Located at the crossroads of the Atlantic and the Caribbean, Antigua and Barbuda is a proud member of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America-People’s Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP), renowned for its stunning beaches, beautiful reefs, and top-tier tourist destinations.

The nation joined the Alliance on June 24, 2009, as recorded in the regional bloc’s official documents. At the time, Winston Baldwin Spencer, then Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, led the country’s accession to ALBA.

“By making the decision to become an active member of ALBA, Antigua and Barbuda is asserting the fundamental right of a sovereign nation to establish cooperative relationships based on mutual respect,” Spencer stated.

Tourism as the economic hub

Antigua and Barbuda is located along the outer edge of the Leeward Islands in the West Indies, comprising the islands of Antigua (where the capital, Saint John, is located), Barbuda, and the uninhabited Redonda.

Tourism is the cornerstone of the country’s economy, accounting for more than half of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), according to figures published by the Association of Caribbean States (ACS).

Following tourism are the construction sector, representing 18% of GDP, while agriculture and manufacturing contribute 3% and 2%, respectively.

Antigua and Barbuda also stands out for the production of goods such as sugar, coffee, tobacco, cocoa, and ferronickel.

Saint John, located in Antigua’s port, captivates visitors with its vibrant 19th-century houses painted in bright colors.

Founded in the 18th century, the capital is now home to over a third of the island’s population and is a favorite destination for cruise ships.

The nation’s history can be explored at the Museum of Antigua and Barbuda. Its fascinating collection includes a wide array of artifacts, models of sugar plantations, and a life-size recreation of an Arawak house.

The old town is located in English Harbour, which encompasses much of the Nelson’s Dockyard National Park. This area boasts many points of interest, such as Clarence House.

Shirley Heights is another popular attraction, featuring multimedia presentations that narrate Antigua’s journey from settlement to independence.

15 years with ALBA

Under Prime Minister Gaston Browne, Antigua and Barbuda remains a steadfast member of ALBA-TCP, promoting cooperation, integration, and peace in the region.

As a member of the Alliance, the smallest of the Antilles has celebrated 15 years within this regional bloc, founded in 2004 by Commanders Hugo Chávez and Fidel Castro.

Antigua and Barbuda has also signed the 2030 Strategic Agenda of ALBA-TCP, approved in Caracas, Venezuela, during the XXIII Assembly of the Alliance in April 2024, reaffirming its continued commitment to and cooperation within the international bloc.

The Government of Reconciliation and National Unity of the Republic of Nicaragua, on the first anniversary of the brutal genocide that the Fascist and War Criminal Government of Israel continues to wage against the Palestinian People.

Considering the Resolution unanimously approved by the National Assembly of the Republic of Nicaragua, on this date, Friday, October 11th, 2024, condemning the continued Genocide, Cruelty,
Extreme Hatred and Extermination carried out by the Government of Israel, and reiterating the demand for compliance with all United Nations Resolutions, for the creation of the State of Palestine, as a Free, Sovereign, Independent and Self-Determined State.

We condemn once again this Genocide, the Occupation and the permanent aggression against the Life and Dignity of the People of Palestine, which is now expanding against the People of Lebanon, and seriously threatening Syria, Yemen and Iran, endangering the Peace and Security of the Region and the World.

In Permanent Solidarity with the People and Government of Palestine, with the Peoples who suffer Martyrdom, Destruction and Barbarism and in strict adherence to International Law and the Conventions that govern civilized relations between States and Governments of the World, the Government of the Republic of Nicaragua breaks all Diplomatic Relations with the Fascist Government of Israel.

We ratify once again, our warm and consistent affection for the beloved Families of the People of Israel, who deserve our Love, Support and Solidarity, and who live through difficult times as a result of the excessive brutality and hatred of the Government of Israel.

Government of Reconciliation and National Unity Republic of Nicaragua

Caracas, October 12, 2024. – Venezuela commemorates this Saturday, October 12, Indigenous Resistance Day, a moment to remember the struggle of indigenous peoples against the barbarism imposed by Spain upon setting foot on the lands of Our America.

