Calypso Monarch competitions of Calypsonians, the Panorama steel band competition, and the spectacular Parade of Bands to the Miss Antigua Pageant and the Caribbean Queen's Competition. In addition to these major events, the non-stop revelry of this eleven-day carnival includes innumerable smaller festivities, including local concerts, food fairs, parades, and cultural shows. Please join us at Carnival 2006, the Caribbean's greatest summer festival!
Antiguan Music
There are several different musical forms featured during Carnival. Calypso, the oldest, has its roots in slavery; a common explanation of its origins is that it began as a way for slaves, who were forbidden to speak in the fields, to communicate with each other. It is a polyglot, improvisational form that depends largely upon the skill of a soloist, (the calypsonian) who weaves the sounds of many cultures into a lyrical whole. Calypso competitions have long been a highlight of Carnival. Click here for Calypso and Road March Results.
Steel drum music was created when the bamboo percussion instruments traditionally used to back up calypso were replaced by hammered steel pans cut from oil drums. Whereas there is no dispute that the steel pan was developed in Trinidad, the indigenous development of the steel band in Antigua and Barbuda was an outgrowth of the iron bands which were prominent at Christmas time. Steel drum music has been an important part of Carnival since that time, and Antigua is home to many of the Caribbean's finest steel bands. Soca is a musical form that grafts the slower beat of American soul music to the upbeat tempos of calypso. Soca began in the 1970s, and by the middle of the 1980s it had become an integral feature of Carnival. Another musical form popular on Antigua is reggae. Although it originated in Jamaica, reggae has been incorporated into the Antiguan music scene for years.
Places of Interest
English Harbour
English Harbour, Antigua's graceful and evocative historic district, is focused on the fifteen square miles of Nelson's Dockyard National Park. Developed as a base for the British Navy in the great age of sail, the harbour served as the headquarters of the fleet of the Leeward Islands during the turbulent years of the late 18th century. Although the dockyard was greatly expanded at that time by Horatio Nelson, it was gradually abandoned in the nineteenth century and was closed in 1889. Today Nelson's Dockyard has been completely restored, and it is now the only Georgian dockyard in the world.
Almost all of the park's other sites of interest overlook the harbour. The closest of these is Clarence House, a residence built for the future King William IV (1765-1837) when he served under Nelson as captain of the H.M.S. Pegasus. Further above the harbour, at Shirley Heights, are the partially-restored fortifications of the harbour's colonial observation post; the view from Shirley Heights extends out over the harbour and far across the Caribbean to Montserrat and Guadaloupe. On Sundays the vista is enhanced by barbeque and live music at the bar there (Steel Band music from 3-6 pm & reggae from 6-9). Shirley Heights can be reached via Lookout Trail, a nature walk that rises from the harbour through a forest of trees--descending the trail is not advisable after dark or barbecue revelry.
Along Lookout Trail and near Shirley Heights is Dow's Hill Interpretation Center, at which visitors can watch an impressive multimedia presentation of Antigua's history, from its initial settlement to independence. Observation decks at Dow's Hill provide another fine view of the harbour, as do the ruined fortifications of Fort Berkeley, located on the far side of the bay and reached by a walk around its perimeter. All of these points, as well as the park's convenient beaches, become especially popular spectator positions during Sailing Week.
Shirley Heights
This rambling array of gun emplacements and military buildings is best known today for the absolutely breathtaking prospect that it offers. From the Heights one can look far out over English Harbour, and on Sunday afternoons the view is accompanied by barbecue, rum punch, and the plangent strains of steel band and reggae music. The site is named for General Shirley, Governor of the Leeward Islands when the area was fortified in the late eighteenth century. Close by is the cemetery, in which stands an obelisk erected in honour of the soldiers of the 54th regiment?
Sea View Farm Village
Antiguan folk pottery dates back at least to the early 18th century, when slaves fashioned cooking vessels from local clay. Today, folk pottery is fashioned in a number of places around Antigua, but the center of this cottage industry is Sea View Farm Village. The clay is collected from pits located nearby, and the wares are fired in an open fire under layers of green grass in the yards of the potters' houses. Folk pottery can be purchased at outlets in the village as well as at a number of stores around the island. Buyers should be aware that Antiguan folk pottery breaks rather easily in cold environments.
Harmony Hall Art Gallery
Harmony Hall, in Brown's Bay at Nonsuch Bay, is the center of the Antiguan arts community. Exhibits change throughout the year, but the annual highlights are the Antigua Artist's Exhibition and the Craft Fair, both in November. The sugar mill tower around which Harmony Hall is built has been converted to a bar and provides its patrons with one of the island's best panoramic views, including a fine prospect of Nonsuch Bay.
Museum of Antigua and Barbuda
This charming museum tells the story of Antigua and Barbuda from its geological birth through the present day. A cool oasis in the middle of St. John's, the museum contains a wide variety of fascinating objects and exhibits, ranging from a life-size replica of an Arawak dwelling to the bat of Viv Richards, one of the greatest cricket players of all time.
Activities
Boating
Sailing has been a central part of Antigua's culture for centuries, ever since the British under Horatio Nelson made English Harbour their Caribbean base. Today, the stately Georgian architecture of Nelson's Dockyard hosts a more pleasure-seeking fleet--the international racing boats, recreational yachts, and classic sailboats of Antigua's annual Sailing Week. With such a rich marine tradition, its no surprise that boats of all sorts can be hired in Antigua. Most hotels have Sunfish or Sailfish, and a number of companies hire yachts.
