II would like to express warm, welcome wishes to those who have joined the Antigua & Barbuda nation as new citizens or have come as visitors to our shores. The waters surrounding our island-state are usually calm and manageable. The waves and currents are stronger on the Atlantic side than on the sheltered Caribbean. Many of our visitors often choose to enjoy these characteristics when circumnavigating the islands.
The slight northeast trade winds that cool our islands and enable the sailboats to circumnavigate effortlessly are awaiting the eager sailor who prefers to inhale the beauty of our islands from the ocean. We are pleased to see that many young Antiguans and Barbudans are learning to navigate the seas and are increasingly engaged in competitive sailing both regionally and globally. A three-person national team recently won the American Magic Select Sailing Series in Pensacola, Florida, against sailing giants such as Norway, Canada and the United States.
The annual Antigua Sailing Week, held at the end of April since 1967, will see scores of vessels engaging in various competitions that will test both sailing skills and engineering magnificence. The vessels come from as far away as Australia to race. Antigua has become a world-renowned venue for sailing; it is both safe and enjoyable. A paradise!
I take this opportunity to invite our newest citizens and visitors to seek out the sailing experience if they are favourably disposed to enjoying the transparent seas, blue skies, white sand beaches and the beautiful, friendly people of our twin islands. These are the hallmark of a beautiful Caribbean experience that Antigua & Barbuda can offer in abundance. Welcome!
Prime Minister
“I take this opportunity to invite our newest citizens and visitors to seek out the sailing experience if they are favourably disposed to enjoying the transparent seas, blue skies, white sand beaches and the beautiful, friendly people of our twin islands.”
AAlthough Antigua & Barbuda may be best known for its idyllic white-sand beaches, wonderful nature and translucent, turquoise seas, for one group of people, it is the offshore, indigo waters that hold the real magic of the islands.
As one of the best places for sailing in the region - if not the world – Antigua’s twin harbours of English Harbour and Falmouth are arguably the yachting centre of the West Indies. With the warm, constant tradewinds and balmy seas, the islands have become a mecca for sailors from across the globe.
It doesn’t hurt that the island is dotted with numerous picturesque bays offering safe anchorage and top-class yachting services and maintenance. Nor that once on terra firma, there is a wonderful variety of restaurants and entertainment for those important après-sailing moments, as well as the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Nelson’s Dockyard for a culture fix.
Add into the mix, easy access from North America and London as well as fabulous hotels and resorts to accommodate participants and spectators, and it isn’t any wonder why Antigua Sailing Week (ASW) is one of the most popular regattas in the world.
And it’s not just ASW bringing in the international sailing crowd. Events like the Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta, the Superyacht Challenge, the RORC Caribbean 600 (which in 2023 will be expanded into a series) and the reintroduced Antigua-to-Bermuda Race all feature on next year’s calendar. And with Optinam, the Optimist North American Championships, back in July, it truly is a bumper year for sailing in the twin islands.
For those who choose to stay longer on the islands or become citizens of this twin-island nation, it isn’t just the sea, sand and beauty that attracts them. Good healthcare, excellent education, including the fourth landed campus of the University of the West Indies, and a range of banking services and high-speed internet make living and working in Antigua & Barbuda very comfortable indeed.
Antigua & Barbuda’s CBI programme is one of the best in the Caribbean and is in the top five of the Professional Wealth Management’s CBI 2021 Index carried out by the International Financial Times Group. Citizenship to the islands allows visa-free travel to 165 jurisdictions, including Hong Kong, Singapore, the UK and Schengen area.
THE CITIZEN, the official publication of the Antigua & Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU), is produced by Select Publishing with the full support of Charmaine Quinland-Donovan, CIU’s Chief Executive Officer and the Government of Antigua & Barbuda.
Publisher: Managing Editor: Creative & Art Director: Advertising Designer:
Danielle Jacobsen Susan Brophy Marta Conceição Analu Pettinati/Antonio Caparrós/ SalmanDesign/Paulo Couto/Marta Conceição
Antigua & Barbuda introduction photo (page 4 & 5): Paul Wyeth
Photo credits: Paul Wyeth, Andre Phillip, Tim Wright, Ed Marshall, Antigua & Barbuda Tourism Authority, Fer Ribes, Hilary Jones, Danielle Jacobsen, Deposit Photos, Shutterstock, Shifaaz Shamoon/ Unsplash, Gerd Altmann/Pixabay, JimboChan/Pixabay, Tamarind Hills, Mohamed Masa/Unsplash, Yensa Werth, Diedy Minors
Translations: BCB Soluciones
Repro & printing: Lisgráfica – Impressão e Artes Gráficas
Circulation: 2,500
For all editorial and advertising enquiries, or to order a free copy, contact: select@select-publishing.com
The views expressed in the publication are not necessarily those of the CIU or the publishers. The publishers make every effort to ensure that the magazine’s contents are correct, but cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information published herein, or be held accountable for any errors, omissions, or claims for any damages.
All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without prior permission in writing from the publishers.
thecitizenantiguabarbuda
thecitizenantiguabarbuda
For Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP) related enquiries, contact CIU at: info@cip.gov.ag www.cip.gov.ag
For Investment Migration Council (IMC) membership enquiries, contact the Regional Representative Office at: caribbean@investmentmigration.org www.investmentmigration.org
CiviQuo is the World’s First Investment Migration Marketplace. For enquiries, contact us at: info@civiquo.com www.civiquo.com
To access THE CITIZEN:
www.thecitizenantiguabarbuda.com issuu.com/thecitizenantiguabarbuda
letter editor’s
Susan Brophy Editor
ailors and yachters from around the world are once again descending en masse to Antigua & Barbuda and gearing themselves up to enjoy the exhilarating sailing and jampacked season of events on offer. With contributions from some of the most important players in Antigua’s sailing world, our cover story looks at why the twin-island nation is undoubtably the sailing capital of the region and why getting out on the water here is truly something special.
In this issue, Prime Minister Gaston Browne tells us about the construction boom which is playing a significant role in the islands’ economic development.
With the world having changed so much in recent times, Sherelyn Hughes-Thomas, Deputy CEO of the CIU, updates us on the evolution of the Citizenship by Investment Programme over the past couple
The third season of the Golden Globe-nominated series Emily in Paris has just dropped on streaming giant Netflix. One of the stars, Lucien Laviscount, of Antiguan descent, brought the premiere to the twin islands where The Citizen was able to catch up with him.
From overweight youngster to the go-to trainer in the hip-hop world, Mark Jenkins has had an incredible career. He shares the fascinating story of his success through persistence and how he believes his mother’s homeland of Antigua has all the potential to become one of the world’s top wellness hotspots.
When Michelin-starred chef Colin McGurran set out with his family on their catamaran from the UK to sail around the globe, he didn’t anticipate that the pandemic would “strand” them in Antigua. Luckily for him and the island, he fell in love with the place and is opening two eating establishments on the island. We find out more about his plans.
Gilly Gobinet loved art as a child, but after embarking on a range of different non-artistic careers, it wasn’t until she arrived in Antigua from the UK many years later that she allowed her creative juices to run wild. We look at some of Gilly’s paintings which reflect the beauty and charm of the island that surrounds her.
Antigua & Barbuda’s beaches are legendary, but it isn’t just the many human visitors who enjoy the beautiful white sands. Each year thousands of endangered sea turtles flock to the islands’ shores to lay their eggs. Unfortunately, these wonderful creatures, facing countless threats, often don’t make it. Dr Deborah Brosnan tells us about the Barbuda Sea Turtle Program, which seeks to monitor and protect the three species of turtles found in the islands’ waters.
The Citizen’s own publisher, Danielle Jacobsen, is this issue’s featured photographer. Having travelled around the globe, photography is her way of preserving memories. She has let us have a peek at her photo album by sharing some of her favourite shots of her beloved Antigua. Specialists in the world of citizenship by investment once again have been kind enough to share their thoughts and expert opinions with us.
On behalf of The Citizen team We would like to thank all our contributors and, of course, you, the readers. Happy reading!
Is the Managing Partner at Citizens International, a white-glove specialist firm offering private client services necessary for citizenship investment into the Caribbean. Based between the Caribbean and North America for the past 15 years, she is an experienced consultant who works directly with many professional partners and advises clients worldwide.
Is a consultant, traveller and advocate of free movement and the investment migration industry based in Istanbul, Turkey. He focuses on investigating new possibilities for expanding one’s lifestyle in global cities, especially in frontier markets. Brian is a believer in the power of citizenship by investment to expand economies and promote choice.
Is the Racing Manager at the Royal Ocean Racing Club. An Australian, he has vast experience in managing events such as the Rolex Fastnet Race, Transatlantic races and Rolex Sydney Hobart and Volvo Ocean Race stopovers. A keen sailor, Chris has competed at an international level and has countless offshore race experience.
Has produced and edited the prestigious Antigua Yacht Classic Programme for the past 12 years.
She was a ghostwriter for a Professor of Epidemiology in 1971 and edited a nature conservation magazine for an international organisation in France before moving to Antigua in 1984.
Is the Managing Director of Mainstay Caribbean Ltd, a management and marketing company focused on the yachting industry in Antigua and beyond.
She is President of Antigua Sailing Week and General Manager of the National Sailing Academy. She creates opportunities and connections across the yachting sector for individuals and organisations.
Is the President of Antigua & Barbuda Sailing Association and Manager of the Antigua Yacht Club. He is also the only Antiguan sailor who has competed twice in the Olympics. A pioneer in sailing education, he is passionate about introducing young people to the world of sailing and organises international competitions in the twin islands.
Is Managing Partner of Advance Global Partners, a citizenship and investment consultancy based in Dominica. Advance is a best of breed agency who are local agents in Dominica, marketing agents in Grenada, and who also represent the Curacao Resident Permit Program, and a range of other citizenship and investment services.
Does your plan B let you decide where you live?
Does your plan B allow you to easily access healthcare in another country?
Does your plan B mean that you can travel to a business meeting on the other side of the world at a moment’s notice?
Does your plan B protect your children’s inheritance?
Does your plan B give you wealth management options?
Does your plan B allow you to relocate your family in the event of a national disaster?
There are four types of investment which will qualify you for citizenship in the paradise islands of Antigua & Barbuda. As an applicant, you can choose between a contribution to the National Development Fund (NDF), to The University of the West Indies Fund, purchase property in a pre-approved real estate development, or invest in an approved business venture. As a candidate, you must be over 18 years of age, hold no criminal record and have excellent health. Upon successful application, you and your family will obtain a lifetime citizenship and enjoy travelling visa-free to 165 jurisdictions.
The non-profit NDF was established to fund income-generating public sector projects, innovation in entrepreneurship and approved charitable investments. It is audited by an internationally recognised accounting firm and reports on its status are published each year.
If this is your investment of choice, you are invited to contribute USD 100,000 to the NDF, which is a one-time contribution for a family of four. Processing fees will be applied as indicated below.
For a single applicant, or a family of 4 or less:
• US$ 100,000 contribution
Processing fees: US$ 30,000.*
For a family of 5 or more:
• US$ 125,000 contribution
Processing fees: US$ 45,000, US$ 15,000 for each additional dependent over five people.
This investment option serves as a mechanism to finance the new University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus. This contribution will also entitle one member of the family to a one-year scholarship, tuition only, at the University of the West Indies.
