I “Men and women from over 100 different countries have made our beautiful islandcountry their permanent home; and we know why: we welcome everyone.”
welcome
In the 375 years of its modern history, Antigua & Barbuda has witnessed a mixing of peoples from every continent and from one-half of all the countries globally; our cosmopolitan mix exceeds many of the most densely populated cities in the world. Men and women from over 100 different nations have made our beautiful island-country their permanent home; and we know why: we welcome everyone. The cultural artists, having been freed to sing and to write as colonial domination began to recede, praised the warmth and welcome of the Antigua & Barbuda people and their leaders. There was an early recognition that visitors would play a significant role in our development; and our people determined that xenophobia served no useful purpose. We treat strangers nicely. “Tourism is everybody’s business,” we recite as a creed. The welcome mat is extended to all new citizens, whether acquired through our Citizenship by Investment Programme or through the constitutionally decreed seven-year residency requirement. Most recently, a Nomad Digital Residency Programme was passed into law, allowing those professionals who can work from home, to travel to Antigua and to reside here for a two-year period. An impressive number of professionals have made applications and are settling here. While our islands’ natural beauty continues to be a major attraction, the cultural expressions shared by our playwrights, our poets, our dancers, our calypso singers, our reggae and soca artistes, our steelbands, and entertainers, fascinate the visitors. The rich cultural practices of Antigua & Barbuda have been woven into the mosaic of our rich heritage, making even our speech charming. We welcome you to our paradise, and can assure you of the wise choice which our citizenship confers. Come join us!
Honourable Gaston Browne Prime Minister
ISSUE 9 • DECEMBER 2020
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