Title: Background Note: St. Kitts and Nevis
PA
Source: Office of Public Communication, Bureau of Public
Affairs
Description: Historical, Political and Economic Overviews of the
Countries of the World
Date: May, 15 19935/15/93
Category: Country Data
Region: Caribbean
Country: St. Kitts and Nevis
Subject: Travel, History, International Organizations,
Trade/Economics, Military Affairs, Cultural Exchange,
State Department
[TEXT]
Official Name:
Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis
PROFILE
Geography
Area:
St. Kitts 168 sq. km. (68 sq. mi.); Nevis 93 sq. km.
(36 sq. mi.).
Cities:
Capital--Basseterre (pop. about 15,000).
Terrain:
Generally mountainous, with highest elevation at
Mt. Liamuiga 3,792 ft. (St. Kitts) and Nevis Peak 3,232 ft. (Nevis).
People
Nationality:
Noun and adjective--Kittitian(s), Nevisian(s).
Population (1990):
40,300 (St. Kitts 31,000, Nevis 9,300).
Annual growth rate (est.):
1.5%.
Ethnic groups:
Almost entirely of black African origin;
some of British, Portuguese, and Lebanese origin.
Religions:
Principally Anglican, with evangelical
Protestant and Roman Catholic minorities.
Languages:
English (official).
Education (1991):
Years compulsory--9. Literacy--98%.
Health (1990):
Infant mortality rate--22/1,000.
Unemployment--12%.
Government
Type:
Constitutional monarchy with Westminster-style
parliament.
Constitution:
1983.
Independence:
September 19, 1983.
Branches:
Executive--governor general (representing
Queen Elizabeth II, head of state), prime minister (head of
government), cabinet. Legislative--an 11-member Upper House or
Senate appointed by the governor general (mainly on the advice of
the prime minister and the leader of the opposition) and an 11-
member popularly elected House of Representatives. Judicial--Court
of Appeal.
Administrative subdivisions:
14 parishes.
Political parties:
People's Action Movement (ruling), St.
Kitts Labor Party, Nevis Reformation Party, Concerned Citizens
Movement.
Suffrage:
Universal at 18.
Flag:
The flag is oblong, divided diagonally from the
bottom right to the top left by a black stripe with yellow borders.
The black stripe contains two white stars. The top background is
green, and the bottom background is red.
Economy
GDP (1991):
$165 million.
Annual growth rate (1991):
3.4%.
Per capita GNP:
$3,300.
Natural resources:
Negligible.
Agriculture:
Products--sugarcane, cotton, peanuts,
vegetables.
Industry (1990):
Types--manufacturing 14%, transport and
communications 15%, construction 13%, hotels and restaurants 8%.
Trade (1991):
Exports--USĘ$126 million. Major markets-
-CARICOM, US, UK. Imports--US $115 million.
Official exchange rate:
Eastern Caribbean $2.70=US$1.
GEOGRAPHY
St. Kitts and Nevis lies in the Leeward Islands in the Eastern
Caribbean, 17 degrees 15' North, 62 degrees 40' West. The sister
islands are separated by a channel some 3 kilometers (2 mi.) wide.
St. Kitts is roughly oval in shape, with a narrow neck of land
extending like a handle from the southeastern end. The total length
of the island is 36.8 kilometers (23 mi.), and its area is 168 square
kilometers (68 sq. mi.).
The central part of the main body consists of a rugged mountain
range whose highest point is Mount Liamuiga (1,155 meters--3,792
ft.). St. Kitts is a volcanic formation, and most of the beaches are of
black volcanic sand, although several white sand beaches are found
on the southeastern portion of the island.
Nevis has an area of 93 kilometers (36 sq. mi.). The island's
dominant central peak, its tip usually encircled by clouds, rises
gradually to an almost perfect cone to 985 meters (3,232 ft.), giving
it a spectacularly beautiful appearance from the sea. There are long
stretches of golden sandy beaches. Charlestown is the only town,
with a population of about 1,200.
The climate of St. Kitts and Nevis is pleasant and healthy. The
islands lie on the path of the northeast trade winds, and there is a
steady cool breeze throughout the year. The highest temperature
recorded is 330C (920F), and the lowest is 170C (620F). Humidity is
low, and there is no rainy season. Average annual rainfall on St.
Kitts is about 140 centimeters (55 in.); on Nevis, somewhat less.
PEOPLE AND HISTORY
The islands were originally inhabited by Carib Indians. Christopher
Columbus landed there in 1493 on his second voyage and named it
after his patron saint, St. Christopher. Sir Thomas Warner led the
original English party to the island in 1624. "Kitt" was an English
shortened version of "Christopher," hence "St. Kitt's" island. It was
from here that English colonists spread to other islands in the
region.
In 1624, the French under D'Esnambuc also colonized part of the
island. Intermittent warfare between French and British settlers
during the 17th century, ravaged the economy until it was ceded
entirely to Britain by the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713. The final fight
for the island occurred in 1782, when French forces captured
Brimstone Hill.
Columbus also discovered Nevis on his second voyage, and reputedly
called it Nevis because of its resemblance to a snowcapped mountain
(in Spanish "Nuestra Senora de las Nieves" or "Our Lady of the
Snows"). On July 22, 1628, Warner sent Capt. Anthony Hilton to
colonize Nevis. Hilton became the first governor of Nevis, setting it
on a path to great prosperity for the next 150 years. Its relative
opulence in the 17th century gave it the name "Queen of the
Caribbees." Alexander Hamilton was born on Nevis in 1757.
The Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis attained full independence on
September 19, 1983.