For a family of 6:
• US$ 150,000 contribution
• Processing fees: US$ 15,000 from the seventh additional dependent onwards.
You and your family can obtain citizenship by purchasing a property in Antigua & Barbuda. You may also benefit from rental revenue with this investment. To qualify for citizenship under this option, you must invest in a designated, officially approved real estate development worth at least US$ 400,000, undertake a joint investment of US$ 200,000 between two (2) related parties/ applications, or minimum US$ 200,000 for a unit/share in an approved property.
You must own the property for a minimum of five years before selling it. At this time, owners may resell their units or shares to subsequent applicants as eligible investments. Processing fees will be applied as indicated below.
For a single applicant, or a family of 4 or less:
• Processing fees: US$ 30,000.*
For a family of 5 or more:
• Processing fees: US$ 45,000, US$ 15,000 for each additional dependent over five people.
The Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU) after consulting with the Antigua & Barbuda Investment Authority (ABIA) approves businesses, whether existing or proposed, for the purposes of investment in business under the Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP).
There are two business investment options:
• Invest at least US$ 1,500,000 in a pre-approved business.
• Alternatively, at least two applicants can propose to make a joint investment in an approved business with a total investment of at least US$ 5,000,000. Each investor must contribute at least US$ 400,000 to the joint investment.
For a single applicant, or a family of 4 or less:
• Processing fees: US$ 30,000.*
For a family of 5 or more:
• Processing fees: US$ 45,000, US$ 15,000 for each additional dependent over five people.
Please note that all four options also include a due diligence fee of US$ 7,500 for the main applicant and spouse, US$ 2,000 for any dependent child between 12-17 years of age and US$ 4,000 for any dependent child/parent between 18-30 and 55 plus years.
* Processing fees for additional dependents: US$ 10,000 for children under 5 years, US$ 20,000 for children aged 6-17 years, US$ 50,000 for adults over 18 years. For a future spouse of the principal applicant, a fee of US$ 50,000 is payable upon application.
Why does Antigua & Barbuda have a citizenship by investment programme?
The programme was introduced to promote economic growth, attract real estate development, increase foreign direct investment to the country, support the development of infrastructure and provide for a sustainable future.
How many visa-free countries can I travel to as a citizen of Antigua & Barbuda?
You can travel to 165 jurisdictions without requiring a visa, including the EU and Schengen countries, Hong Kong and Singapore.
What is the processing time?
Processing your application should take from 3 to 6 months.
Who can apply for citizenship?
To apply for the citizenship programme in Antigua & Barbuda, you must be at least 18 years of age, be of a good character with no criminal record, and have good health.
Do I need to speak English to apply for citizenship?
You don’t need to speak English to be an applicant.
Who can be included on the application?
Your dependent children under 28 and dependent parents over 58 can be included within the application.
How do you conduct the due diligence and vetting of applicants?
There are no interviews. However, all applicants undergo rigorous screening prior to consideration by the Citizenship by Investment Unit. Complete files will be forwarded to an international, unbiased thirdparty due diligence service provider who will conduct detailed background checks on all applicants before the application is approved.
What happens once my application has been accepted?
A certificate of registration of citizenship will be issued and submitted to the passport office. Your authorised agent/representative will forward your passports and Citizenship Certificate to you.
Do I need to travel to Antigua & Barbuda to complete the process?
The application process can be made from your country of residence. Once your application is successful and you have received your passport, you must travel to Antigua & Barbuda to take your oath or affirmation of allegiance. You are entitled to take up full-time residence in Antigua & Barbuda at any time you wish.
Does Antigua & Barbuda recognise dual citizenship?
There are no restrictions on dual citizenship in Antigua & Barbuda.
For how many years will my passport be valid for?
The passport will be valid for a period of 5 years and is renewable for a period of 10 years thereafter, provided that the requirements are met, which includes spending a minimum of five days in the country during this period after becoming a citizen.
Can I invest with my Bitcoins or other cryptocurrencies?
This is in the pipeline but has not yet been established.
In addition to the citizenship by investment programme does Antigua & Barbuda have a tax residency programme?
Antigua & Barbuda does not currently offer a tax residency programme.
For any additional questions, please contact an authorized representative, licensed agent or the CIU directly.
If there’s one thing that 2020 has shown you, it’s that life can be unpredictable. Never has it been more important to have a robust Plan B in place for the unexpected – no matter what life throws at you.
If your Plan B doesn’t already include a second citizenship, perhaps now is the time to think about it to protect those you care about the most.
Investing in the Antigua & Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Programme means that whatever happens in life, you and your family can feel secure with the knowledge that you have options for where to live and where to go. With flexibility for your wealth management needs, no tax on your worldwide income nor inheritance tax, you can rest assured that your family’s best interest is served both now and in the future.
Furthermore, not only is Antigua & Barbuda amongst the fastest-growing economies in the Caribbean region and an international financial centre whose legal system is based on British Common Law, but there are countless investment and business opportunities available in a variety of sectors.
Visa-free access to over 150 countries across the globe allows you to jump on a plane to that business meeting or conference at a moment’s notice. The world is indeed your oyster.
And should you wish to relocate to these safe, peaceful and beautiful twin islands, you will find yourself in a multicultural society with world-class education opportunities, a strong healthcare system and business-friendly environment. The country’s strategic geographic location in the Eastern Caribbean together with regular flights to major business hubs in North America and London means you will always be well connected, whether for business or leisure.
THE IDEAL PLACE FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY TO DROP ANCHOR.
(UWI):
из 5 и более человек:
Часто задаваемые вопросы
Почему в Антигуа и Барбуда существует гражданство по инвестиционной программе? Программа была создана для содействия экономическому росту, развитию рынка недвижимости, увеличения объемов прямых иностранных инвестиций в страну, поддержки развития инфраструктур и обеспечения надежного будущего.
Сколько стран я смогу посещать без визы как гражданин Антигуа и Барбуда?
Вы сможете посещать без визы более 165 стран, включая страны Евросоюза и Шенгенского соглашения, Гонконг и Сингапур.
Сколько составляет срок рассмотрения заявления? Срок рассмотрения заявления может занять от 3 до 6 месяцев.
Кто может претендовать на получение гражданства? Для того, чтобы претендовать на получение гражданства Антигуа и Барбуда вы должны быть старше 18 лет , иметь хорошую репутацию, не иметь судимостей и обладать хорошим состоянием здоровья. Должен ли я владеть английским языком, чтобы претендовать на получение гражданства? Для того, чтобы претендовать на получение гражданства вы не обязаны владеть английским языком. Кто может быть включен в заявление? В заявление могут быть включены финансово зависимые дети до 28 лет и находящиеся на иждивении родители старше 58 лет.
благонадежность, которая проводит тщательную проверку личных данных всех заявителей.
Что происходит после того, как мое заявление получает одобрение? Выдается справка о регистрации гражданства, которая передается в паспортную службу. Затем ваш уполномоченный агент / представитель отправляет вам ваши паспорта и свидетельство о гражданстве.
Для окончательного оформления дела мне необходимо лично приезжать в Антигуа и Барбуда? Подача документов возможна из страны вашего проживания. После успешного разрешения вашего дела и получения паспорта, вы должны приехать в Антигуа и Барбуда, чтобы принять присягу или подтвердить подданство. Вы имеете право установить место постоянного проживания в Антигуа и Барбуда в любое время по вашему желанию. Признает ли Антигуа и Барбуда двойное гражданство? В Антигуа и Барбуда нет ограничений для двойного гражданства. Сколько лет будет действителен мой паспорт? Паспорт действителен 5 лет и он продлевается на 10 лет, при выполнении всех требований, таких как минимальный срок пребывания в стране после получения гражданства –пять дней. Могу я инвестировать в Биткойнах или других
申请成功后,您和您的家人会获得终身公民身份,并享有在超 过165个国家旅行免签的优势。
向国家发展基金捐款 非盈利性质的国家发展基金的成立是为了为创收公共部门项 目、创业创新和经批准的慈善投资提供资金。它由一家国际公 认的会计师事务所审计,并且每年都会公布其财务状况报告。
如果这是您的投资选择,您需要向国家发展基金捐款十万美 金,这是四口之家一次性的捐款数额.办理费用如下所示。
适用于单个申请人,家庭成员四人及以下:
• 十万美金捐款
办理费用: 三万美金 请查阅限期价格*。
适用于家庭成员五人及以上: • 十二万五千美金 办理费用:四万五千美元，五人之外每增加一人需多缴一万五 千美元。
适用于家庭成员五人及以上: • 办理费用：四万五千美元，五人之外每增加一人需多缴一万 五千美元。
商业投资 在与安提瓜和巴布达投资局（ABIA）协商后,投资公民部门 （CIU）批准现有或提议的商业项目,以便外国人在投资公民计 划（CIP）下投资。
有两个商业投资选项: • 投资至少一百五十万美元给一项预先批准的商业活动。
• 或者,至少有两个申请人可以提议对经批准的企业进行联合 投资,总投资至少为五百万美元。每个投资者至少支付四十 万美金。
旅行?
您可以去往超过165个司法管辖区,包括欧盟和申根 国家,香港和新加坡。
处理时间有多长?
处理您的申请通常需要三至六个月。
谁可以申请公民身份? 申请安提瓜和巴布达的公民身份,您至少需要18周岁, 无犯罪记录并且身体健康。
申请公民身份需要我会说英语吗? 申请人不需要会讲英语。
谁可以被包括在申请中? 您抚养的年龄小于28岁的孩子和赡养的超过58岁的 老人可以被包括在申请中。
by
citizenship investment programme
安提瓜和巴布达承认双重国籍吗? 安提瓜和巴布达对于双重国籍没有限制。
我的护照有效期为几年? 护照有效期五年,此后可续期10年,续期的前提是符合 要求,包括在成为公民后在护照有效期间在该国度过 至少5天。
我可以用我的比特币或其他虚拟货币投资吗?
