PM Spencer, Tourism Minister Harold Lovell and Sports Minister Winston Williams hold aloft the Baton

UK High Commissioner Dr. Carl Roberts and Mrs. Roberts welcome the Baton bearer to Antigua and Barbuda

Members of the National Olympic Committee with Baton

Sir Viv Richards and PM Spencer with Baton

Prime Minister the Hon. Baldwin Spencer, government officials and local celebrities over the weekend welcomed the Queen's Baton as it makes its way across the Commonwealth in preparation for the Commonwealth Games in Australia in 2006.

Members of the National Olympic Committee, cricketing legend Sir Vivian Richards and Junior Sports Minister Winston Williams welcomed the Baton which is a symbol of peace and unity, when it arrived at the V.C. Bird International Airport before crisscrossing its way around Antigua and Barbuda.

Prime Minister Spencer was an active participant in the relay across the island and he welcomed the keepers of the Baton to Antigua and Barbuda.

Prime Minister the Hon. Baldwin Spencer
At arrival of Queen's Baton
Friday August 12, 2005
V.C. Bird International Airport

Ministers of Government;

Melbourne 2006 Queen's Baton Crew members;

Sir Vivian Isaac Alexander Richards and members of the Antigua and Barbuda Sports Tourism Alliance

President of the Antigua and Barbuda Olympic Committee and executive members of ABOA;

Special guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen:

It is with honour and great pleasure that I welcome the Queen's Baton Relay to our nation's shores.

This year, the Queen's Baton Relay unites the eighteenth Commonwealth Games in Melbourne with a record-breaking international feat.

For the first time in its history of close to half a century, the Queen's Baton Relay will include a leg in the 71 nations of the Commonwealth. This will make this year's Queen's Baton Relay, historic.

The scale of this relay allows communities that have never before experienced such a spectacle, participate in a festival of unprecedented international proportions. Of the 71 countries the relay will visit, this year, the majority will be hosting the relay for the very first time.

This global celebration spanning a year and a day, crossing five continents and seven oceans, gives Antigua and Barbuda the opportunity to be involved in and to contribute to the spirit of friendship which the Commonwealth Games foster.

Please join me in giving the Queen's Baton Relay and all those who will be participating in this evening's celebrations, a warm and friendly welcome as we look ahead to Melbourne 2006.

Digital photos by Maurice F. Merchant