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Antigua and Barbuda - Relations with U.S. (Notes)

U.S.-ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA RELATIONS The United States has maintained friendly relations with Antigua and Barbuda since its independence. The United States has supported the Government of Antigua and Barbudas effort to expand its economic base and to improve its citizens standard of living. However, concerns over the lack of adequate regulation of the financial services sector prompted the U.S. Government to issue a financial advisory for Antigua and Barbuda in 1999. The advisory was lifted in 2001, but the U.S. Government continues to monitor the Government of Antigua and Barbudas regulation of financial services. The United States also has been active in supporting post-hurricane disaster assistance and rehabilitation through the U.S. Agency for International Developments (USAID) Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance and the Peace Corps. U.S. assistance is primarily channeled through multilateral agencies such as the World Bank and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), as well as through the USAID office in Bridgetown, Barbados. In addition, Antigua and Barbuda receives counter-narcotics assistance and benefits from U.S. military exercise-related and humanitarian civic assistance construction projects. Antigua and Barbuda is strategically situated in the Leeward Islands near maritime transport lanes of major importance to the United States. Antigua has long hosted a U.S. military presence. The former U.S. Navy support facility, turned over to the Government of Antigua and Barbuda in 1995, is now being developed as a regional Coast Guard training facility. Antigua and Barbudas location close to the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico makes it an attractive transshipment point for narcotics traffickers. To address these problems, the United States and Antigua and Barbuda have signed a series of counter-narcotic and counter-crime treaties and agreements, including a maritime law enforcement agreement (1995), subsequently amended to include overflight and order-to-land provisions (1996); a bilateral extradition treaty (1996); and a mutual legal assistance treaty (1996). In 2005, Antigua and Barbuda had 239,804 stay-over visitors, with nearly 28% of Antigua and Barbudas visitors coming from the United States. It is estimated that 4,500 Americans reside in the country. Principal U.S. Embassy Officials Ambassador--Mary M. Ourisman Deputy Chief of Mission--Mary Ellen T. Gilroy Political/Economic Counselor--Martina Strong (acting) Consul General--Clyde Howard Jr. Regional Labor Attaché--Martina Strong Economic-Commercial Affairs--Anthony Eterno Public Affairs Officer--Julie OReagan Peace Corps Director--Kate Raftery The United States maintains no official presence in Antigua. The Ambassador and Embassy officers are resident in Barbados and travel to Antigua frequently. However, a U.S. consular agent resident in Antigua assists U.S. citizens in Antigua and Barbuda. The U.S. Embassy in Barbados is located in the Wildey Business Park, Wildey, St. Michael. (tel: 246-436-4950; fax: 246-429-5246). Consular Agent Rebecca Simon is located at Hospital Hill, English Harbor, Antigua, tel: (268) 463-6531. Other Contact Information U.S. Department of Commerce International Trade Administration Office of Latin America and the Caribbean 14th & Constitution Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20230 Tel: 202-482-1658, 800-USA-Trade Fax: 202-482-0464 Caribbean/Latin American Action 1818 N Street, NW Suite 310 Washington, DC 20036 Tel: 202-466-7464 Fax: 202-822-0075