• Eugene Abbott: eabbott@abifinancialgroup.com ABI Financial Group: www.abifinancialgroup.com
• McAlister Abbott: mabbott@gcpantigua.com Global Citizenship Partners: www.gcpantigua.com
• Leslie-Ann Brissett George: leslieann@lbrissettlegal.com Leslie-Ann Brissett Legal Services: www.lbrissettlegal.com
• Sharon Cort-Thibou: legal@cortandcort.com Turnkey Antigua: www.turnkeyantigua.com
• Verlyn L. Faustin: verlyn.faustin@civesmundiinc.com Cives Mundi Inc
• Hollis E. Francis Jr.: info@heflawantigua.com HEF LAW: www.heflawantigua.com
• Thomas Francis: tfrancis0483@gmail.com Caribbean Concierge
• T.M. Rufus Gobat: rufus@cariblife.ag Caribbean Lifestyle Services: www.cariblife.ag
• Nigel Gore: nigel@blueprint-development.com Blueprint Development: www.blueprint-development.com
• Jason Hadeed: jason@gambitantigua.com Gambit Management Ltd: www.gambitantigua.com
• Gaye Hechme: ghechme@ilis.ag Island Living Investment Services Ltd: www.ilis.ag
• Julia Herbert: citizenshipsolutions@icloud.com
• Marian-Barbara Hesse: hesse@bhesseandassociates.com B. Hesse & Associates: www.bhesseandassociates.com
• Radford Hill: r.hill@lawhillandhill.com Hill & Hill Chambers: www.lawhillandhill.com
• Alan Hosam: hosama@candw.ag AH Consultancy Services Ltd
• Kevin Hosam: khosam@conciergeantiguabarbuda.com Exclusive Concierge Antigua Barbuda: www.conciergeantiguabarbuda.com
• Kelvin John: johnk@candw.ag Thomas, John & Co: www.thomasjohn.com
• Nuri Katz: nkatz@apexcap.org Apex Capital Partners: www.apexcapital.partners
• Stuart Lockhart: clerks@lockhartlegalchambers.com Stuart Lockhart Legal Services: www.lockhartlegalchambers.com
• Abire Mansoor: amansoor@citizensinternational.com Citizens International: www.citizensinternational.com
• Kirthley Maginley: kmaginley@jamesandmaginley.com James & Maginley Ltd: www.jamesandmaginley.com
• Elizabeth Makhoul: emakhoul@artoncapital.com Arton Capital: www.artoncapital.com
• Maya Mansoor-Khouly: cip@khouly.com Atlantik Realty: www.khouly.com
• Juliette Marcelle-Bailey: jbailey@jamesandmaginley.com James & Maginley Ltd: www.jamesandmaginley.com
• Andrea Roberts-Nicholas: andrea.roberts@robertscolaw.com Roberts & Co: www.robertscolaw.com
• Vanetta Rodgers: vcrodgers@avcocorp.com Avco Corporate Services Ltd: www.avcocorp.com
• Jermaine C. Rhudd: jermaine@rhuddlawfirm.com
• Mei Tang: rmeitang@gcpantigua.com Global Citizenship Partners: www.gcpantigua.com
• Romell Tiwari: rtiwariantigualocalagent@usa.net AIT Management Services Ltd: www.aitms.ag
• Arthur Thomas: thomasa@candw.ag Thomas, John & Co: www.thomasjohn.com
• Joseph Warner: info@jdwconsultingantigua.com JDW Consulting Ltd: www.jdwconsultingantigua.com
• Kem Warner: kwarner@kawmanagement.com KAW Management Services Ltd: www.kawmanagement.com
• Robert Wilkinson: robert.wilkinson@ag.gt.com Grant Thornton: www.grantthornton.ag
• Stanley Yang: stanleyyang1993@gmail.com
We are trusted real estate consultants in Antigua & Barbuda, specialised in finding the best property for you, whether you are looking for a second home, a high-return investment rental property, a commercial property, local market advisory or representation.
And, as proven citizenship by investment agents we are the perfect one-stop-shop for all your needs.
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have seen a marked increase in the number of applications from applicants in countries who are not seeking citizenship for mobility but rather as an opportunity to expand their corporate footprint or enhance their lifestyle options.”
“We
AAsDeputyCEOoftheCitizenshipbyInvestmentUnit(CIU),SherelynHughesThomas’sdaysarebusyhelpingtomanageAntigua’scitizenshipbyinvestment programmeandfulfillingthedreamsofitsapplicantsfromacrosstheglobe.Aftera coupleofyearsofdramaticchangesintheworld,shetells The Citizen more about the programme’sdevelopmentsandwhatshelovesaboutherisland.
Since we last spoke at the end of 2018, many things have happened in the world. How have you seen the CIP industry evolve during this time?
In many ways, it feels as if we are living in a very different world; one in which we need to be even more resilient, adaptive and visionary. While the fundamentals of the industry remain unchanged, and even as the industry continues on an increasing growth trajectory, governments and programme managers are required to exercise a higher degree of probity and moral rectitude. Where administrators may have interpreted increasing demand in the market to portend limitless revenues through expedited reviews and lax management, this has resulted in a culling of programmes in response to international concerns and pressure. The industry now also requires greater stateto-state partnership and consultation in acknowledgement of the need to share custody of borders and protect national security. Other changes include shifts in applicants’ motivation for citizenship and their emerging interest in ensuring that their investment effects impactful change.
Has the profile of applicants to the Antigua & Barbuda citizenship by investment programme changed over the past few years?
Yes, the profile of applicants has changed considerably, which has augured well for the programme. In the early years of our operation, our
applications were overwhelmingly from a specific jurisdiction. As awareness of the programme has grown, and its appeal has found favour with potential applications, we have reduced that concentration risk and have, through our own efforts, as well as the partnerships we have built over the years, increased the number of countries from which we receive interest. Additionally, because both our and the government’s approach is to promote Antigua & Barbuda as an investment jurisdiction, we have seen a marked increase in the number of applications from applicants in countries who are not seeking citizenship for mobility but rather as an opportunity to expand their corporate footprint or enhance their lifestyle options.
What would you tell someone about Antigua that they probably didn’t know before?
If you’ve never been to Antigua & Barbuda, and you’ve only read the literature that is online or in other media about our climate, you would be forgiven for thinking that we inhabit a little arid rock, given that we are prone to drought on account of the average annual rainfall. But what you wouldn’t know is that all it takes, as we say in Antigua, is “a good shower of rain”, and the land transforms from parched and dry to lush, verdant vegetation. I like to think of this as a metaphor for our potential as a country and our place in the world. All we need is
an opportunity, a fair chance, a “little rain”, and an unobstructed pathway to chart our course to become a country that is prosperous, ordered, and successful. We are well able to withstand challenges that are part of the normal course of a country’s development, but we can do without the artificial and deliberate barriers which we are often compelled to surmount.
How important is it for the CIU to encourage investors to also “invest” in the culture of the islands?
Investing in the country’s culture is one aspect of true integration. We encourage our licensed agents, who are all citizens and residents, to go beyond simply facilitating a citizenship application. We challenge and expect them to ensure that their clients truly learn about and appreciate what it is to be a citizen of Antigua & Barbuda. As such, when these citizens come to the country to swear the Oath of Allegiance, we encourage full immersion in the culture. What one understands and values tends to gain one’s attention, advocacy and support. In pursuit of this, we have infused our road trips with our culture, taking to our citizens and potential applicants a literal taste and feel of the islands. We intend to continue to do so as we are confident that this will open pathways for tangible and formalised investment in culture and other aspects of development.
How important is it to stay connected with the diaspora and new citizens of the country?
Citizenship is a privilege and, in the words of several leaders in our hemisphere: it is the highest office or title in any country. Possession of multiple citizenships does not negate nor dilute this privilege’s importance and the responsibilities accompanying it. When a country
grants citizenship to an individual, they enable them with rights and obligations which hold great value. As such, both the country and new citizens have a duty to uphold and monitor these responsibilities. From the perspective of the issuing nation, it is important to maintain ongoing connectedness with its citizens. The country should be keenly aware of the accomplishments of the diaspora, as well as whether there are any potential or actual risks associated with them. Furthermore, citizens resident outside of Antigua & Barbuda should be kept abreast of developments in the country. Governments also need to maintain relationships with their citizens as they conduct social development planning. Identifying opportunities for partnerships with the government or other citizens is also important. Programmes such as the CIP exponentially increase access to economic resources and highlevel skills available to small island developing states.
PROGRAMMES SUCH AS THE CIP EXPONENTIALLY INCREASE ACCESS TO ECONOMIC RESOURCES AND HIGH-LEVEL SKILLS AVAILABLE TO SMALL ISLAND DEVELOPING STATES.
by Investment Programme is the commitment of the investor community on-island. They recognise the opportunities this initiative provides in leveraging financing but also in raising awareness about their particular project. Therefore, we have built important partnerships, particularly in the hospitality sector. As a result, we have a steady addition of reputable projects from which applicants can select. Over the past few months, we have approved four new developments, each of which is greenfield, so we are very excited about that. We haven’t adopted a model of simply granting approval status to every built project that exists. The objective of the real estate option, in particular, is to facilitate expansion in the visitor accommodation and luxury residential sectors, and we have been successful in doing that. Additionally, a number of existing developments are undertaking new phases, so we also look forward to their completion.
Are there any new investment projects in the pipeline?
One of the strengths of the Citizenship
My favourite place is the Green Corridor, Fig Tree Drive. Driving through, I can’t help but smile, and I feel lighter. I fell in love with the area on drives with my parents as a child. I loved the winding slopes and the cool air; it always felt like I was travelling beneath a canopy of vegetation. As an avid reader as a child, it was the closest thing to the images described in some of my favourite stories and fairy tales. Now, as an adult, every quiet trek through the corridor convinces me that it is still a magical place and that with the right master planner, rigorous environmental management and a commitment to creating new experiences for those we welcome to our shores, we can indeed create an extraordinary place, where nature informs the built environment.
Are you looking to buy, sell or rent?
Or acquire a citizenship by investment property, or even just looking for some answers?
Let us help you. It’s what we love to do.
TThe history of the Caribbean is one of the interchanges of global peoples. In today's post-2020 landscape, its stronghold of citizenship by investment can lead that story into a new era of globalisation based on choice and the free movement of capital. Yet, in order to keep not only these programmes afloat but also keep the region poised to lead, I believe it is more essential than ever for the Caribbean to remain the neutral trade winds of the world. This means being the safe haven for everyone, not just the few; not just Western interests, nor just Eastern, nor just the wealthy and elite but a place where the world can achieve financial and lifestyle objectives through a robust professional services industry and all the optionality that the industry provides.
Antigua & Barbuda's citizenship by investment programme is among the basket of citizenships that are often under scrutiny by governing bodies such as the European Commission, the OECD, the IMF, the World Bank, and many more. We understand that the offshore industry has grown and matured long past the stages of novelty or nefariousness. What has happened instead is that the Caribbean is seen by so many as a valuable, safe, familiar option for expanding travel mobility (through strong passports), company formation (through attractive incentives for business owners), banking, tax management, real estate assets, and so much more.
This reputation must stay earned, and there are several calls to action that I have:
1. Stay open to all nationals. It is my firm belief that the path to world peace is complex but surely not helped through discrimination against regular folks' nationalities, backgrounds or personal affiliations. Stay open. Do business with everyone who comes to your jurisdiction in good faith. Do not take sides in conflicts that you have no role in. The Caribbean mustn’t cut off its nose to spite its face when it comes to citizenship applications or any other service.
The issue of sanctions is a heated one regarding ethics and the ability to do business cross-border with countries whose policies one might disagree with. I say then: think for a second, more deeply about what the purpose of Caribbean citizenship by investment is. The entire goal of this industry is to give individuals more freedom from their state and be able to choose a new nationality based on a set of clear due diligence guidelines.
Why, then, would preventing ordinary people from getting a second citizenship to avoid this undue scrutiny be a bad thing? Perhaps someone does not even live in a source country that is seen as "problematic", and Caribbean citizenship gives them a perceived relative neutrality that
I BELIEVE IT IS MORE ESSENTIAL THAN EVER FOR THE CARIBBEAN TO REMAIN THE NEUTRAL TRADE WINDS OF THE WORLD. THIS MEANS BEING THE SAFE HAVEN FOR EVERYONE, NOT JUST THE FEW; NOT JUST WESTERN INTERESTS, NOR JUST EASTERN, NOR JUST THE WEALTHY AND ELITE.
they desire to travel and do business globally.
Antigua & Barbuda, along with other countries offering Caribbean citizenships and the industry at large, must continue to advocate for the freedom of this industry to stay open, come rain or shine. Many investors are counting on this mobility option. The EU, the US, the UK, China, Russiawhoever the major power in question is - will always have something to say about what smaller nations do with their policy. Fortunately, Antigua & Barbuda is a sovereign state that can decide its own destiny.