“They (the Spanish) celebrate October 12 as Columbus Day or Spain’s Day—couldn’t they choose another day? Because October 12 for all of America (…) is the day the genocide began (…) It is no day for celebration,” declared the President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, during his program Con Maduro+ this past Monday.

“For us, it is the day of resistance, of life over death, of freedom over enslavement, of the republican idea over the monarchy,” he added.

Before the arrival of the Bolivarian Revolution, October 12 was “celebrated” as Columbus Day, and even the so-called “discovery of America” by Christopher Columbus, who was sent by the Spanish Kingdom, was commemorated.

In 2002, the government of President Hugo Chávez decreed this date as Indigenous Resistance Day, marking the indigenous peoples’ resistance against Spanish colonization.

Indigenous resistance began with the arrival of the Spanish in 1492, which initiated a violent colonization process across the continent’s territories. During this period, the Spanish, through force and cultural intrusion, managed to seize the resources of these communities and impose their beliefs.

In response, many indigenous groups had to focus their efforts on preparing for war, forsaking activities like agriculture, fishing, and craftsmanship.

Today, as a free and sovereign nation, Venezuela does not celebrate this day but rather honors the bravery and struggle of the indigenous peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean.

The resistance continues in these times, now against the empires of the United States and Europe, which, as always, seek to exploit the resources of Bolívar’s homeland.

Caracas, October 8, 2024 – A reforestation event planting 100 trees to sow hope for the Palestinian people took place on October 8 at Hugo Chávez Park in Venezuela. The initiative was organized by the People’s Power Ministry for Ecosocialism, the National Parks Institute (Inparques in Spanish), and the ‘Misión Árbol’ program.

Jorge Arreaza, Executive Secretary of ALBA-TCP and Vice President for Communes of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), attended the event alongside Palestinian Ambassador Fadi Alzaben. Both expressed their support for this initiative in solidarity with the Palestinian people, who have been under attack by Zionism and fascism.

Rosinés Chávez, President of Inparques, stressed that humanity is overshadowed by hatred and escalating violence. “But this began more than 70 years ago,” she noted. “We are here today to honor those who have fallen and to remember those who continue fighting.”

Chávez explained that the purpose of this tree-planting event is a peaceful protest against the genocide in Palestine and a symbolic act of planting peace in the world.

Palestinian Ambassador Fadi Alzaben expressed gratitude for the support, highlighting, “Today, we come to plant trees while the Israeli occupation forces are uprooting trees and displacing the Palestinian population from their lands.”

He reminded attendees that 80 percent of Gaza has been destroyed. “There are no longer hospitals, schools, or shelters in Gaza. For 365 days, we have witnessed mass destruction in front of the international community, the West, and the European Union. Those who remain silent in the face of these crimes are complicit in this massacre of our people.”

During his remarks, Jorge Arreaza affirmed that ALBA’s voice is the only one in Latin America taking geopolitical stances in defense of the oppressed.

“We are confident that there is clear solidarity across all the peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean with the Arab nations currently facing imperialist aggression… What is at stake today is the future of all humanity,” Arreaza concluded.

Caracas, October 4, 2024.- The Ministers and Heads of Tourism from the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America-Peoples’ Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP) held a working meeting on Thursday, October 3, to develop a joint agenda aimed at strengthening the tourism sector in each member state.

The meeting took place in Caracas, both in person and via videoconference, with the participation of Tourism Ministers from the 10 countries that form the bloc, as well as Honduras as an observer. The event was also attended by ALBA’s Executive Secretary, Jorge Arreaza, and the President of the Bank of ALBA, Raúl Li Causi.

In his speech, Arreaza highlighted the unique characteristics and diversity of the Caribbean, emphasizing its potential to boost tourism and economic activity in the region. He also underscored the need to strengthen the tourism sector in nations such as Bolivia, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, which possess great potential for growth.

