History

The island of Barbuda is all but flattened by Hurricane Irma. Its residents evacuated before the storm hit.

Disgraced financier Allen Stanford lodges appeal against his conviction and jailing by a US court.

Antigua Labour Party (ALP) wins general elections. Gaston Browne becomes premier.

Antigua and Barbuda launches scheme allowing foreigners to acquire citizenship with a $250,000 donation or a property investment of at least $400,000.

Antigua wins World Trade Organization permission to lift restrictions on US intellectual property, in a possible retaliatory response to US restrictions on the island's online gambling industry.

A US court finds financier Allen Stanford guilty of running a $7bn Ponzi scheme through his bank based in Antigua.

Two men are found guilty of murdering a honeymooning British couple shot dead in Antigua in July 2008.

Antiguan government says Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez gave it $50m in financial aid after collapse of business empire of its biggest investor, Allen Stanford.

Antigua dismisses its chief financial regulator, Leroy King, after he is charged with helping Texas billionaire Allen Stanford cover up a fraud scheme.

Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer leads the United Progressive Party to victory again in parliamentary elections, albeit with a reduced majority.

Antigua's single biggest private investor, Sir Allen Stanford, is charged with massive investment fraud by the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

Tourism industry rocked by shooting of British honeymoon couple in holiday cottage.

WTO orders the US to pay compensation to Antigua over its online gambling trade dispute, but far less than the Caribbean nation had been seeking.

World Trade Organisation sides with Antigua in ruling that the US has failed to comply with a ruling to relax its restrictions on offshore, online gambling. Antigua, which has an internet betting industry, filed the case in 2003.

Personal income tax - scrapped in 1975 - is re-introduced. Ruling party says move is needed to tackle deficit left by former administration.

Parliament passes anti-corruption bill, providing for fines and jail terms for errant ministers and officials.

Lester Bird concedes defeat in general election. Baldwin Spencer, leader of United Progressive Party, is sworn in as prime minister.

Multi-national Financial Action Task Force reports that Antigua is "fully cooperative" in the fight against money laundering.

Bird's ALP wins another general election; direct hit by Hurricane Jose causes extensive damage.

US State Department describes the country as "one of the most attractive centres in the Caribbean for money launderers".

Government closes down six Russian-owned banks accused of money laundering.

Riots erupt in protest against new taxes; Bird's brother, Ivor, convicted of smuggling cocaine into Antigua and Barbuda; Hurricane Luis hits the islands, claiming 75% of all homes and setting back development by 10 years.

- Lester Bird's ALP wins the general elections.

Vere Bird resigns as prime minister and is replaced by his son, Lester.

Prime Minister Vere Bird's son, Vere Jr, removed from public office in the wake of allegations of gun-running.

Antigua and Barbuda supports the US invasion of Grenada (as it has supported US sanctions against Cuba).

Attempts made to replant sugarcane fields, but these are finally abandoned in 1985 because of financial problems.

Antigua and Barbuda becomes independent.

ALP, led by Bird, returns to power after winning the general election.

Sugar industry closed down.

George Walter replaces Vere Bird as prime minister after the Progressive Labour Movement (PLM) beat the ALP in the general elections.

Barbuda separatist movement comes into being.

Antigua and Barbuda become a self-governing state within the British Commonwealth, with Britain retaining control of defence and foreign affairs.

Antigua and Barbuda part of the British-sponsored West Indies Federation.

Vere Bird forms the Antigua Labour Party (ALP).

Antigua and Barbuda administered together as part of the Leeward Islands federation.

Barbuda reverts to the British crown.

Slaves of Antigua emancipated.

Codrington leases the island of Barbuda from the British crown; African slaves imported to grow first tobacco and then sugarcane on plantations.

Christopher Codrington, a sugar planter from Barbados, sets up a sugar plantation in Antigua.

France formally ends its claim to Antigua in accordance with the Treaty of Breda.

Antigua colonised by English settlers from St Kitts.

Christopher Columbus visits Antigua and names it after the Church of Santa Maria de la Antigua in Seville, Spain.