2. Stay multipolar. The Caribbean has always had one foot in every world: a mix of Amerindian and island history; the Afro-Caribbean experience; British, Dutch, French, Portuguese and Spanish influences; the existing partnerships with major players such as Brazil and Venezuela and the continental Caribbean (Belize, Suriname, Guyana, etc.); the historical roles of Chinese and Indian tradespeople; and the ongoing
touristic interest in the region from travellers spanning from Russia to Africa to Canada to the US to wherever.
Do not overly align with any one power bloc in your discourse. Be willing to see what each sociopolitical actor can bring to the table while still holding true to key values and partnerships. Multipolarity means competition and choice on all fronts. It also means not overly putting one's foreign policies ‘in one basket' to avoid being excessively reliant on the movements of any one external government or institution.
This multipolarity outreach of the Eastern Caribbean States can be studied through visa-free access. More countries are receiving visa-free access to more-difficult-to-access countries like China, Russia, or the UAE and the greater Middle East and South Asian region. This is a good thing for everyone. When Caribbean passports are stronger and do more for travel and building the global profile of investor clients, interests improve for all citizens in question, both native-born and those who have citizenship through CBI.
3. Stay consistent at what you are good at - and deliver a reliable product. There is a good reason that Caribbean countries have the most successful citizenship by investment programmes, and it's not simply because of Schengen access, as I wrote in my last article. Investors know they can come to a country like Antigua & Barbuda and get full citizenship with a quick turnaround and a standardised process. They also know they can avoid onerous taxation, do business with global clients, and vacation or work remotely in a peaceful and idyllic English-speaking setting.
My take? Stay good at what you are good at. Don't over-promise. There is no need to compare with Singapore, try to be another Dubai, or lose the heirloom hands-on experience of a smaller country. There is no need for Caribbean citizenship to attempt to replace European or American investment migration programmes.
1 - A quintessential Plan B - using the passport as a backup residency option in addition to another nationality. COVID-19 taught us that not only is it a good idea to have a contingency plan, but it’s actually also a must-have for the savvy investor. The Caribbean is consistently good at delivering the world’s most valuable Plan B, which is full unrestricted citizenship.
2 - A core travel document focus - common for investors coming from countries with significantly less visa-free access. Still, to this day, Antigua & Barbuda regularly tops the first quartile of all passports globally with consistent access to Europe, the Commonwealth, and unique sweet spots like South Africa, which offer excellent lifestyle opportunities outside the traditional scope.
3 - or, more and more, a Plan A in itself - i.e., investors who choose to live in their newfound home country of Caribbean citizenship or even base
themselves there part-time. We are seeing this trend with everything from crypto experts, to work-from-home types, to retired individuals seeking peace, to even families who see the benefits of a full-time residence in a warm and welcoming country.
There is a product for every buyer. There is a use case for every jurisdiction. Own the strengths, own the product, and own the experience. With these core concepts in mind, Antigua & Barbuda can be a leader in a global-scale competition for not only financial capital but also human talent and global leadership. The Caribbean wins by being the safe haven for everyone.
DO BUSINESS WITH EVERYONE WHO COMES TO YOUR JURISDICTION IN GOOD FAITH. DO NOT TAKE SIDES ON CONFLICTS THAT YOU HAVE NO ROLE IN.
When driving around our beautiful island of Antigua, you may notice the odd crane here and there or other construction taking place. Whilst construction is sometimes considered a blight on the landscape, it is also playing an essential role in our country’s development and cementing a healthy future for our people. Indeed, construction is a vital industry the world over, creating and maintaining the infrastructure, homes, workplaces, schools and healthcare centres that connect communities and provide all the services that a healthy and vibrant society requires. As all developing countries are investing significant amounts in building infrastructure to enable economic growth, Antigua & Barbuda is no exception.
Over the past ten years, there has been less rainfall than in any other ten-year period since 1920. Thus, providing water for Antigua’s nearly one million yearly visitors and additional 100,000 year-round residents is no mean feat. As our twin-island nation continues to position itself as the go-to tourist destination in the Eastern Caribbean, a regional travel hub, and an investment hotspot, demands on its potable water supply will only increase. In response to these demands, we have invested more than US$100 million in several reverse osmosis plants to provide almost 10 million gallons of water daily to cover the shortfall from the islands’ stored water from precipitation.
Having a robust telecommunications infrastructure in place is undeniably a key driver of economic growth. And with Antigua’s Nomad Digital Visa bringing in remote workers from
across the globe to enjoy the beauty and tranquillity of the islands whilst maintaining their work commitments online, a great internet connection, especially Broadband, is an absolute must. Accordingly, we have made a significant investment in an undersea cable to enable data transfer at the same speed as in developed countries. Furthermore, new ducts are being planted to allow for fibre-optic cables along the highways and community roads that are currently being resurfaced at a cost of more than US$100 million.
Children and the young are the future and the most important resource for future economic development. With that in mind, education plays a pivotal role in our nation’s development. For such a small island nation, Antigua has a broad educational offer – with not only a public school system but also international schools - one of which offers the prestigious International Baccalaureate (IB) - and no less than four universities. We are making a considerable investment to construct new classrooms and schools in the public school system. The jewel in the crown of the islands’ educational offer is undoubtedly the fourth landed campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI) which was opened in 2019. Due to its success, a plan is in place to enlarge the campus, with an additional US$80 million investment already committed.
As well as building infrastructure and improving our nation’s educational facilities, ensuring sufficient housing for all our citizens, regardless of their income, is a priority for our
government, not only in Antigua but also on our sister island of Barbuda, where Hurricane Irma devastated the housing stock in 2017.
In fact, today, the largest hotel/luxury homes project taking place in the Eastern Caribbean can be found in Barbuda. Approximately US$2 billion are being invested in this 62-square-mile island that is ringed with beautiful beaches, and has endless sun, and balmy weather all year round. Wealthy folks from around the globe are building high-end luxury homes around a newly constructed golf course and within walking distance of one of the world’s most beautiful beaches.
More than 650 workers are currently employed to build these luxurious accommodations. To complement this offer, a new runway, air terminal and a special fixed-based operator (FBO) are being constructed to ensure that private jets can land on the island to bring these visitors to paradise.
As we have seen on both islands, construction truly plays a vital role in providing jobs. Indeed, when tourist numbers all but drew to a halt during the pandemic, our administration intentionally focused on incentivising the construction of new homes and office buildings. Consequently, the sector offered unemployed hospitality and hotel workers crucial alternative employment during this period. Today, the construction boom continues even as the world returns to normal. Thanks to construction, the future of our twinisland country will surpass the goals set by our administration. Guidance and forethought have been responsible
As all developing countries are investing significant amounts in building infrastructure to enable economic growth, Antigua & Barbuda is no exception.
for strengthening our civilisation and economy, even as hurricanes, a pandemic, and other circumstances have threatened our country’s wellbeing.
Throughout all this time, the Citizenship by Investment Programme has remained viable. Our new citizens from across the globe have concluded that the security and confidence they
seek when selecting a Caribbean country can be assured when selecting Antigua & Barbuda. We welcome the new citizens who have made the right choice even as our small country maximises the options available to it during difficult times. We are smart.
rom the man who has built a simple yet successful spice trading business between India and Africa to the welleducated woman based between Switzerland and Tel Aviv who earns her income strategically investing in international stock markets, there is a broad array of individuals worldwide who are attracted to becoming citizens of Antigua & Barbuda.
It appears a shift is afoot in the motivations for a second citizenship here, however, and the source market for such clients.
Fifteen years ago, the market for Caribbean citizenship by investment programmes was predominantly Asian. Thereafter, we saw an expansion to the Middle East and CIS region and, in recent years, a bloom of interest from the West African market. These markets remain strong for the Antigua & Barbuda programme, and all remain primarily motivated by travel benefits – let’s not forget that Antigua & Barbuda passport holders can travel to over 140 countries, including the UK and Europe.
These same applicants, however, harbour secondary and even tertiary motivations that are gaining importance in their decision matrix. I refer to personal safety – having somewhere to go if needed, and lifestyle improvement – life on a tropical island such as Antigua & Barbuda is enticing as the country continues to develop and improve, sometimes even offering things the leading nations of the world no longer do.
WHERE DO TODAY’S INVESTORS COME FROM?
In 2022, our clients for the Antigua & Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP) came from 16 countries and counting, with enquiries from well over 40 countries.
“The economic effects of these new western citizens over the next decade will be pronounced in the twin islands. Almost all our North American and European citizenship applicants will buy a home, spend extended periods of time on the island, contribute to their local community, and start businesses.”
However, it’s evident there has been a major shift in provenance that escalated with the C-19 era. In a nutshell, we’re seeing a growing number of North Americans and western Europeans desirous of Antigua & Barbuda citizenship.
These are individuals who would previously barely entertain a conversation about a second passport, stating confidently, “I don’t need that” – a refrain I’ve heard repeatedly. I understood, being blessed with two ‘first world’ passports myself, the built-in sense of security. However, in recent years we have all seen significant shifts in the world.
During the pandemic, many international borders became difficult to cross without an alternative citizenship. Social division is inflamed, nationalism is on the rise and every week we hear concerns from our western clients for the next generation. Some of our North American and European clients are looking to Antigua & Barbuda as a place that might yet survive the ravages of what they see as a catastrophic pathway for western society.
Whether or not that’s true, I know that today’s lifestyle in Antigua is attracting increasing numbers of international people who want to become citizens and thereby protect their freedom and right to live here and contribute to its economy to boot. Their commonality being their dissatisfaction with their home countries and their equally strong desire for a better quality of life, and let’s not forget lower taxes.
Of the hundreds of conversations our team has had with North American and European clients these past few years, the desire to potentially live in Antigua and improve one’s
lifestyle for mental and physical health reasons has been key. The twin islands’ climate alone offers one of the most attractive lifestyles anywhere in the world.
The explosion in wealth and remote work technology has underpinned this. The result is that our clients’ profiles have shifted from the Shanghai factory owner or the Lagos gas stations owner, both of whom desire visa-free travel benefits, to the CEO from Toronto who is hedging his bets against a perceived looming ‘nanny’ state, can work remotely and wants his kids to grow up barefoot on the beach, whilst enjoying lower taxes.
The economic effects of these new western citizens over the next decade will be pronounced in the twin islands. Almost all our North American and European citizenship applicants will buy a home, spend extended periods of time on the islands, contribute to their local community here, and start businesses.
As a group, I believe they will drive one of the most significant economic contributions the country has ever seen - attracting more and more like them and ultimately helping to stem the long-lamented ‘brain-drain’ of talented young Antiguans - and more besides.
We think this rising tide will lift all boats, and now is a wonderful time for Antigua & Barbuda. We continue to proudly champion the island on the international stage and firmly believe that all Antiguans and Barbudans will collectively benefit from the country being a secure, multicultural, developing paradise.
he citizenship by investment industry in the Caribbean is going through a transition like so many others. That transition is market driven and driving change in the business model of many of the citizenship by investment programmes.
One of the clear areas of the transition is the aggressive marketing and price competition between the islands, which has led to the increased popularity of the programmes but also lower revenues. Whilst it seems contradictory, it isn’t. Much of this is due to developers and IMAs (international marketing agents), who, as they have become bigger and bigger, have become increasingly demanding of these programmes.
