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Saint Kitts and Nevis

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Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis1
Motto: "Country Above Self"
Anthem: O Land of Beauty!
Royal anthem: God Save the Queen
Location of Saint Kitts and Nevis
Capital
and largest city
Basseterre
Official languagesEnglish
GovernmentParliamentary democracy (federal constitutional monarchy)
• Monarch
Queen Elizabeth II
Sir Cuthbert Sebastian
Dr. Denzil Douglas
Independence
• from the United Kingdom
19 September 1983
• Water (%)
negligible
Population
• July 2005 estimate
42,696 (209th)
GDP (PPP)2002 estimate
• Total
$339 million (213th)
• Per capita
$14,649 (47th)
HDI (2004)Steady 0.8252
Error: Invalid HDI value (51st)
CurrencyEast Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Time zoneUTC-4
Calling code1-869
ISO 3166 codeKN
Internet TLD.kn
  1. Or "Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis".
  2. hdr.undp.org

Saint Kitts and Nevis, officially the Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis (or the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis), located in the Leeward Islands, is a unitary island nation in the Caribbean and the smallest nation in the Americas in both area and population. The capital city and government for the federated state is mainly on the larger island of Saint Kitts (formerly named Saint Christopher). The smaller state of Nevis (formerly named: Nuestra Señora de las Nieves) lies about 3 km southeast of Saint Kitts. Historically the British dependency of Anguilla was also a part of this union, which was then known collectively as Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla.

Although Saint Kitts and Nevis are geographically within the Leeward Islands, they are relatively close to a cluster of several other islands. To the north-northwest lie the islands of Saint Eustatius, Saba, Saint Barthélemy, and Saint Martin. To the northeast are Antigua and Barbuda, and to the south-east is Montserrat.

Both the names Saint Christopher and Saint Kitts are given in the Constitution of Saint Christopher and Nevis.

History

Main article: History of Saint Kitts and Nevis

Saint Kitts and Nevis has the distinction of being two of the Caribbean's oldest colonised territories. Saint Kitts specifically became the first ever British colony in the West Indies in 1624, and then became the first ever French colony in the Caribbean in 1625, when both nations decided to partition the island. Prior to European arrival, the island was settled by Neo-Indian peoples for over 5,000 years, with the latest arrivals, the Kalinago peoples, arriving approximately 3 centuries before the Europeans. It was the kindness of the Kalinago that allowed the Europeans to colonize Saint Kitts in the first place, as all earlier attempts to settle other islands was met with immediate destruction of the colonies by the Indians. The Kalinago were eventually completely wiped out on Saint Kitts in the great Kalinago Genocide of 1626. The island of Nevis was colonized in 1628 by British settlers from Saint Kitts. From there, Saint Kitts became the premier base for British and French expansion, as the islands of Antigua, Montserrat, Anguilla and Tortola for the British, and Martinique, the Guadeloupe archipelago and St. Barths for the French were colonized from it.

Although being tiny in size, and separated by only 2 miles of water (in the case of Saint Kitts and Nevis), the two islands were always viewed and governed as completely different states until the late 19th century, when they were forcefully unified along with the island of Anguilla by the British. An uneasy relationship followed to this day, with Nevis accusing Saint Kitts of neglecting its needs.

Saint Kitts and Nevis along with Anguilla, became an associated state with full internal autonomy in 1967. Angullians rebelled, and their island was allowed to separate from the others in 1971. St. Kitts and Nevis achieved independence in 1983. It is the newest sovereign nation of the Americas. In August 1998, a vote in Nevis on a referendum to separate from St. Kitts fell short of the two-thirds majority needed. In late September 1998, Hurricane Georges caused approximately $445 million in damages and limited GDP growth for the year.

Alexander Hamilton, the first United States Secretary of the Treasury, was born on Nevis and spent his childhood there and on the island of St. Croix.

Politics

Main article: Politics of Saint Kitts and Nevis

[[Image:Flag of the OECS.svg|thumb|left|Saint Kitts and Nevis is a full member of the OECS.The country is an independent Commonwealth Realm with Queen Elizabeth II as its head of state, 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 unicameral legislature, known as the National Assembly. It is comprised of fourteen members: eleven elected Representatives (three from the island of Nevis) and three Senators who are appointed by the Governor-General. Two of the senators are appointed on the advice of the Prime Minister, and one on the advice of the leader of the opposition. Unlike in other countries, Senators do not constitute a separate Senate or upper house of parliament, but sit in the National Assembly, alongside Representatives. All members serve five-year terms. The Prime Minister and the Cabinet are responsible to the Parliament.