The Executive Secretary stressed the importance of promoting multi-destination tourism and enhancing air connectivity to bring the people of the region closer together.

Venezuela’s Minister of Tourism, Leticia Gómez, proposed hosting working groups in her country at the end of November this year, where these topics could be further discussed and formalized.

Nicaragua’s Tourism Minister also supported the multi-destination proposal, which would allow travelers to visit multiple countries and their most iconic sites in a single trip, adhering to the principles of sustainable development and environmental respect.

Bolivia, through its ambassador Sebastián Michel, suggested increasing air operations between ALBA member states and creating competitive tourism packages.

Cuba’s Ministry of Tourism, represented by Carmen Casal, an expert in International Relations, also advocated for the multi-destination strategy and urged more airlines to join this initiative.

Similarly, Bolivia, Dominica, and Saint Lucia supported the continued implementation of technical working groups to promote tourism activities within the regional bloc.

In closing, ALBA-TCP Executive Secretary Jorge Arreaza expressed his gratitude to Venezuela’s Ministry of Tourism for hosting the meeting and for advancing a work agenda that brings new initiatives to this vital economic sector in Latin America and the Caribbean.

New York, September 26, 2024 – “The Bolivarian Alliance remains vital for safeguarding peace and keeping the voice of dignity in Latin America and the Caribbean strong and clear,” declared Nicaraguan Foreign Minister Valdrack Jaentschke this Thursday during the XXIV Political Council of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – Peoples’ Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP), held at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

According to the diplomat, new forms of aggression are re-emerging today, “euphemistically called sanctions,” which are essentially the same military interventions and interference carried out by the Yankee empire in the 19th and 20th centuries “against the dignified peoples who fought for independence and self-determination,” he emphasized.

In his address at this meeting, held for the first time within the United Nations, Jaentschke congratulated the President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, “who, together with his heroic people, continues to victoriously face all the aggressions and destabilization efforts by the usual imperialists.”

He also expressed solidarity with the Republic of Cuba and called for an end to the blockades and sanctions against the island, as well as against Venezuela and Nicaragua.

“Humanity is at a critical juncture, at the birth of a new history, the emergence of a more just, collective, and solidaristic world order. And as with any birth, the rise of this new multipolar world order without imposed hegemonies is challenging, difficult, and painful… These are times when dignified, free, and sovereign peoples of the world face both old and new forms of aggression; the rifles and gunboats of the past are now reborn in new forms of hostility,” he denounced.

New York, September 28, 2024 – This Saturday, the event “Latin America speaks: solidarity against the empire” was held at the Apollo Theater in New York, where social movements expressed their solidarity with the peoples of Cuba, Venezuela, and Palestine, all facing aggression from foreign forces.

During the gathering, Venezuela’s Foreign Minister, Yván Gil, emphasized that with the victory of President Nicolás Maduro on July 28, all conspiracies orchestrated from the United States had been dismantled, “They have been destroyed, and they will not succeed.”

“The Bolivarian Revolution has dismantled all conspiracies. This is the time of the peoples, and no people can be defeated. The peoples of the world are rising, they will triumph, they will fight against imperialism, and they will win,” Gil declared.

He added, “To defeat imperialism, we must break the neck of fascism and neo-Nazism, and we will succeed. I send each of you a message of solidarity: in Venezuela, we are fighting, we are standing strong, we are on the offensive, and we are winning.”

Cuba’s Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodríguez, also called for the lifting of the unjust and inhumane blockade against his country and urged solidarity with Venezuela and Nicaragua.

“We are all aware of what is at stake in Venezuela. The Venezuelan people have the right to defend their revolution, a truly independent process against imperialist attacks. Long live the Bolivarian and Chavista Revolution, long live Venezuela!” Rodríguez proclaimed.

Rodríguez also warned that imperialism doesn’t stop there, noting its intervention in the internal affairs of Honduras and the government led by President Xiomara Castro.

