The Antigua & Barbuda State Anthem

Lyrics by: NOVELLE HAMILTON RICHARDS

Music by: WALTER GARNET PICART CHAMBERS

Adopted 1967

ANTIGUA & BARBUDA STATE ANTHEM

AND NATIONAL SYMBOLS

Also Some General Information

Verse 1

Antigua & Barbuda

Antigua (pronounced An-tee-ga)
A tropical dreamland comprising of three islands:

Fair Antigua and Barbuda

We thy sons and daughters, stand!
Stong and firm in peace or danger
To safeguard our Native Land:

the largest, has a total area of 108 square miles of

coral limestone and volcanic land, while Barbuda,

We committ ourselves to building

A true nation, brave and free!
Ever striving, ever seeking
Dwell in love and unity.
30 miles to the north, covers 60 square miles. The
third is the uninhabited rocky islet of Redonda.

Verse 2

Antigua & Barbuda is the most northerly of the

English speaking Eastern Caribbean chain of Islands.
Antigua lies at 17.1 degrees North Latitude and 61.8
degrees West Longditude.

Raise the standard, raise it boldly

Answer now to duty's call:
To the service of your country
Sparing nothing, giving all
Gird your loins and join the battle
'Gainst fear, hate and poverty
Each endeavouring, all achieving
Live in peace where man is free.

Antigua is blessed with 365 beaches which are

among the world's finest, with smoothe white sand
scalloping gently around the entire island.
Theoretically Barbuda has one neverending beach
that stretches around the entire island.

The City of St Johns

This is an accurate detailed map of the city. Click on
the image below
for a full size viewing of the map.

Verse 3

God of nations, let thy blessing

Fall upon this land of ours;
Rain and sunshine ever sending
Fill her fields with crops and flowers
We, her children, do implore Thee
Give us strength, faith, loyalty

St. John's, the capital and largest city of Antigua and

Barbuda, is dominated by the towers of St. John's
Cathedral. It was originally built in 1845, but
previous structures were destroyed by earthquakes
in 1683 and in 1745. The present structure was
badly damaged again by earthquake in 1974. The
Cathedral is the first sight to be explored for about
half of the island's visitors each year. St. John's is a
lively hub for shopping and dining.

Never failing, all enduring

To defend her liberty.
National Flag
Designed by Reginald
Samuel in 1966.
This was the year before
Antigua and Barbuda
Gained Associated
Statehood with the
United Kingdom in
The seven points Golden
1967.
Sun symbolizes the dawn
of a new era. Red: life
blood of slave forefathers
Statehood
and dynamism of the
was a form of
people. Blue: Hope.
independence where the
Black: soil and African
United Kingdom
heritage. Gold, Blue and
retained responsibility
White: Antigua &
for External Affairs
Barbuda's tourist
and Defense
attractions; sun sea and
sand. "V": Victory at last.

--------------

Coat-of-Arms
Designed by Gordon Christopher about 1966
and modified by the Financial Secretary at
that time, Mr. Don Gibbs.
The Hibiscus symbolizes the various flowers
blooming in Antigua.

-------------The Deer:
The National Animal

-----------The National Motto:

Each Endeavouring
All Achieving

The Sun, Blue and White

Wavy Bands represent
the Sun, Sea and
Beaches.
The Pineapple is our
National Fruit.

--------------

The National Fruit

Antigua Black
Pineapple
Originally introduced by
Arawakan speaking
people. Today it is
known as one of the
sweetest pineapples in
the world and is grown
mainly in the South of
the island

National Dress
Worn by market vendors and cake makers in
Antigua & Barbuda circa 1834. (This version
designed by native Antiguan Heather Doram)
This outfit is worn on special National
Occasions

National Bird
The Frigate The Frigate
is also known as the
Weather Bird. The Frigate
is a Relative of the
Pelicans. The male is
glossy black and blows
up his scarlet throat to
attract the female.
Frigates weigh about 3
pounds and has a wing
span of 8 feet.

National Dish
Today it's a stew
typically containing
squash, spinach,
eggplant, peas, pumpkin,
ochre's, salted meats and
dumplings. Fungee is a
pastelike ball of
Fungee & Pepperpot.
cornmeal and ochroes.
Pepperpot was first used Recipe used is courtesy
by the Amerindians as a
Evanson's Catering.
means of preserving food.
(268) 461-3693

Historic Symbol
The Sugar Mill
ToweThe Sugar Mill
Tower
More than 114 Sugar
Mills still stand today as
silent witness to a bygone
era when sugar was
"king."
The Sugar Mill at Betty's
Hope Estate has been
restored as a tourist
attraction.

National Animal
The European Fallow
Deer The European
Fallow Deer is believed
to have been brought to
Antigua by the
Codringtons in the early
1700's. The deer live and
breed happily on
Barbuda and on Guiana
Island. There are two
varieties, the Black Deer
and the Common Deer.

National Sea Creature

The Hawksbill Turtle
can be recognized by its narrow pointed beak
and open jagged edge on both sides of the
shell. the hawksbill was originally perceived
as a gift from the Caribs, Arawaks and
archaic gods. It was once hunted for its
valuable shell.

Prehistoric seamen wore

turtle motif jewelry
believing a swimming
prowess would be
bestowed on them.

National Tree
The Whitewood Tree.
This wide-spreading
ornamental shady tree
with nearly horizontal
branches is related to the
mangroves and almond
trees. Its timber is heavy
and hard and was once
used for making gun
carriages.

National Weed
The Widdy, Widdy The
Widdy, Widdy bush
along with cockles was
used by sugar workers to
supplement their food
supply during the strike
of 1951 for better wages
cooking, rapidly softens and working conditions.
and becomes sticky. The
The strike lasted an
flavour is good and the
entire reaping season.
protein content excellent. Widdy, Widdy, with little

Moco Jumbies
The age old art and tradition of walking high
above the crowd on stilts is carried on today
in Antigua and Barbuda by the Moco
Jumbies
(Pronounced Mo-ko Joom-bees).
Stilt Walking is a colourful crowd-pleasing
sight seen

ANTIGUA TOURIST OFFICES

throughout the year but

particularly at carnival
time and during national
festivals and as a tourist
attraction