TRIVIA LEEWARD ISLANDS The Leeward Islands are so-called because they are “downwind” of the trade winds that occur in the region in comparison to the Windward Islands. As well as Antigua and Barbuda, the Leeward Islands contain the US and British Virgin Islands, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Guadeloupe and more. HIGH POINT The highest point on Antigua standing at 1319 feet was known as Boggy Peak until 4 August 2009, when it was renamed after US President Barack Obama to Mount Obama. CASH FLOW Over half of the income of Antigua and Barbuda comes from tourism, with around 75% of the workforce being employed in the tourist industry. In colonial times, the main wealth of the islands revolved around the growing of sugar cane. VIVIAN RICHARDS Viv Richards, as he is popularly known, was born in St. John’s in 1952. He was chosen as Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1977. His international cricket career lasted from 1974 to 1991 and now the island’s main cricket stadium is named after him. COLUMBUS The earliest recorded European contact with Antigua was made when Christopher Columbus, on his second voyage of discovery in 1493, discovered Antigua and named it Santa Maria de la Antigua after the miracle-working saint of the Spanish city of Seville.
