St Kitts and

vegetables and coconuts, has a large coconut KEY FACTS forest on the west side. Forest covers 42 per Joined Commonwealth: 1983 cent of the total land area of St Kitts and Population: 54,000 (2013) Nevis and there was no significant loss of GDP p.c. growth: 1.6% p.a. 1990–2013 forest cover during 1990–2012. UN HDI 2014: World ranking 73 Wildlife: Before the arrival of Europeans the only land-animals were small rodents and Official language: English reptiles. The French introduced the green Time: GMT minus 4 hrs vervet monkey to the islands, and mongooses Currency: Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC$) and deer later followed. Birdlife includes pelicans and frigate birds on the coast, hummingbirds in the forested areas and Geography quails and pigeons in the mountains. Area: 261.6 sq km Main towns: Basseterre (capital, pop. Coastline: 135 km 13,400 in 2010), St Paul’s (1,300), Sadlers Capital: Basseterre (1,000), Middle Island (900), Tabernacle The two-island country of St Kitts and Nevis (840), Mansion (830), Cayon (810) and Sandy Religion: Mainly Christians (Anglicans, lies in the northern part of the Leeward Point (790) on St Kitts; Charlestown (2,200) Methodists, Roman Catholics, Moravians and Islands group of the Lesser Antilles in the on Nevis. others). Eastern Caribbean. The two islands are Transport: There are good road networks on Health: Public spending on health was two separated by a channel some 3 km in width. St Kitts and Nevis, 43 per cent paved. A per cent of GDP in 2012. There are general Area: Total land area 261.6 sq km – St Kitts regular passenger ferry service operates hospitals at Basseterre in St Kitts and 168.4 sq km and Nevis 93.2 sq km. between Basseterre and Charlestown, taking Charlestown in Nevis, and many health 40 minutes. Basseterre has a deep-water clinics. Some 98 per cent of the population Topography: The country consists of two port, with berthing facilities for cruiseships uses an improved drinking water source mountainous islands of volcanic origin in the and cargo vessels. There is a smaller port at (2012). Infant mortality was eight per 1,000 Eastern Caribbean. The larger island, St Kitts, Sandy Point. Nevis has a 126-metre pier at live births in 2013. is 37 km long, with a central mountain range Charlestown. There is also a smaller port at broken by ravines and a spacious fertile valley Education: There are 12 years of compulsory Newcastle. running down to the capital Basseterre. The education starting at the age of five, offered highest point is Mount Liamuiga (1,156 The Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw International by state, private and church schools. Primary metres). The beaches are mostly of black Airport at Golden Rock, St Kitts (3 km from school comprises seven years and secondary volcanic sand except for the south-eastern Basseterre), receives direct flights from the five, with cycles of three and two years. peninsula, which has beaches of golden USA and Canada, while flights to other Some 74 per cent of pupils complete primary school (2009). The school year starts in sand. The almost circular island of Nevis to continents generally go via Antigua. The September. the south-east has beaches of silver sand and Nevis airfield is at Newcastle. coconut groves, and rises to a central peak St Kitts and Nevis participates in the regional (Mount Nevis, 985 metres) which is usually University of the West Indies, which has its capped with white clouds. Society main campuses in Barbados, Jamaica, and KEY FACTS 2013 Trinidad and Tobago. The female–male ratio Climate: Tropical, cooled by the north-east Population per sq km: 206 for gross enrolment in tertiary education is trade winds. There is no distinct rainy season. 2.10:1 (2008). The heat is not searing; the highest recorded Life expectancy: 75 years (est.) temperature is 33°C. Hurricanes may occur Net primary enrolment: 81% (2012) Media: The main political parties publish June–November. newspapers. Newspapers include Sun St Population: 54,000 (2013); some 12,000 on Kitts /Nevis (daily), The Democrat (weekly of Vegetation: The lower mountain slopes of St Nevis; 32 per cent of people live in urban People’s Action Movement), The Labour Kitts, particularly to the north, are arable and areas; growth 1.2 per cent p.a. 1990–2013; Spokesman (bi-weekly of St Kitts-Nevis Trades used for growing sugar cane. Uncultivated birth rate 14 per 1,000 people (est. 26 in and Labour Union), and St Kitts and Nevis lowland slopes are covered in tropical 1970); life expectancy 75 years (est.) Observer (weekly). woodland and exotic fruits. The higher slopes The population is mainly of mixed African provide short grass for pasturage. Tropical The government provides national and European descent, with a UK-descended rainforest or dense bushy cover occurs on the commercial radio and TV services, ZIZ Radio minority. central range; unusually, the forested area is and ZIZ Television; and there are several increasing in size. Nevis, where much of the Language: English is the official language; private radio stations, and private TV land is cultivated by peasant farmers growing an English-based Creole is widely spoken. channels are available via cable.