In turn, locally licensed agents in most jurisdictions haven’t seen this dominance reflected in their local domains. One prominent and long-standing Eastern Caribbean licensed agent was astounded to see international marketing agents who, a mere few years ago, had one or two employees, now with swanky offices in the UAE with 100-plus employees.
This in itself is logical. The byproduct of capitalism is prosperity for those who are at source of the revenue generation, and IMAs are often based in the source market of the programmes’ clients. However, with more and more of these same IMAs setting up proxy offices in the Caribbean, mirroring the roles of indigenous licensed agents, this is posing a serious challenge for the programme’s ancillary benefit on the ground.
This is not unique to any one island. Each jurisdiction has its whales, and every programme has to balance the need to drive ongoing projects and revenue with having a balanced portfolio of both IMAs and locally licensed agents who are serving as strong advocates for the programmes.
The solution to this is actually in the hands of the islands’ governments, although it requires communication and collaboration between all nations operating with CBI programmes.
“IT WAS THE BEST OF TIMES; IT WAS THE WORST OF TIMES”
In many ways, this grouping of Eastern Caribbean jurisdictions could create an OPEC-style cartel for the citizenship industry, fixing prices at every tier and deciding on an annual basis how many citizenships will be allocated towards the market to drive even more expectation and demand.
WHY?
This will allow the Caribbean to formally establish itself as the front runners of the global industry at a time when new entrants are coming in or old programmes are being rebadged and rebranded.
It also stops the race to the bottom, driven by outside players, which does not benefit the governments nor the people of the Eastern Caribbean.
By establishing more control over the marketing and pricing of the core programmes across the region, governments will be able to extract maximum value for the citizenship programmes whilst increasing much-needed revenue for their respective islands.
Another vital change should be annual due diligence on both developers and IMAs. To whom much is given, much is expected. Whilst clients for the Caribbean programmes are subject to the most stringent due diligence standards in the world, and agents/developers have due diligence performed upon getting their license, it is important that the due diligence be refreshed annually on IMAs and their key foreign subagents. This is a necessary exercise to ensure the reputations of the agencies who are associated with the programmes. It will also raise the cost of doing business for those making the most revenue and compel them to carefully audit their own business relationships.
An additional key need is the service of a regulator to whom aggrieved clients and agents can raise complaints. Currently, there is no mechanism for clients (or agents) who have been defrauded or misrepresented to get
recompense or even raise complaints which could result in licenses being frozen or withdrawn. This is a gap that can and should be filled to again level up the programme. Overall, the gatekeepers for the programmes are the governments and the local agents. Everyone else is transient and in a constant state of ‘catch the wave’. But what’s in it for the local population? Much more than we realise, actually. The world is changing, and part of that change is being able to work across domains postpandemic, the ongoing digitising of currencies, the rise of borderless neo-banks, the importance of virtual skill sets, and the primacy of mobility. Citizenship applicants can be an asset to any of our countries when working virtually and employing locals. The need for residency as a component is no longer a drawback. Indeed, it is a distinct advantage. What is clear is that both for locals and investors, we need to improve our healthcare levels and digital infrastructure to become best in class.
This raises the point that the OECS (Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States) have an advantage if resources can be pooled and harmonisation steps up a level. Harmonising tax rates, health insurance (for access to regional facilities), and greater emphasis on collaboration in the digital economy, including domiciling some neobanks to the Eastern Caribbean, is key.
We have a tremendous opportunity if the Eastern Caribbean islands start using their CBI programmes as a unifying tool to build improved infrastructure for our locals and, by default, improve the infrastructure for doing business and increase the attractiveness of residency. The OECS comprises just over 600,000 people and has a large percentage of the CBI market, yet it is poorly leveraged to diversify that business profile or to extend it into horizontal or vertical business models.
It’s time to level up.
“By establishing more control over the marketing and pricing of the core programmes across the region, governments will be able to extract maximum value for the citizenship programmes whilst increasing much-needed revenue for their respective islands.”
Owning a second home is your key to a world of travel
By Alison Sly-Adams
EEmotions run high no matter who you are or seemingly where you are in the world whenever Antigua Sailing Week (ASW) is discussed. Big seas, cooling trade winds and competitive racing at its best! Legendary beach parties, long nights of Soca, reggae and rum, peppered with numerous rendezvous around the island. Making new-found friends and the opportunity to reunite with old ones creates the stuff legends are made of.
In the mid-sixties, when the potential of the charter industry started to emerge, an insightful bunch of friends decided a race to Guadeloupe and back again was the perfect way to celebrate the end of the season. Soon afterwards, the hotel association, of which many were members, decided that there was an opportunity to extend the short tourist season. Familiar names such as Howard Hulford, owner of Curtain Bluff Hotel, and Desmond Nicholson, along with Peter Deeth and Ed Sheerin, began an event, the long-term impact of which they could never have understood at the time.
The inaugural event actually took place in June and was more a festival of sailing, which included sports fishing, dinghy sailing and windsurfing. Participants slept on board and partied where their anchors dropped. Over the years, the end date was moved earlier in the year as tourism evolved and the international boats developed their seasonal migration pattern.
For Antigua, ASW, along with the Antigua Charter Yacht Show, heralded the emergence of an industry that continues to grow today and has spawned a huge number of events on the island and in the region as a whole. Indeed, regionally, all eyes were on us (and still are), with the BVI Spring Regatta starting in 1972 and the St Maarten Heineken Regatta in 1980, with most islands following suit. To this day, ASW is the anchor event of the regional calendar, and the islands work together on a Caribbean circuit giving each one its chance to shine.
For Antigua, ASW, along with the Antigua Charter Yacht Show, heralded the emergence of an industry that continues to grow today and has spawned a huge number of events on the island and in the region as a whole.
The industry is now a critical driver of the economy in Antigua & Barbuda. The obvious front end is the events, but the provision of marinas and marine services is really what creates value and employment – the marinas, riggers, sailmakers, engineers and myriad of other service providers that keep the boats shipshape.
Cut to 2023, and the drive of the sport to be inclusive continues to create the perfect conditions for youths from the National Sailing Academy and Antigua Yacht Club sailing programmes to have opportunities to race on visiting yachts and get their first glimpse into a career in yachting.
The core objectives of ASW remain the overall importance of the event, extending the season and creating significant economic impact to the islands. As an asset, it’s a marketer’s dream as one of the best-known brands in Antigua. For the sailors, it remains high on the bucket list of experiences they want to achieve in life, as well as the dream of many sailors to one day hold the Lord Nelson Trophy in their hands on stage in the UNESCO-designated Nelson’s Dockyard; certainly, the stuff legends and dreams are made of!
No matter how fantastic sailing conditions are out on the water, no regatta or competition is complete without some good old après-sail entertainment. Antigua is famous world-over for being the ‘host with the most’ when it comes to having fun on terra firma after an exhilarating day out on the water. The welcoming, relaxed atmosphere, cool Caribbean vibes, great music and, of course, plenty of rum punch make Antigua the perfect place to ‘lime’.
Out of all of Antigua’s numerous sailing competitions, Antigua Sailing Week (ASW) is considered to be the crème de la crème in the sport’s calendar by sailors across the globe. And the partying certainly doesn’t disappoint either.
Whether you are participating in the races or simply on the island as a spectator, great parties and concerts take place each night of ASW, with Reggae in the Park being the most famous of these. Thousands of revellers descend on Nelson’s Dockyard for this legendary night of partying under the stars while listening and dancing to the biggest names in reggae, both local and international.
Although there may be a few sore heads the morning after, sailors are able to recover from all their liming the following day with the annual Lay Day – no racing, just fun on the beach for all.
Save the date: In 2023, Reggae in the Park will take place on 2nd May.
NNow in its 33rd year, this prestigious and stunning gathering of classic, vintage and traditional yachts from far and wide has become a world-class event on the regatta scene. The perfect sailing conditions and climate of Antigua, and a unique historic, UNESCO-recognised background, are some of its main attractions; but it’s the camaraderie, created and promulgated by its late founder, Kenny Coombs, that has become its true and unique appeal. The event is a great leveller, as Kenny believed that whether you arrived in flip-flops or on a private jet, you all came together in the sun to share a passion for racing beautiful boats with like-minded people, irrespective of your background or status. Currently under a new Classics team, whose aim is to renew the spirit of the regatta, the 2023
The [Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta] is a great leveller, as Kenny believed that whether you arrived in flip-flops or on a private jet, you all came together in the sun to share a passion for racing beautiful boats with like-minded people, irrespective of your background or status.
edition will take place in Nelson’s Dockyard itself. Starting with the traditional Concours d’Elegance and the Single-Handed Race, this is followed by three days of intense racing interspersed with parties fuelled by beer and/or rum, the sine qua non of the Caribbean. On the last day is the Parade of the Classics in English Harbour, where an enormous crowd of onlookers always delight in the spectacle of these stunning vessels as they pass close to shore. Once prize-giving is over, it’s time for a little R&R, with gig racing using classic dinghies, and cream teas, served by ladies in flowery hats and dresses, at the Admiral’s Inn in the shade of Nelson’s famous pillars.
The RORC Caribbean 600, starting and finishing in Antigua, is an exciting 600-mile offshore race that takes competitors around some of the most beautiful islands of the Caribbean. In total, 11 islands form the course in the central Caribbean, including two legs to Barbuda and one leg to Redonda.
The course weaves through the islands in the central Caribbean, with St Maarten being the most northerly and Guadeloupe the most southerly. The spiritual home of the RORC Caribbean 600 is Antigua, where hundreds of sailors from around the world enjoy the beaches and hospitality of this tropical paradise. Many teams bring their families and friends along to stay shoreside in the many hotels and villas available in Antigua to enjoy both the competition and the numerous attractions on the island.
Organised in association with the Antigua Yacht Club, a huge number of volunteers assist in making the RORC Caribbean 600 a special race. Every boat is greeted dockside with a warm welcome and cold drinks, no matter what time of day or night. The restaurants and bars of Nelson’s Dockyard, Falmouth Marina and the Catamaran Club enjoy one of the busiest periods of the season.
The spiritual home of the RORC Caribbean 600 is Antigua, where hundreds of sailors from around the world enjoy the beaches and hospitality of this tropical paradise.
The RORC Caribbean 600 was established in 2009 and has been held every year since, becoming a classic race and a bucketlist event. The race is a truly international affair, with well over 500 hundred competitors from at least 24 different nations taking part.
2023 will mark the 14th edition of the RORC Caribbean 600 and through popular demand, a new series of races will be run before the 600-mile event for the first time. The RORC Caribbean 600 Series will run from 14th to 24th February 2023, bringing a festival of sailing to Antigua & Barbuda.
The Royal Ocean Racing Club is recognised as the premier organiser of racing for offshore yachts in the world. The London-based club was founded on the famous Fastnet Race in 1925. In recent years the RORC has organised numerous new offshore yacht races around the world.
For more information about the RORC Caribbean 600: www.caribbean600.rorc.org
When you read a brochure or article extolling the virtues of the twin islands, more likely or not, it will mention the islands’ cooling trade winds. Not only do these winds provide pleasant relief from the hot Caribbean sun for holidaymakers lazing on the beach or create nature’s own airconditioning in buildings designed to make the most of these breezes, but more importantly, they are the reason why Antigua has some of the best sailing in the region, if not the world. But what exactly are trade winds, and why are they socalled?