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICAL CONDITIONS
As head of the Commonwealth, Queen Elizabeth II is represented in
St. Kitts and Nevis by a governor general, who acts on the advice of
the prime minister and the cabinet. The prime minister is the leader
of the majority party of the House, and the cabinet conducts affairs
of state. St. Kitts and Nevis has a bicameral legislature: an 11-
member Upper House or Senate appointed by the governor general
(mainly on the advice of the prime minister and the leader of the
opposition) and an 11-member popularly elected House of
Representatives. The prime minister and the cabinet are responsible
to the parliament. St. Kitts and Nevis has enjoyed a long history of
free and fair elections. In the March 1989 elections, the ruling
People's Action Movement won six of the eight St. Kitts seats, with
the St. Kitts Labor Party capturing the remaining two. The Nevis
Reformation Party won two of the three Nevis seats, with the
Concerned Citizens Movement winning the remaining one. The next
election is scheduled for March 1994.
Under the constitution, Nevis has considerable autonomy and has an
island assembly, a premier, and a deputy governor general. Under
certain specified conditions, it may secede from the Federation.
Constitutional safeguards include freedom of speech, press,
worship, movement, and association. Like its neighbors in the
English-speaking Caribbean, St. Kitts and Nevis has an outstanding
human rights record. Its judicial system is modeled on British
practice and procedure and its jurisprudence on English Common
Law. The Royal St. Kitts Police Force is a constabulary of about 340
members.
Principal Government Officials
Chief of State--Queen Elizabeth II
Governor General--Sir Clement Arrindell
Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Home Affairs, and
Finance--Kennedy A. Simmonds
Principal Nevis Island Government Official
Premier--Vance Amory
The embassy of St. Kitts and Nevis is located at 2100 M Street, NW,
Suite #608, Washington, DC 20037 (tel. 202-833-3550).
ECONOMY
Until recently, St. Kitts and Nevis was the last sugar monoculture in
the Eastern Caribbean. Faced with continuing reductions in the US
sugar quota, the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis embarked on a
successful program to diversify the agricultural sector and
stimulate the development of other sectors of the economy. In
addition to encouraging the planting of alternate crops, the
government has found new ways to use its sugarcane, such as for
producing gelled ethanol for cooking fuel and a new cane spirits
liquor.
The government has instituted a program of investment incentives
for businesses considering locating in St. Kitts or Nevis, encouraging
both domestic and foreign private investment. Government policies
provide liberal tax holidays, duty-free import of equipment and
materials, and subsidies for training provided to local personnel.
The formation of an Investment Promotion Agency in 1987 has
greatly assisted this effort; light manufacturing has expanded,
particularly in electronics.
Tourism has shown the greatest growth, however. In 1987, tourism,
surpassed sugar as the major foreign exchange earner for St. Kitts
and Nevis. Completion of the US Agency for International
Development (USAID)-funded Southeast Peninsula Road project
opened a whole new area of St. Kitts for hotel construction. Many of
the island's most beautiful beaches are found in this area.
St. Kitts and Nevis are beneficiaries of the US Caribbean Basin
Initiative. As members of the 13-nation Caribbean Economic
Community and Common Market, they have signed a framework
agreement with the United States to promote trade and investment
under the Enterprise for the Americas Initiative.
FOREIGN RELATIONS
St. Kitts and Nevis maintains diplomatic relations with the United
States, Canada, the United Kingdom, China, and South Korea, as well
as with many Latin American countries and neighboring Eastern
Caribbean states. It is a member of the Commonwealth; the United
Nations and several of its specialized and related agencies,
including the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund; the
Organization of American States; the Organization of Eastern
Caribbean States; the Caribbean Regional Security System; and the
Caribbean Common Market.
US-ST. KITTS AND NEVIS RELATIONS
Since St. Kitts and Nevis attained full independence in 1983, US
relations have been very friendly. The US Embassy in St. John's,
Antigua, conducts bilateral relations with St. Kitts and Nevis.
The United States seeks to help St. Kitts and Nevis develop
economically and to help strengthen its moderate, democratic,
parliamentary form of government. St. Kitts and Nevis is
strategically placed in the Leeward Islands, near maritime transport
lanes of major importance to the United States. St. Kitts and Nevis
benefits from a number of AID projects, including scholarship and
training programs and small business assistance.
Principal US Officials
The US Embassy in Antigua handles affairs with St. Kitts and Nevis.
Charge d'Affaires--Bryant Salter
The US Embassy is located on Queen Elizabeth Highway, St. John's,
Antigua (tel. 809-462-3505).
TRAVEL NOTES
Entry requirements:
A passport and visa are not required
for US and Canadian citizens to enter St. Kitts and Nevis as
temporary visitors for periods up to 6 months, but the Department of
State recommends that US citizens always carry a valid passport as
proof of citizenship. St. Kitts and Nevis immigration authorities
require some proof of citizenship upon entry--a birth certificate or
voter registration card and a valid drivers' license with photo. They
also will require a return ticket or proof of onward travel.
Telecommunications:
St. Kitts and Nevis has a good
internal telephone system, which is accessible from the United
States by direct dialing area code 809 and the local number.
International telephone, cable, and telex services are good and are
available 24 hours a day.
HOW TO ORDER BACKGROND NOTES IN PAPER
Published by the United States Department of State -- Bureau of
Public Affairs -- Office of Public Communication -- Washington, DC
-- May 1993 -- Managing Editor: Peter Knecht Editor: Josephine C.
Brooks
Department of State Publication 8874
Background Notes Series -- This material is in the public domain and
may be reprinted without permission; citation of this source is
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