Manolo De Los Santos, coordinator of The People’s Forum movement, highlighted the resilience of Cuba, saying, “The children of Cuba have taught us to never stop smiling in the face of the enemy. Their song and dance remind us that we will never be defeated.”

Vijay Prashad, director of the Tricontinental Institute for Social Research, criticized Western leaders for their disregard for Palestine, stating that they do not want the war to end. He called on the peoples of the world to rise up against the genocide in Gaza and to stop the aggression spreading throughout the Middle East.

Lameess Mohammed, leader of the Palestinian Youth Movement, emphasized the need for awareness about the damage caused by the brutal assault on Palestine.

The solidarity event concluded with expressions of support and chants in favor of the peoples being oppressed by U.S. imperialism, as well as a performance by La Colmenita, Cuba’s renowned children’s theater company.

New York, September 28, 2024 – The Republic of Cuba, represented by Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez, addressed the 79th United Nations General Assembly in New York on Saturday, where he demanded the lifting of the unjustified embargo against Cuba and warned of attempts to incite violence in Venezuela.

“We denounce the attempts to provoke violence and destabilization in Venezuela. We reaffirm our firm support and solidarity with the Bolivarian, Chavista government and the civic-military union of the Venezuelan people, led by President Nicolás Maduro Moros. The calls to disregard the electoral results are irresponsible and disrespectful of the popular will and its legitimate institutions,” stated Cuba’s Foreign Minister.

At the UN headquarters, Rodríguez reminded the Assembly that the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) declared the region a zone of peace in Havana.

“That historic commitment is more relevant than ever. Every day, we defend peace and multilateralism in the face of unilateral coercive measures that seriously harm Syria, Belarus, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Zimbabwe, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Iran, Russia, Cuba, and other nations,” he emphasized.

Rodríguez also expressed Cuba’s support for the legitimate right to self-determination and independence of Puerto Rico, while noting that the international community has a historical debt to Haiti, “the protagonist of the first anti-slavery, social, and independence revolution on the continent.”

On the conflict between Israel and Palestine, the Cuban Foreign Minister declared, “The genocide against the Palestinian people must end unconditionally and without delay. Israel, with the complicity of the United States, has placed the world on the brink of a large-scale conflagration. The reckless aggression against Lebanon, Syria, Iran, and the peoples of the Middle East will have consequences that are difficult to estimate.”

New York, September 28, 2024 – Grenada’s Prime Minister and Chair of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Dickon Mitchell, emphasized the importance of proper digital education for empowering Caribbean youth during the fifth day of debates at the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

“Proper digital education represents the democratization of opportunities, and international cooperation is crucial in this effort. If we bridge the digital divide, we will empower our youth to find solutions that will not only benefit Grenada but the rest of the world as well,” Mitchell stressed.

He noted that advancing digital and technological capabilities will foster new partnerships to combat climate change, which disproportionately affects Caribbean nations through hurricanes and floods.

In his view, nature has sent a clear warning, and there is a plan to harness technology—from drones to assess storm damage, to early warning systems that enhance preparedness—but international support is essential.

Grenada stands for Cuba and Haiti

Prime Minister Mitchell, whose country is a member of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America-Peoples’ Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP), expressed solidarity with the Republic of Cuba. He called attention to the harm caused by the U.S. embargo, stating, “We reiterate our call for the removal of the blockade against Cuba and for the country to be taken off the list of state sponsors of terrorism. CARICOM is deeply concerned that the Cuban people have endured this imposition for 60 years, which serves no constructive purpose and inflicts significant harm on the Cuban population.”

Regarding Haiti, he declared, “We urge the international community to support the humanitarian mission in Haiti to alleviate the crisis, particularly to help Haitian children gain access to education.”

Mitchell concluded by underscoring the resilience of Caribbean peoples, stating, “Resilience is part of our essence. We rise from the harshest circumstances, finding new ways not just to survive but to thrive.”