Trade winds are predictable and permanent east-towest winds in the Earth’s equatorial region. The Coriolis Effect (the way the Earth rotates faster at the Equator than at the poles) causes prevailing winds to move from east to west on both sides of the equator across this 60-degree belt. This means that the Caribbean is one of
Antigua is no stranger to organising large international events. Three years ago, the twin islands won the hosting bid for the Optimist World Championships against the larger countries of China, Sri Lanka and Tunisia.
the few places where wind direction can be predicted with relative certainty. And sailing westward across the Atlantic can be shortened considerably by using the trade winds.
Indeed, from thence comes the name. Early commerce and trade to the Americas from Europe and Africa relied on these winds and associated ocean currents. Without trade winds, Christopher Columbus would perhaps never have “discovered” the New World, and history may have taken a whole different course.
Today, vessels still take advantage of nature’s “push” across the Atlantic. And as the yachting and sailing season begins in Antigua, many will be retracing the path that so many seafarers before them have taken towards the paradise that is the twin islands.
Sailing has taken me to over 75 countries, but I have to say sailing at home in Antigua is extraordinary.
II’ve certainly come a long way from my origins as a boy in the late 1970s when my friends and I would sit and watch the sailing races at English Harbour and wait eagerly to be called onto one of the charter boats to help manage the sail covers and fenders. Although many of these childhood friends have continued in the industry as varnishers, painters or making boat deliveries, I was one of the few that went on to do competitive sailing.
I am also one of the few black sailors in the world to compete with international success, and I am incredibly proud to have represented Antigua twice at the Olympic Games.
Sailing has taken me to over 75 countries, but I have to say sailing at home in Antigua is extraordinary. The water, as well as being beautiful, is always warm, and more importantly, there is usually always wind. Many times during competitions around the world, we’ve been unable to sail due to lack of wind. However, in my 40-odd years of attending Antigua Sailing Week, I cannot remember a time when we weren’t able to race. That is something exceptional for a sailor.
In July 2023, Antigua will host the the IODA Optimist North American Championships for the third time in seven years. Indeed a coup for this tiny island nation that will be hosting team delegations from 20 countries.
Antigua is no stranger to organising large international events. Three years ago, the twin islands hosted the 2019 IODA Optimist World Championship, having won the bid against the larger countries of China, Sri Lanka and Tunisia. Karl James, President of the Antigua & Barbuda Sailing Association, remembers being at the 2017 Optimist Worlds in Thailand and having to expand Google Earth on his phone to show people that the tiny dot on the map was Antigua. Understandably, they couldn’t comprehend how such a small country had the capability to host such a major event. But Antigua is undoubtedly successful in organising great events and bringing the world to Antigua’s waters; with 65 countries and 262 sailors taking part, to date, it is still the largest Optimist World Championship in terms of number of countries attending.
As well as the excellent racing, Antiguans certainly know how to put on a great party for those who come to our shores to compete. The welcoming atmosphere between locals and visitors is very special. As a testament to this warm welcome, the island’s beauty and the incredible sailing on offer, many participants in the events return to our shores with their families, having fallen in love with the island and its wonderful sailing conditions.
The island has become the yachting capital of the Caribbean, and it isn’t just because of its magnificent sailing. Antigua has a vibrant ecosystem of expert and artisanal yachting services including sailmaking, rigging, and varnishing. And for the past 30 years, as Manager of Sailing at the Antigua Yacht Club, I have devoted myself to introducing young people to the sport, not just to train future Olympians but to create good citizens and open up a world of opportunities in yacht services or as engineers, coast guards, professional crew and captains. I really believe this is my greatest achievement in life. As one of the most significant contributors to the country’s GDP, sailing is the only sport in Antigua that is a direct pathway to a career.
“Antigua is my safe haven. It’s somewhere I constantly feel inspired and driven.”
BBorninBritaintoanEnglishmotherand afatherofAntiguanheritage,Lucien Laviscount is currently best known for his role as Alfie in the hit Netflix series Emily in Paris. However, Lucien has chalked up an impressive curriculum in televisionandmovies.Afterappearing in the BBC’s school drama Grange Hill, he appeared in other British television series like Waterloo Road and Coronation Street beforecrossingthe Atlantic for shows like Scream Queens and Katy Keene. In 2017, Lucien was
aNomineeforBestSupportingActor for the series Snatch, based on Guy Ritchie’sfilmofthesamename.Having just opened a new “five-star dive bar” andrecordingstudioinLondoncalled TheWealthyBeggar,Lucienisabusy man. However, when he can, he has increasinglybeenspendinglongperiods oftimeinhis“safeplace”ofAntigua. The Citizen caughtupwithLucienontheeve of Emily in Paris’s premiere on the island to find out more about this popular actor and entrepreneur.
When and what made you decide to start acting?
I didn’t find acting, I think acting found me, as crazy as that might sound. To live in a playful state of imagination is something I find incredibly attractive.
You are now a series regular on one of the most-watched Netflix series ever, Emily in Paris. How does it feel to be part of something so big, and are you now getting recognised everywhere you go? It’s unbelievable how much reach the show has – all ages to classes to cultures. It’s an incredible gift to share what we’ve worked so hard on, and to bring that back to Antigua is a blessing.
Why do you think Emily in Paris has resonated with so many people and become such a successful series?
The way Darren created these characters, they could live and breathe on any continent, and that is what makes them incredibly relatable.
Your father is of Antiguan descent. How important is your heritage to you?
It’s my lineage - my past and my future. It’s who I am. My DNA.
Did you come to Antigua much when you were growing up with your family? What were your memories of the island from that time?
My Mum and Dad made sure that we knew where we came from, what our roots meant, and the responsibility that came with it. I remember big waves and big hearts. The waves aren’t so big these days, but the hearts seem even bigger.
You’ve recently moved to Antigua. Why did you decide to use the island as your base? Because it’s home. It’s my safe haven. It’s somewhere I constantly feel inspired and driven.
Living somewhere is very different from merely visiting – how has your experience of living in Antigua been?
It’s always moving. I live a very fastpaced lifestyle. And being here, I’ve learned to appreciate time - what that means and how little of it we have. So why wouldn’t you live in paradise if you can, right?
Has anything surprised you about the islands during your stay?
I’m constantly in awe here about everything.
Do you have a secret special spot on the islands?
I can’t tell you, otherwise, it won’t be a secret!
Back in 2006, you said you would love to make it big in America or Britain. How does it feel now that you are fulfilling your dreams?
I don’t honestly feel like I have even one foot on the ladder of what I want to achieve yet.
The third season of Emily in Paris has just been released, and a fourth has been confirmed. What other projects are you working on?
I can’t really tell you about the acting stuff, but we’ve just set up our production company, Small World Production, alongside Scott Lummis and Wallette Watson.
What is your motto in life? Believing is the key to the universe.
And being here, I’ve learned to appreciate timewhat that means and how little of it we have. So why wouldn’t you live in paradise if you can, right?
Second citizenship not only opens up global business opportunities, but also looks after your family’s future.
MMichelin-starred Chef, Colin McGurran, was born in ZambiatoScottishandIrishparents,whichkickstarted hislovefortravelanddifferentcultures,and,eventually, cuisine.AftertrainingatBournemouthCollege,heworked atprestigiousestablishmentsinFranceandtheMiddleEast beforereturningtotheUK.Hecuthisteethinthehospitality industrywithacoupleofventures,includingapubanda hotel,beforeheambitiouslytookovertheworld-renowned WinteringhamFieldsrestaurantinLincolnshire,England, in 2005. He received a much-deserved Michelin star in 2017.TheindustrystartednoticingColin,andhebegan appearingontelevision,includingsuccessfulappearances onBBC’spopularGreatBritishMenu. In2019,Colinandhisfamilyboughta56-footcatamaran, The Recipe,anddecidedtosailaroundtheworld.They leftRomeandtravelledtowardsSpainanddowntoCape VerdebeforecrossingtheAtlantictoStLucia.Theirplans fortravellingaroundtheworldcametoahaltwiththe pandemic,andthefamilyfoundthemselvesanchoredoff Antiguawhenlockdownhit.Theyfellinlovewiththebeauty andlifestyleoftheislandduringthattime,andarenow basedinAntigua,withColinmanaginghisaward-winning UK restaurant from afar. The Citizen chats with Colin to learn abouthisculinaryplansinthetwinislands.
I have always been interested in cooking. The cliché is true for me; I used to shell peas with my grandmother and help her make the Sunday roast and pies. What really struck me was my grandmother’s sense of pride in seeing us enjoy the meal she had just created, and I soon realised that there are very few industries where you can receive such instant gratification for your work.
A couple of years ago, you decided to sail around the world. What prompted you to up sticks and go on such an adventure?
After 25 years of hard graft and personal sacrifice of time I had missed with my girls, I wanted to ensure they had great childhood memories with me firmly in them.
Although our previous sailing experience was limited, it made this adventure seem all the more poignant in that we could all learn together and bond even more as a family.
You’ve said that naïveté plays a part in success. Buying Winteringham Fields with little restaurant experience and sailing around the world without much sailing experience would suggest that you certainly do things out of your comfort zone. How has this trait helped you through life?
My philosophy is that life begins at the point of challenging yourself; this is where you learn, grow, achieve, and also have the most fun. Sometimes
of rum punch. However, downtime is currently very precious as life is speeding up with new projects on the horizon.
You are about to open a bar and restaurant, Loose Cannon, on Galleon Beach and have plans for Jacqui O’s. Can you tell us more about these projects?
The design concept of Loose Cannon is very much focused on great food and creative cocktails encompassing the views and surroundings of one of Antigua’s best beaches. Its aim is not just to attract tourists but to be a place for locals to hang out. It has a family beach vibe during the day and a cool Caribbean chill in the evening; the
“Apart from its 365 beaches and natural beauty, the island is extremely accommodating for expats. It also welcomes productive investment and embraces new ideas by being forward-thinking.”
not understanding the consequences of your decisions makes those decisions easier.
You still have the Winteringham Fields restaurant – you must be busy managing that from afarhow do you find that, and what do you like to do in Antigua to relax in your downtime?
We prepared and trained the team for my departure for two years by running the operation with me in the background. The pandemic taught everyone, including me, how to work remotely. Being 4,000 miles from my business on a boat for an indeterminate time meant we all learnt how to adapt quickly.
I like to kitesurf in my downtime. I love the Caribbean vibe with plenty
sundowners are a sight to behold. Jacqui O’s, however, will be my elegant version of a beach restaurant, attracting guests who appreciate the finer things in life. I suppose it will reflect more of the Winteringham Fields’ experience in a whole new setting. We aim to use the best that mother nature can provide, using produce not just sourced locally but also utilising those ingredients from around the world that reflect our ambitions to be the best.
Why did you base yourself in Antigua over the other places you visited during your travels?
Whilst being locked down in March 2020 in Antigua, I spent four months circumnavigating the island many times, exploring all the beaches and
meeting the locals, albeit from afar. I felt a real connection with the island, more so than I’d ever felt somewhere before. As such, when lockdown lifted, fate took hold when I met Mike and Tim, my business partners, and the concept for Galleon Beach was born.
What makes Antigua special?
Apart from its 365 beaches and natural beauty, the island is extremely accommodating for expats. It also welcomes productive investment and embraces new ideas by being forward-thinking.
