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Trinidad & Tobago |
St
Kitts and Nevis
St. Kitts | St. Kitts and Nevis flag
First settled by the British in 1623, the islands of St Kitts -
also known as St Christopher - and Nevis are inhabited mostly by the
descendants of West African slaves. The former British colonies along
with Anguilla were given full internal autonomy in 1967. The island
of Anguilla seceded in 1971. The islands finally achieved independence
from Britain in 1983. Since then, Nevis has been trying to secede
from Saint Kitts. In 1998 a referendum was held on the issue of separation
which however fell short of the requisite majority needed.
The pristine beaches, scenic beauty, lush rainforest and a wonderful
climate give the islands a great tourist potential. Tourism, finance
and service industries are blooming in the country, located in the
Leeward Islands. Vulnerable to hurricanes, the islands suffered extensive
damages in 1998, when Hurricane Georges visited their territories.
Travel overview
The twin-island nation of St Kitts and Nevis is famous for its scenic
mountain ranges, pristine beaches, volcanoes, lush tropical rainforests
and colonial towns. The picturesque capital of Basseterre is a major
draw for the tourists for its colonial architecture. St Kitts' popular
Frigate Bay area attracts tourists in huge number. Charlestown is
another town which is not to be missed. The 18th century Brimstone
Hill Fortress is a must see place. Other tourist attractions in St.
Kitts and Nevis include Museum of Nevis History, thermal springs,
Bath House, Mount Liamuiga, Hurricane Hill and Pinney’s Beach.
Capital: Basseterre
Location: Caribbean,
Climate: tropical
Total Area: 261 sq km
Total Population: 39,349
Population Growth Rate: 0.623%
Sex Ratio: 0.988 male(s)/female
Literacy: 97.8%
Ethnic Groups: predominantly black, some British, Lebanese, Portuguese
Languages: English
Time Zone: UTC-4
Currency: East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Type of govt.: parliamentary democracy
Head of Govt.: Prime Minister Dr. Denzil Douglas
Major Political Parties: Concerned Citizens Movement or CCM, Nevis
Reformation Party or NRP, People's Action Movement or PAM, Saint Kitts
and Nevis Labor Party or SKNLP
Participation in International Organizations: ACP, CDB, FAO, G-77,
C, Caricom, IBRD, ICAO, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, ILO, Interpol,
IOC, ITU, MIGA, NAM, IMF, IMO, OAS, OECS, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, OPANAL,
OPCW, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WTO
Major Agricultural Products: sugarcane, vegetables, rice, yams, bananas,
fish
Industry & Transport: tourism, copra, clothing, cotton, salt,
footwear, beverages
Airports: 2
Railways: 50 km
Roadways: 320 km
Major Trade Partners: US, Canada, Netherlands, US, Trinidad and Tobago,
UK
Exports: $70 million
Imports: $405 million
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