Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Antigua Coat-of-Arms was originally designed by Mr. Gordon Christopher, about 1966. It was later modified by the Financial Secretary, Mr. Don Cribbs.
The motto EACH ENDEAVOURING, ALL ACHIEVING was composed by Mr. James H. Carrot M.B.E., who at the time was the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Trade, Production and Labour. He won a prize of $100.
The Pineapple surmounting the arms represents the famous Antigua Black Pineapple. The Red Hibiscus flowers are symbolic of the many varieties that bloom in the Nation. The Golden Sun and the wavy blue and white BANDS symbolise the Sea, Sun and Beaches. The central SUGAR MILL TOWER and the stem of SUGAR CANE echoes the historic production of sugar, once the main industry.
The Century Plant or DAGGER POLE with its stem and showy golden yellow flowers was a part of the historic emblem of Antigua and the Leeward Islands.
The two rampant DEER depict the only large animal within the Eastern Caribbean and that is unique to Antigua and Barbuda.
It is not known exactly when the lessees of Barbuda, the Codringtons, introduced deer into Barbuda, but there were as many as a thousand head in 1740 and by 1827, they were a ?nuisance? for they stripped the vegetation. In 1784, three thousand were reported, whereas a century later, there were only about 300. Deer were introduced onto Guiana Island sometime after 1811, when Bethell Codrington bought it for raising stock.
The Jumby Bay Resort in Antigua supports the tagging of turtles for scientific purposes from June to December, the primary laying season. Females leave the water and retreat to dig holes under the Seaside Grapes, into which they lay their eggs. Baby turtles grow up in clumps of sea-weed far offshore, but many become food for other sea creatures.
Antigua Pineapple
The Pineapple was first introduced into Antigua and Barbuda by the Arawak Indians from South America about the time of the first Christmas and was called Boniama or Yayama by them and was believed to be food for the Gods.
The thorny leaves were used for producing initiation pains on young men, and for making twine and cloth. A tasty wine was made from the fruits and pineapples were also used for urinary complaints and for producing abortions.
The Antigua variety of pineapple is known as the "Black". It has a dark green colour when it is most delicious, but is smaller than other commercial types. This variety ripens to a golden glow. It is juicy, sweet, and full of flavour.
Here Antiguans were better able to communicate with each other, and seeing their exploitation, shop stewards were first formalised. By 1939, a trade union had been established. Soon an alliance between Government and a trade union led to the Ministerial system, thus a path to Independence was attained. Sugar ceased to be ground in 1972.