TNAG-1001-FCO40-1237-Future-of-the-Dependent-Territories-including--Report-of-the-1981 — Page 23

settlement was made by the English in 1632. In 1860 Barbuda

became part of the territory which became an Associated State in

1967. Under the title Antigua and Barbuda the state became an

independent member of the Commonwealth on 1 November 1981.

Antigua and Barbuda have a population of some 74,200 and an

approximate GNP per capita (1979) of US$ 1, 128. Revenue and

expenditure in 1979 were US$ 52.4 m and US$ 58.9 m respectively.

The sugar industry was until 1971 the mainstay of the economy.

The industry is now being revived. An oil refinery is also being

resuscitated. Antigua and Barbuda relies heavily on tourism and

the state's tourist industry is the most developed in the area.

There is development potential for livestock rearing, cotton, fruit

and vegetable production.

ST VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES

St Vincent and the Grenadines became an independent Realm

within the Commonwealth in October 1979. HM The Queen is represented

by a Governor General. St Vincent is situated 24 miles to the

south-west of St Lucia and 100 miles west of Barbados. It is

18 miles in length and 11 miles in breadth and covers an area of

150 sq miles. The State includes, in addition to the main island

of St Vincent, a number of the Grenadine group of islands to the

south, the principal one of which is Bequia. The estimated

population in 1977 was 103,096. About 23,645 of these lived in

the capital, Kingstown. The per capita GNP was US$ 330. Revenue and expenditure in 1977 were US$ 15.4 m and US$ 32.9 m respectively. Bananas formed 55.6 per cent of merchandise exports. The volcano

la Soufriere erupted in April 1979 causing widespread damage to

crops and necessitating an evacuation of the northern part of

the island for several weeks. In 1980 Hurricane Allen caused

widespread damage to agriculture.