THE COMMONWEALTH YEARBOOK 2015 St Kitts and Nevis

Communications: Country code 1 869; Real growth in GDP cent in 2010. After a pause in 2011–12, internet domain ‘.kn’. Mobile phone good growth returned from 2013, continuing % coverage extends over most of both islands. 5 into 2015. There are internet cafes in the main towns 4 3 and a general post office on both St Kitts 2 (located in Basseterre) and Nevis (in History 1 The islands were originally settled from South Charlestown). 0 Americag, and had A merindian populations at For every 1,000 people there are 354 -1 the time of th e first European landings. St -2 landlines, 1,421 mobile phone subscriptions Christopher ( St Kit ts) was sighted by and 800 internet users (2013). -3 -4 Christopher Columbus on his second voyage Public holidays: New Year/Carnival -5 in 1493. It was colonised by the English (two/three days), Labour Day (first Monday in -6 under Sir Thomas Warner in 1623 and during 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 May), August Monday (first Monday in the following centuries sugar was grown on August), August Tuesday (first Tuesday in plantations worked by enslaved Africans. August), National Heroes’ Day (16 September), Inflation Already in 1624, however, another part of Independence Day (19 September), Christmas % 8 the island was colonised by the French (who Day and Boxing Day. Carnival begins on 24 7 also used slaves on their estates) and the two December and ends on 2 January. powers fought over the island during the 6 17th and 18th centuries until St Kitts was Religious festivals whose dates vary from year 5 ceded to Britain by the Treaty of Versailles to year include Good Friday, Easter Monday 4 (1783). Nevis was settled by the English in and Whit Monday. 3 1628. It, too, was subject to attack, from the French and Spanish, in the 17th and 18th 2 Economy centuries, with less damage, however, to its KEY FACTS 2013 1 economy. From 1816 the islands were 0 administered, along with Anguilla and the GNI: US$724m 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 British Virgin Islands, as a single colony and GNI p.c.: US$13,460 from 1871 as part of the Leeward Islands GDP growth: -0.9% p.a. 2009–13 GDP by sector (2013) Federation. Inflation: 2.3% p.a. 2009–13 The two islands, together with Anguilla, Agriculture assumed the status of association with the St Kitts and Nevis was virtually a sugar 1.6% monocrop economy until the late 1970s, UK in 1967, a situation which the Anguillans Industry when the government backed a drive into rejected from the outset, with rebellion 24.5% small-scale industrialisation. Tourism has beginning in 1967. In 1971, the UK and the become the largest source of foreign Services other islands agreed that Anguilla would 73.9% exchange. From 1984 a small offshore sector formally separate and remain a UK on Nevis grew rapidly, with around 18,000 dependency when the country achieved its independence. companies registered by 1999, and in 2005 Foreign debt rose rapidly from the mid- St Kitts established a registry of ships and 1990s, in large measure due to the The country, as the Federation of St yachts, which had registered 530 vessels in consequences of five hurricanes in five years. Christopher and Nevis, had internal self- 2014. The Ross University School of After strong growth in 2000, the economy government from 1976, and achieved Veterinary Medicine of the USA has an hardly grew in 2001–03, reflecting the independence on 19 September 1983, offshore campus on St Kitts. downturn in the USA and consequent fall in choosing to remain a constitutional monarchy Despite the challenges of industrial tourism, but there was investment in new with Queen Elizabeth II as head of state. diversification at such small scale, electronics tourist resorts and golf courses, and the The St Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) held assembly, food-processing, and beverages economy picked up in 2004. It then power from 1967 until defeat in 1980 by a and clothing production were developed. By maintained growth of five per cent p.a. over coalition of the People’s Action Movement 2000 sugar production only accounted for 2004–08, slowing from 2008 with the onset (PAM) and (NRP), some 20 per cent of GDP and by 2005 it had of the world economic downturn in that year, and PAM’s Dr Kennedy Alphonse Simmonds ceased altogether. shrinking by 5.6 per cent in 2009 and 3.2 per became Prime Minister. Simmonds was re- elected in 1984, 1989 and 1993, when the St Kitts and Nevis on the international stage PAM and SKNLP each won four seats, and the PAM formed a governing alliance with Celebrated author Caryl Phillips, born in St Kitts in March 1958, won the overall the NRP, though the SKNLP had received 54 Commonwealth Writers’ Prize Best Book award in 2004 with his book, A Distant Shore . per cent of the vote and NRP was itself losing support to the other main Nevis party, the Singer Joan Armatrading MBE was born in 1950 in Basseterre, moving to Birmingham, UK, at the age of seven. Concerned Citizens’ Movement (CCM). Kim Collins, born in St Kitts in 1976, won gold medals in the Men’s 100 Metres at both the In an early general election in 1995, after 15 2002 Commonwealth Games and the 2003 World Championships. Desai Williams, years in opposition, the SKNLP was elected to Canadian Olympic bronze medallist and Commonwealth gold medallist for the Men’s 100 office with an overwhelming majority of Metres Relay, was born in Basseterre in 1959. seven seats to the PAM’s one. The CCM retained its two seats in Nevis and the NRP

