Antigua and Barbuda is a twin-island country that lies between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Antigua and Barbuda, which are separated by just a few nautical miles, were named by Christopher Columbus in 1493. Antigua and Barbuda is referred to as the “Land of 365 Beaches” as there are so many beaches surrounding the island. Its culture, language (English) and governance have been strongly influenced by the British Empire but gained its independence from the United Kingdom on 1st November 1981. Just like in other Commonwealth countries, cricket is the favoured sport. Antigua and Barbuda has a population of just over 91,000. When it comes to cuisine, sweet potatoes have a very important role to play and can be used to create a very popular steamed dumpling dish. The currency in Antigua and Barbuda is the East Caribbean dollar (XCD).