The Caribbean State of Antigua and Barbuda
The democratic state of Antigua and Barbuda is a constitutional monarchy that is part of the Commonwealth: it has a bicameral parliament and a sovereign, Queen Elizabeth II.
Antigua and Barbuda is an archipelago of the downwind islands of the Antilles, Central America. It’s located between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.
The archipelago is composed of two major islands (Antigua and Barbuda) a small uninhabited island called Redonda and a number of smaller islands. As a whole, Antigua and Barbuda population counts about 91.000 inhabitants, distributed over an area of just under 444 km2.
The Antigua and Barbuda’s history is related to Christopher Columbus. He discovered the islands in 1493, during his second trip to the Americas. He renamed one of them tributing a church in Seville: the church of “Santa Maria de la Antigua”.
Later on, in the first half of the 16th century, the territory was colonized by the english. It was part of the British West Indies, also known as the “English-speaking Caribbean”, until independence from the United Kingdom on November 1, 1981.
Currently, the State is in diplomatic and commercial relations with the United States, Canada and China. It also cooperates with Cuba, especially on education and health.
Despite having had diplomatic relations with Spain for more than 30 years, Antigua and Barbuda opened its embassy in Spain only recently.
Dario Item has been entrusted with the task of guiding them.
Dario Item, ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda
Dario Item is the ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda in Spain, the Principality of Monaco and the Principality of Liechtenstein.
He’s a degree in law and political science, specialising in criminal law, banking law, financial markets law and consular diplomatic law.
He is fluent in five languages: Italian, German, French, English and Spanish.
Dario Item has been a member of the diplomatic corps of Antigua and Barbuda since 2016. He is appointed ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda in Madrid: on 21 June 2018 he is accredited by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
On 16 January 2019 he officially presented his credentials to the King of Spain, Felipe VI.
Diplomatic activity of Dario Item
Cooperation between countries, resolution of problems and crisis situations, good relations with Spanish politics, protection of citizens’ rights, promotion of economic and cultural relations with the Kingdom of Spain: these are the main functions that Dario Item assumes as ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda in Madrid.
The priorities are to protect the interests of the state he represents and to support international and regional organisations such as the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).
Drug trafficking and money laundering are still problems that needs to be solved along with the United States. Antigua and Barbuda have signed an agreement with the Washington administration: it allows the US Coast Guard to prosecute drug traffickers caught in national waters.
Dario Item has the diplomatic skills to manage his political and diplomatic duties with competence and passion, thanks to his multiform personality, his communication and mediation skills, which are crucial in order to solve problems and manage international everyday politics.