How has being in the Caribbean changed the way you approach food?
The Caribbean is synonymous with a chilled vibe, and sometimes that vibe extends to business and service. After being in Europe, it sometimes takes a bit of getting used to! However, we have learnt how to adapt and manipulate our menus to utilise the logistics of shipping and the availability of products in Antigua.
What is your favourite spot here?
Green Island is a special place for me; that is where I learnt to kitesurf during lockdown, and I felt like I had the whole island to myself for a couple of months. You also can’t beat the sunsets at The Blockhouse in English Harbour.
You are living here with your children. What would you say to anyone considering relocating with their family?
Antigua has a wealth of opportunities for families, young and old, it is a great place to relax and unwind, and there is also an eclectic mix in its social scene. It’s one of the safest islands in the Caribbean and has an excellent education system.
Born in Australia and raised in Norway, Danielle’s life has been one full of travel. After spending extensive periods in Africa during her earlier career – a continent that she fell in love with – on arrival in Antigua and discovering the people and culture, she felt immediately at home.
Danielle is now not only the publisher of Antigua & Barbuda The Citizen but also carries out tireless volunteering work at Dogs and Cats of Antigua, meaning that day-to-day life can get pretty hectic. Despite this, she has built up an exciting portfolio of images from her life in Antigua and her travels around the globe. She is sharing some of her favourite photos from around the island with us.
When did you first get interested in photography?
I think my first true interest in photography was when I was working and living in Africa. There were fascinating frames wherever I turned. At the time, I had a small Minolta, and I remember how eagerly I was waiting to get the developed photos back.
You have travelled all over the world. How does photography help document your travel and the people you meet?
The beauty of photography is that it enables us to capture moments. Different places, different people, different times. When I look back, I think part of my excitement was putting them in albums in chronological order when I came home every year for Christmas. I guess it was my way of keeping a diary.
What is your favourite subject matter?
People, no doubt! However, beautiful scenery and nature come a close second.
What is it about Antigua that you love so much?
I had an instant connection with Antigua, which goes much deeper than the people, the beautiful scenery, the beaches and the pace of island life. I also love its multicultural society, which stimulates me on many levels.
The heart of Antigua is Africa, which was one of the determining factors when I decided to live here.
You’ve spent extended time in many different countries across Africa. What makes the continent so special for you?
You either love or hate it; there is no in-between. Personally, I love that amazingly beautiful continent with its energy, colours, contrasts and the pure soul of most of its people. I think that on a spiritual level and with their capacity for forgiveness, we have a lot to learn from them.
My favourite places are probably those that only your feet can take you. Hiking across the hills of Antigua is breathtaking, and I spend most of my early Saturday mornings off and on the trails with a fantastic group of people. Secondly, there are many beautiful beaches across the island that each have their own charm depending on your mood and who you are with.
Do the right thing, even when no one is watching.
Explore, experience, live and invest in Antigua & Barbuda
I didn’t have much of an athletic background growing up. My dad died when I was two, and my mum sent my sister and me to dance school, so there I was doing tap, ballet and modern in the middle of the hood in Brooklyn. Now it’s gentrified, but back then, we were walking over crack vials to go to school.
I started getting bullied for dancing, so I stopped. But unbeknownst to me, that was the only thing keeping the weight off with my typical West Indian diet. However, not only was I fat, but I couldn’t play sports. My last year in high school consisted of me running home from school so I didn’t get the sneakers taken off my feet. I knew I wasn’t going to survive like that.
Since my sister went to college, there was no money for me to go. One day, passing a recruitment centre, I thought I could get into shape, get some discipline and learn something, all while earning money for school. I was too fat for the army, but when the navy
CCelebritypersonaltrainerMark Jenkinsisoneofthemostin-demand trainersaround.BorninBrooklynto anAntiguanmother,Markjoinedthe navyafterschool,whereheformed hispassionforfitness.Today,the list of his clients reads like a Who’s Whoofthemusicindustry,including Beyoncé,Diddy,MaryJBlige, D’AngeloandLLCoolJ,amongst manyothers.Hehaswrittenabook, The Jump Off,andcurrentlyhosts apodcast, An Anabolic Mind. The Citizen caughtupwithMarktolearn abouthislifededicatedtobringing outthebestinpeople.
guy lied and told me there was a McDonald’s on the aircraft carrier, I asked them to sign me up. I failed the physical to get in, but when I told them I had nowhere to go and was getting bullied, they put me through to the boot camp, where although I lost a lot of weight, I still had these man boobs!
I asked the buffest guy I could find if he could help me to see my feet in the shower again! Soon I had a 29-inch waist and could finally get a girl. After that, I became the go-to guy to train overweight sailors.
After the military, I went to work in the post office but soon got certified to become a trainer. I am an effective trainer because I have been in my clients’ situation and have been overweight. I’m not someone who is genetically gifted and has no idea of what they’re going through.
I spent all my money on membership to the best gym in New York, which had Motown Records, Disney and several other companies in the same complex and whose executives would come to the gym. I started training the singer and actress
“There are certain places like Bali and Costa Rica where you instantly think of wellness. Antigua could easily be in the same space.”
Brandy’s publicist and knocked 50 pounds off her in a month. Consequently, she asked me to train the 12-year-old Brandy as she was developing too fast for her role in her television show.
How did you become the go-to trainer in the hip-hop world?
After Brandy, I began thinking I could make a living targeting African American celebrities. I started training anyone for free whom I figured was a high-level executive. The condition was that they take me to lunch every week, during which I would pick their brains about how I could start my training business. This is what I learned in the military – recon. Someone told me I needed a publicist, so I trained one for free as I couldn’t pay for one. The publicist said they could get me in a magazine, but I needed pictures, so I trained a photographer for free. I was training so many people for free that I had to move into the projects as I had no money.
However, I knew that if I trained all these people for free, I would eventually make a lot of money. A few years later, I successfully trained the singer D’Angelo’s publicist. D’Angelo noticed and also wanted to be trained by me. On the advice of one of my CEO clients, I asked Motown for 30,000 dollars on the condition that I would return the money if I didn’t get him into shape on time.
I quit my job at the gym, followed him around and even slept outside his hotel room to intercept all his food. The result was the body he unveiled in the Untitled (How does it Feel?) video. I got to Mary J Blige because of that video. She took me on tour, and that was what got me out of the projects.
Who was your favourite celebrity to train?
I can’t say I have a favourite as they all have different attributes. Beyoncé’s work ethic is incredible; she didn’t complain about anything – even running six miles in the Georgia heat.
I learned a lot from the late Johnny Cochran. We would train at four am every morning, and I mean, it’s Johnny Cochran – I had to ask him things! I would sometimes give him pieces I’d written about fitness, and he would have them corrected for me.
I also trained Diddy, and we ran a Marathon raising two million dollars for the public school system, which was amazing.
island, and my recently deceased grandfather’s candy shop is still there. It’s important to get my children to learn that part of their heritage too.
My work ethic comes from my Antiguan heritage. My mum used to tell me, “Mark, I don’t care if you sweep the floor, but the floor better be immaculate, and you better be the best floor sweeper there is!”
ANY BEACH IN ANTIGUA IS A WIN. IT ISN’T AS SATURATED AS OTHER ISLANDS, SO ANTIGUA FEELS LIKE A SECRET.
Any beach in Antigua is a win. It isn’t as saturated as other islands, so Antigua feels like a secret. I have even brought some clients down to train, and they’ve stayed in my mother’s house, with my family cooking food for us. So, I’ve had some great experiences on the island.
What makes the islands the perfect place for wellness?
How has training artists at the top of their game impacted how you approach life?
When I trained Busta Rhymes, I saw him do three songs every single day, which made me understand why some people are so successful.
Training celebrities is like watching a masterclass. Someone like D’Angelo, who can play the drums and the keyboard, write the lyrics, and then produce, can’t fail to impress.
How important is your Antiguan heritage to you?
When I was growing up, we always went back to the island, and then becoming a tourism ambassador a few years ago was a huge honour. I still have a lot of family on the
The people, the climate and the fact that it’s not over-developed. It could also be a great place for concerts. Artists could come down, and music and wellness could be combined. With all the accommodation available, it could really work.
There are certain places like Bali and Costa Rica where you instantly think of wellness. Antigua could easily be in the same space.
I’m heading back to New York for a six-week intensive with D’Angelo, Q tip and Black Thought from The Roots. After that, I’m heading to Amsterdam to consult for the Dutch Royal Navy in their recruitment drive and to work on a fitness system to help the obesity problem.
I am making an international push this year and will try to do at least six months abroad, write another book and continue working on the podcast.
WWarm, nurturing, joyful, carefree and serene best sum up the colourful, original paintings of Antiguan artist Gilly Gobinet. Growing up in England, she excelled in art from an early age. Her mother, however, advised her to get a “proper” career, as the ability to paint would never leave her. Thus, she gained a BSc Hons, Degree in Biological Sciences and embarked on a range of careers both in the UK and France.
In 1984 she moved to Antigua and seized the opportunity to fulfil her childhood dream of painting full-time. Over time she developed her painting techniques, mainly in watercolour and acrylic. Her subjects reflect the beauty and charm of Antigua, and to this day, inspiration is never lacking.
Gilly is happiest when painting, and as well as having given various shows around the Caribbean and Venezuela, she runs her own art gallery at Fitches Creek on Antigua’s east coast, where she also has her studio.
AAntigua & Barbuda’s beaches and turquoise waters are famous the world over. The islands’ crystalline waters are also home to some of the world’s most iconic marine creaturessea turtles. Sadly, over the past years, the numbers of many different species of this marine reptile have been in serious decline. For instance, according to the World Wildlife Federation, the global population of hawksbill turtles has declined by over 80 percent over the last century - hunted for their shells, eggs and meat, and further threatened through habitat destruction such as beach loss.
The Barbuda Sea Turtle Program is a unique initiative that seeks to monitor and recover Barbuda’s sea turtles at the same time as supporting sustainable economic development on the island. Created at the impetus of investor and philanthropist John Paul DeJoria and Dr Deborah Brosnan and supported by the Barbuda Ocean Club and its members, the Barbuda initiative is a locally run project that is now entering its fourth year and has been regionally recognised. Although Barbuda’s idyllic beaches have long been renowned for sea turtle nesting, they were not regularly monitored for this nesting activity, nor was their population’s health assessed. During the planning for the Barbuda Ocean Club (BOC) – a private residential resort communityscientists expressed concern that turtles and their habitats be protected and restored. The investors were in agreement. Consequently, as part of its environmental management and monitoring plan, the Barbuda Ocean Club committed to conducting sustainable coastal development, which included protecting these endangered creatures.
The programme began when local Antiguan, Jepson Prince, who started some of the early sea turtle monitoring in Antigua, met Deborah Brosnan and agreed to help train
The Barbuda Sea Turtle Program is a unique initiative that seeks to monitor and recover Barbuda’s sea turtles at the time as supporting sustainable economic development on the island.
conservation
the first cohort of Barbudan monitors. Dr Karen Eckert of WIDECAST provided guidance to the fledgling effort, and it all rapidly evolved from there. Scientists started working and training a local team on Barbuda, adding innovative new techniques like GPS nest monitoring and GIS nest mapping. The goal of the Barbuda Sea Turtle Monitoring Program has been to recover these iconic species and create a sea-turtlesafe development programme by implementing long-term monitoring, which is embedded in the local community.