Saint Kitts and Nevis is a full and participating member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).

Parishes

Parishes of Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Main article: Parishes of Saint Kitts and Nevis

The federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis is divided into fourteen parishes: nine divisions on Saint Kitts and five on Nevis. They are as follows:

Geography

Map of Saint Kitts and Nevis
Main article: Geography of Saint Kitts and Nevis
See also: List of cities in Saint Kitts and Nevis

The country has two main islands, Saint Kitts and Nevis. The highest peak, at 1,156 metres, is Mount Liamuiga.

The islands are of volcanic origin, with large central peaks covered in jungle; the steep slopes leading to these peaks are mostly uninhabited. The vast majority of the population on both islands live close to the sea where the terrain flattens out. There are numerous rivers descending from the mountains of both islands, which provide fresh water to the local population. St. Kitts also has one very small lake.

Economy

File:800px-Stkitts-view-lookingatsea.jpg
Salt ponds overlooking Nevis.
Main article: Economy of Saint Kitts and Nevis

Saint Kitts and Nevis is a twin-island federation whose economy is characterized by its dominant sugar and tourism industries. Sugar has been the country's main export crop for well over a century, but increasing production costs, low world market prices and the government's efforts to reduce dependence on it have led to a growing diversification of the agricultural sector. In late 2005, the government decided to close down the state-owned sugar company, which had produced losses and was a significant contributor to the fiscal deficit. While sugar still dominates the agricultural sector, tourism, export-oriented manufacturing, and offshore-banking are being developed and taking larger roles in the country’s economy. The growth of the tourism sector has become the main foreign exchange earner for Saint Kitts and Nevis. The country has also developed a successful apparel assembly industry and one of the largest electronics assembly industries in the Caribbean.

During the 1990s, Saint Kitts and Nevis registered an annual GDP growth of 5.5 percent, but the strong growth was interrupted by devastating hurricanes in 1998 and 1999. Post-hurricane reconstruction led to an economic resumption in 2000 with GDP growing 6.2 percent. The year 2001 began well enough although the post-hurricane construction boom was over and growth was slowing from its 2000 rate. But after September 11, tourism arrivals dropped off precipitously and activity in related sectors of the economy such as road construction and retail sales declined along with tourism. As a result, the GDP growth declined substantially in 2001 and 2002. Economic activity has recovered since 2003, mainly driven by strong growth in tourism. In view of its high level of public debt, the country needs a prudent fiscal policy to ensure sustainable economic growth. [1]

Education

Colleges

  • Ross University of Veterinary Medicine
  • Ross University of Nursing
  • Windsor University School of Medicine

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Saint Kitts and Nevis

As of July 2000, there were 42,696 inhabitants; their average life expectancy was 72.4 years. Emigration has historically been very high, and the population is about 25% lower than at its peak of about 51,100 in 1960.

Emigration from St. Kitts & Nevis to the United States:[2]

  • 1986-1990: 3,513
  • 1991-1995: 2,730
  • 1996-2000: 2,101
  • 2001-2005: 1,756

Culture

[[Image:BrimnstoneHill.jpg|right|210px|thumb|Brimstone Hill]]

Main article: Culture of St. Kitts and Nevis
See also: Music of Saint Kitts and Nevis, J'ouvert, and Saint Kitts Creole

Saint Kitts and Nevis is known for a number of musical celebrations including Carnival (December 17 to January 3 on Saint Kitts). The last week in June features the St Kitts Music Festival, while the week-long Culturama on Nevis lasts from the end of July into early August.[1]

In addition, there are other festivals on the island of Saint Kitts. There is Inner City Fest in February in Molineaux, Green Valley Festival usually around Whit Monday in village of Cayon, Easterama around Easter (April) in village of Sandy Point, Fest-Tab, around July-August in the village of Tabernacle, and La festival de Capisterre, around Independence Day in Saint Kitts and Nevis (19th September), in the Capisterre region. These celebrations typically feature parades, street dances and salsa, jazz, soca, calypso and steelpan music.

Sports

Kim Collins is the 100 metres world champion and a national hero. He won in 2003 with only 0.02 seconds between him and three others.

The St. Kitts and Nevis national football team, also know as the "Christmas Apes", has experienced some international success in recent years, progressing to the second round of qualification for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in the CONCACAF region, defeating U.S. Virgin Islands and Barbados before they were outmatched by Mexico, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago.

See also

Government

Directories

Tourism

Other

  1. ^ Cameron, pg.502
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