1493      Arrival of Columbus; named island after Cathedral in Spain – Santa Maria de La Antigua 1632      Colonised by Sir Thomas Warner 1667      Island formally  became a British Colony 1871      Incorporated into Leeward Islands Federation 1939      First Labour Movement formed – Antigua Trades and Labour Union (ATLU) out of which evolved ALP 1951      First elections under universal adult suffrage took place 1958      Member of the West Indies Federation 1965      CARIFTA Agreement signed at Dickenson Bay, Antigua. Antigua and Barbuda one of three original signatories 1967      Associated Statehood with Britain (full internal self government) within the West Indies Associated States  (WISA) Vere C. Bird, Snr, first Premier 1981      Independence achieved. Vere C. Bird, Snr. First Prime Minister