Turtles typically nest between March and November, during which time females emerge from the ocean onto the beach, usually at night. They then crawl up the beach looking for the ideal nesting location - this is often close to dune vegetation which serves as an indicator that they have found a good nesting spot. Because of this, the sea turtle programme is closely aligned with one aiming to restore dunes. Rebuilt dunes that are replanted with native vegetation provide a nesting habitat for sea turtles. And these marine creatures seem to notice. Last year, even as one dune was being restored, a hawksbill turtle came and nested on the newly created dune slope.
Although three species of turtle visit the twin islands’ shores, the hawksbill is the most common species to be
Mansingh, has been a key member of the team since its inception and has provided refresher training over the years for team members as well as training interns and new team members. She has attended scientific conferences to advance her knowledge of sea turtle monitoring and to learn from other similar projects in the Caribbean region. An important objective of the programme is to continually build the scientific capacity of the local team and within the local community. To date, it has provided scientific skills and training to ten individuals, with a focus on advancing STEM opportunities for women.
Testimony to the strength of the programme and the commitment of the team, in October this year, the first Barbuda Regional Sea Turtle Symposium was held with the support of BOC. This symposium brought together attendees and presenters from projects around the region, such as those from St Kitts & Nevis, Anguilla, Montserrat, and the French West Indies.
The Barbuda Team identified their key findings over the past four years, outlining notable trends for each species and incorporating the data results into best management practices for turtle-friendly and sustainable coastal development. Participants from across the region presented
Although three species of turtle visit the twin islands’ shores, the hawksbill is the most common species to be found nesting on the monitored beaches in Barbuda.
found nesting on the monitored beaches in Barbuda. Hawksbill females excavate a nest and lay about 120 eggsan event that can take many hours. About 60 days later, the tiny young hatchlings emerge and head immediately to the ocean to begin their epic life journey with challenges facing them at every turn. Temperature determines their gender. At higher temperatures, typically at or above 88.8º F (31º C), eggs develop into females, at lower temperatures, they become males.
Since its initial inception in 2018, the programme has grown in its scientific efforts and engagement of local personnel, with over ten members of the local community involved and employed. It is now in its fourth full year, and beaches are monitored three to four nights per week, yearround.
The local team collects data on leatherback, hawksbill, and green sea turtles’ nesting activities and hatchlings by geolocating and mapping the data and tagging nesting females to track their movements.
The development of this initiative has included the engagement of a dedicated local sea turtle monitoring team trained in standardised scientific monitoring methods. The team leader, local Barbudan expert, Ms Rishma
their data and observations and discussed the use of emerging technologies for data collection and monitoring. The symposium provided the opportunity for new collaborations and partnerships, creating a new community that will allow for regional coordination to advance sea turtle research and best management practices. Sea turtle trends and behaviours are a proxy for changes in their habitats and the environment.
By sharing data from throughout the region, collectively, this network will begin to detect acute and chronic disturbances to the populations and promptly identify conservation solutions. Satellite tagging will also provide the opportunity for community engagement and outreach through live tracking of the creatures as they move throughout the region. The Barbuda Sea Turtle Monitoring Team will incorporate these data collection techniques into their monitoring for the upcoming season.
The symposium will be held annually to continue to promote cross-programme data sharing, communication, and coordination. So, what’s the next step for the Barbuda team? Satellite tagging will take place in 2023 so that they can track the movements of these magnificent creatures as they wander the oceans and between the islands.
DOGS & CATS OF ANTIGUA is a registered non-profit working to assist animals in distress and increase their protection through feeding, veterinarian assistance, spay and neutering, fostering and rehoming. Many of our rescued dogs and cats are rehomed in the US and Canada. We need passengers to fly with them from Antigua to New York, Newark, Philadelphia, Boston or Toronto.
If you’re travelling on booked tickets to any of these destinations with either Air Canada, American Airlines, JetBlue, United Airlines or WestJet, please help us by becoming a Travel Buddy to our furry friends and leave only their pawprints behind.
www.dogsandcatsofantigua.com/flight-volunteer www.facebook.com/dogsandcatsofantigua www.dogsandcatsofantigua.com/donate
Prime Minister Gaston Browne, in his capacity as Chair of the Alliance of Small Island States and CoChair of the UN expert panel on the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index, was one of the speakers at the recent COP27 conference in Egypt. He talked about the problems facing small island nations and demanded a ‘global carbon tax’ from oil giants as a source of funding for loss and damage in SIDS. A new Netflix documentary called 1.5, covering the issues of SIDS, is currently being filmed and features the Prime Minister as one of the expert sources. It is expected to be released in 2024.
A new documentary produced by Antigua’s Environmental Awareness Group (EAG) charts the restoration of Redonda Island from a place resembling a lunar landscape, where invasive species had decimated the indigenous wildlife, to a new Redonda Ecosystem Reserve containing at least 30 globally threatened and near-threatened species. The film entitled Redonda: The Road to Recovery was premiered in London in November.
Blue Diamond Resorts will be opening the Royalton CHIC Antigua in late 2023 on the stunning and popular Dickenson Bay. The 227-room, fivestar beachfront resort will be adults only, offering a range of gourmet dining experiences, including five fascinating bars with mixology and six reservation-free restaurants, themed pool parties and DJ sets. Pampering will be on hand at the world-class spa.
The Global Tourism and Hospitality Conference will be hosted by the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) and their affiliate member, the Antigua & Barbuda Workers Union (ABWU), in Antigua in April 2023. The conference, which is being held in the Caribbean for the first time, will highlight global challenges and concerns in the tourism industry and how workers are treated in the sector. It will be attended by hundreds of delegates from across the Caribbean and Latin America.
The 61st Antigua Charter Yacht Show took place at the beginning of December at Nelson’s Dockyard Marina, English Harbour, Antigua Yacht Club and Falmouth Harbour Marina. As the world’s favourite destination show for brokers and crew, hundreds of visitors flocked to the island for a glimpse at some of the world’s most luxurious charter yachts, to meet the crews and attend a slew of onboard events.
Antigua & Barbuda have signed an MOU with the Republic of Malta to boost technical cooperation between both nations. It aims to make a capacity-building programme to improve the water supply. Prime Minister Gaston Browne and the newly elected President of Kenya, Dr William Suto, also pledged to continue strengthening and deepening bilateral relations when they met at the 77th Session of the UN General Assembly in September.
The twin-island nation is seeing an increase in Canadian tourists as Air Canada is once again flying to Antigua. Five weekly flights are expected at the height of the season. Additional flights from Montreal will begin in December.
The Jolly Beach Resort is due to reopen sometime in December or the beginning of January after having been closed for two years. The largest resort on the island is located on a spectacular white-sand beach on the south-west of the island. The resort offers the Fantasy Pool and a wide range of food and beverage options, as well as a full range of waters ports and beach activities.
Antigua & Barbuda had a record-breaking third quarter in visitor arrivals, with 60,250 people arriving on the island between July and September 2022. This is an improvement of 9.2 percent over the same period in 2019.
Hunters took to the water for the Lionfish Tournament between 18th and 20th November, catching a total of 864 lionfish from Antigua’s waters. The number of lionfish caught, although considered a success, was also a worrying figure since the lionfish is an invasive species that can kill 80 percent of marine creatures on a reef within five weeks. The fishing derby helped to remove some of these unwanted predators, and the festival on the last day served to educate citizens about the importance of protecting the island’s marine ecology. Some of Antigua’s top chefs took part in a lionfish cook-off, serving up this delicious and nutritious fish to attendees.
The Antigua Cruise Port is expecting around 600,000 cruise passengers this winter season, with January 2023 set to be the busiest month. The 2022-2023 season will be a ‘transitionary period’ as the sector returns to its pre-pandemic levels. Several cruise ships like the Norwegian Getaway and Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas have made inaugural calls to the twin islands, whilst the Emerald Azzurra and Emerald Sakara have chosen Antigua to homeport this season.
Dozens of brave entrants set off on 12th December from La Gomera to row to Nelson’s Harbour, Antigua. Commonly known as the world’s toughest rowing race, this annual 3,000mile cross-Atlantic challenge is undertaken by competitors from a number of countries either as individual entrants or in teams of two, three, four or five rowers. The first arrivals are expected around mid-January.
Readers of the Caribbean Journal (CJ), who are the foremost experts on Caribbean travel, have voted Antigua & Barbuda as the best in three categories which include: Best Beach in the Caribbean (Valley Church Beach), Best Honeymoon Destination and the Best Family Resort in the Caribbean (the Verandah Resort & Spa).
The Antigua and Barbuda Yachting and Marine Association (ABYMA) held their first Industry Expo in November, which focused on making citizens aware of the various elements of the yachting industry and the career opportunities within the sector. As well as the many businesses and organisations that took part, the showcase was sanctioned by the Ministry of Tourism, the Antigua & Barbuda Tourism Authority and the Ministry of Education.
The US$90 million redevelopment work at the country’s main seaports has been completed. Port Manager Darwin Telemaque signed off on the completion-of-works document in September with the China Civil Construction Corporation (CCECC). The hope is to have the port become one of the top, if not the top, seaport in the region.
The University of the West Indies (UWI) is implementing a foreign language policy across its campuses, including the Five Islands Campus in Antigua, to make it a multi-lingual institution. The expectation is that all UWI students will be able to converse in another language than English upon graduation. Although the university already has departments offering foreign language degrees, the introduction of this policy means that all students will participate in foreign language training at a general level.
The Antigua & Barbuda High Commission in London held its second annual UK-Antigua & Barbuda Business Forum at the beginning of November. The event was to identify, promote and connect trade and investment opportunities for Antiguan and Barbudan businesses in the UK market. Exhibitors showcased their goods and services at various customised events, including the World Travel Market, the leading global event for the tourism industry.
The first flight of the brand-new airline Antigua Airways landed at the V.C. Bird International Airport from Lagos in Nigeria on 1st November. The airline is a collaboration between the government of Antigua & Barbuda and Nigerian-based printing firm Marvelous Mike Press Limited. Antigua Airlines plans to extend its route from Lagos, Nigeria and Canada.
The new Tamarind Hills Beach Club has commenced a phased opening on the stunning Ffryes Beach. The Clubhouse is open daily from breakfast time, serving light bites and beverages throughout the day until sunset. There is also a new infinity-edged saltwater swimming pool and the new full-service restaurant The Wild Tamarind, featuring an international menu with modern Mediterranean influences, opened at the beginning of December.
As part of the efforts to expand the twin islands’ network of diplomatic relations with other countries, Dr Dario Item, Antigua & Barbuda’s Ambassador to Spain, the Principality of Monaco and the Principality of Liechtenstein, has established a consulate in Monte Carlo, to encourage investment and attract tourists.
The Government of Antigua & Barbuda have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NOAH ReGen to develop the financial infrastructure to fund its green transition sustainably. NOAH, known as the Network of Ocean Ambassadors Headquarters, is an international group whose mission is blue economy growth through ESG climate solutions. Likewise, the University of Portsmouth in the UK is working with the twin islands and Trinidad & Tobago, supporting government officials in the introduction of the Rapid Readiness Assessment for sustainable blue economies. This trial will help inform the islands about their next steps towards becoming sustainable blue economies by tapping into ocean resources and supporting long-term economic growth while also protecting marine and coastal ecosystems.
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