ANTIGUA
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Antigua was discovered by Columbus in 1493 and
named after the Church of Santa Maria de la Antigua in Sevilla. In
1632 the island was colonized by English settlers In 1671, Antigua became part of the newly formed
colony of the Leeward Islands, whose governor remained on Antigua. In 1816, the British
Leeward Islands was dissolved, and a new governor was appointed in Antigua. In 1871, the Governor of Antigua became the Governor of the Leeward
Islands. The
Leewards Island Colony was dissolved in 1956 and on 3 January 1958 Antiqua
joined the West
Indies Federation. After the disintegration of this Federation on 3 May
1962, Antigua was involved in attempts to found another Caribbean Union. When
the attempts failed Antigua was associated on 27 February 1967 with the
United Kingdom as a autonomous member of the Commonwealth. The island has
internal autonomy, the United Kingdom being responsible for foreign affairs
and defense. On
1 November 1981 it gained full independence. Queen Elizabeth II is head of
State. |
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A
seal of the Court of the Vice-Admiralty of Antigua of 1776 has been
catalogued in the Exchequer and Audit Class of American Loyalists’ Claims and
probably shows a foul anchor. No picture of this seal is available.[1] A
modern seal of Antigua dates from the time of King Edward but may have predecessors
from Victorian times.
Stamp with the seal of King Edward (1901-’10) forAntigua, 1903. Seal: The royal achievement of the United Kingdom
and the emblem of Antigua in base showing a seashore, a sugar mill and an aloe plant. L.: EDWARDUS VII D.G. BRITT: OMN: REX F.D. IND: IMP / SIGIL. INSS. ANTIGUA ET BARBUDAE. |
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The first arms of Antigua
depicts a view of the island, with an aloe-plant on the shore and a sugar
mill on a hill.
Arms: A hilly seashore, on
the shore an aloe and on the hill a sugar mill, all proper. 1909 |
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27.02.1967 -
1981 |
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An
achievement was adopted by decree of 16 February 1967. For its design a competion
was held, won by Gordon Christopher. In
the arms the waves are for the Caribbean and the sugar mill symbolizes the
island. The tincture of the chief symbolizes the African origin of the
population and the rising sun symbolizes the new era of independence. The
pineapple from the crest is from the former achievement of the Leeward
Islands but it is augmened with hisbiscus flowers (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
- Malvaceae). The
supporters are deer from the island of Barbuda on which they form a turist-attraction. They
are standing on an island washed by tyhe sea on which a sugar can and an
aloe-plant are growing. These are the main cash-crops of the islands. The
motto “Each Endeavouring all
Achieving” was
written by James H. Carrot of the Ministry of Commerce, Production and
Labour. The
achievement is: Arms.: Barry
wavy of six Argent and Azure, a sugar mill on a grassy ground, proper; and a
chief wavy Sable, a rising sun radiant Or. Crest: On a helmet to the dexter, lambrequined Azure and Argent, a
pineapple and four hibiscusflowers proper. Supporters: Two deer, the dexter supporting a sugarcane and the sinister
supporting an aloe, all proper. Compartment: A grassy ground surrounded by waves of the sea Argent and Azure. Motto: each endeavouring all achieving in black lettering on a ribbon Or, lined Gules. Adopted 16.02.1967 š See illustration in the head
of this essay |
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01.11.1981 - present |
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For Antigua and Barbuda the achievement of 1967 was maintained. |
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The arms of the Royal Police Force of Antigua consists of the royally crowned arms of Antigua surrounded by a garland and a ribbon with the name of the service. After independence and the change of the name of the country the name of the service was changed into ROYAL POLICE FORCE ANTIGUA & BARBUDA. |
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© Hubert de Vries 2006-06-15
Updated 2010-02-14
Heraldry of the World