Cricket
Antiguans are more than a little devoted to cricket. The island has historically been a very strong contributor to West Indian and international cricket, and the Antigua Recreation Ground is one of the finest places in the Caribbean to take in a local, regional, or international match. Devotees of the game can visit the Antigua and Barbuda Museum for a look at the infamous cricket bat of Vivian Richards, native Antiguan, former captain of the West Indies Cricket Club, and one of the greatest batsmen of all time. Matches can be found almost anywhere on the island, at almost any time.
Tennis
Although more recently established than its sailing counterpart, Antigua's annual Tennis Week draws an impressive field of international competitors to the island in May of each year. Quite a few of the island's hotels have excellent facilities.
Diving and Snorkelling
Antigua & Barbuda has hundreds of wrecks to explore and good shelf diving. Arrange for diving equipment through your hotel or guest house.
Hiking and Bird Watching
Hiking has not been much developed as an organized activity, although Antigua has many trails and tracks that are well suited to it. Most of the popular hikes lead to one or another of the island's many hilltop fortifications: Fort George sits atop Monk's Hill, and Fort Barrington (captured by the French in 1666) is on the promontory at Deep Bay. The Historical and Archaeological Society frequently arranges group hikes.
Much of the appeal of the natural environment in Antigua and Barbuda is the multitude of bird species to be found there. The Frigate Bird Sanctuary on Barbuda, though accessible only by boat, is the largest bird sanctuary in the Caribbean and contains over 170 species; Long Island and Great Bird Island also offer outstanding opportunities for birdwatchers.
Fishing and Hunting
Fishing and Hunting Sport fishing, bonefish in Barbuda's Codrington Lagoon, hunting of deer, boar, various game fowl on Barbuda. Licenses and gun permits must be obtained in Codrington Village. The Antigua and Barbuda Annual Sport Fishing Tournament is held in May of each year.
Riding
There are several stables in Antigua. Arrangements for riding can be made through your hotel.
Eco-Tours:
Take the opportunity to explore the wild side of Antigua and Barbuda. Mangrove swamps, bird watching and reef snorkelling are available on-island.
Windsurfing:
Dickenson Bay is the center of all windsurfing activity on Antigua. In January and July, the annual Windsurfing Antigua events are held there.
Shopping
Shopping in Antigua is like being in a market place filled with all sorts of goods and bargains. Street-side vendors and duty-free shops are located right next to each other. The main shopping area is in the capital, St. John's, where crowds and other activities are a part of shopping experience. The two main shopping areas are Heritage and Radcliffe Quays, both conveniently located close to the cruise ship port.
Heritage Quay offers a large selection of items such as lingerie, jewellery, beach wear at duty-free prices. Most of these shops are open on Mondays through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or on Sundays if cruise ships are in port.
Radcliffe Quay is a complex restored from an old slave compound, with much of the old late 1800's buildings still visible. The area has banks, restaurants, and other speciality shops.
Local handicraft, T-shirts, and other gift items are easily available at bargain prices on the streets of St. John's or in many local stores.
Business and household supplies are available from a variety of stores, and computer and electronic equipment are available at select businesses.
Plan to spend a whole day shopping and bring walking shoes
Incentives for Investors
Antigua and Barbuda welcomes foreign investment and provides a hospitable environment and generous incentives to encourage such investment.
The government is keen to assure investors that their investments are secure and well protected. Therefore, Investment Protection Agreements have been signed with the Federal Republic of Germany ( and with the United Kingdom
In a world of coups and crises Antigua and Barbuda is a paradise for the businessman. It has both a pleasantly tropical climate throughout the year and a long tradition of political stability based on parliamentary democracy.
While the Government intervenes in the economy as a regulator in some instances, the private sector is the dominant force in the economy. The government and the ruling United Progressive Party (UPP) are committed to upholding the principle of free enterprise and this pledge is hared by the main political parties. Successive governments have respected the agreements and commitments made between previous administrations and investors.
No investor has ever had assets nationalised or been forced to leave the island. Under the island's constitution, property can only be nationalised in exceptional circumstances and even in such cases the country's constitution demands that fair compensation must be determined by an independent authority and must be paid promptly. This constitutional requirement is unusual in developing countries and casts Antigua and Barbuda in a very attractive light for investment.
The legal basis for Antigua and Barbuda's tax holidays for investors is codified on the Fiscal Incentives Act. The length of the 'holiday' depends on the amount of value added in Antigua and Barbuda. The definition of local value added is the amount realised from the sales of the product over a continuous period of 12 months, minus:
a) Cost of imported raw materials, components, parts of components, fuels and services;
b) Wages and salaries paid to foreign nationals;
c) Profits and dividends distributed to foreign nationals;
d) Interest, management charges and other income payments to not-residents (including companies);
e) Depreciation of imports of plant, machinery and equipment.
The government offers numerous concessions to investors, particularly if the investment is substantial. Typical concessions include:
* Freedom from the payment of Corporate Tax on the profits arising out of the profitable operations of the company for a period of 15 years in the first instance which is eligible for renewal for a further 15 years;
* Waiver of all import duties on consumption tax on the importation of materials and equipment used in the operations of the company;
* Grant of an export allowance in the form of an extended tax holiday on the exportation of goods produced in Antigua and Barbuda;