THE COMMONWEALTH YEARBOOK 2015 St Kitts and Nevis

one. Labour Party leader Dr Denzil Douglas elected by universal adult suffrage and three At the general election on 16 February 2015 became Prime Minister. nominated members. The central government the SKNLP was denied a fifth consecutive term of office by Team Unity. Team Unity won In the elections in March 2000 the SKNLP legislates for Nevis in matters concerning won all eight St Kitts seats, while in Nevis the overall policy formation. Under the seven seats, SKNLP three and NRP one. Team CCM retained two and the NRP one. constitution, provision is made for the Unity was formed by PAM (four seats), CCM secession of Nevis at six months’ notice, after (two) and the recently established People’s Nevis a two-thirds majority in favour in the Nevis Labour Party (PLP, one seat). The election was observed by a Commonwealth expert team. On Nevis, discontent with the federation Assembly and a referendum, also with at On 18 February PLP leader was grew through the latter 1980s, with least two-thirds in favour. sworn in as Prime Minister. increasing calls for separation, and strikes among sugar and other agricultural workers. Politics In May 2015 Governor-General Sir Edmund Elections in Nevis in 1992 then ousted the Last elections: 16 February 2015 Lawrence retired and Tapley Seaton QC became NRP, replacing it with the CCM. acting Governor-General. On 1 September Next elections: 2020 At the Nevis Island Assembly elections in 2015 Seaton was appointed Governor-General. Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, February 1997, three seats were won by the Nevis CCM and two by the NRP, CCM leader Vance represented by Governor-General Samuel Amory retaining the premiership. In October Weymouth Tapley Seaton QC The CCM’s long run of power was 1997, the five members of the Nevis Head of government: Prime Minister Dr interrupted in the July 2006 Nevis Island Assembly voted to secede from the Timothy Sylvester Harris Assembly elections, when NRP gained three federation, triggering a referendum on Nevis seats and the CCM two. NRP leader Joseph Ruling party: Team Unity coalition which was held in August 1998. Only 62 per Parry became Premier. Women MPs: 14% cent of the voters of Nevis backed secession, In closely fought Nevis Island Assembly which fell short of the required two-thirds Dr Denzil Douglas and the St Kitts-Nevis elections, in July 2011, the NRP (with three majority. Prime Minister Denzil Douglas Labour Party (SKNLP) were returned to power seats and 50.2 per cent of the vote) defeated promised to work for greater autonomy for in the general election of October 2004, the CCM (two seats and 49.8 per cent) and Nevis. which was observed by a Commonwealth Parry continued as Premier. expert team. The ruling party took seven of In the September 2001 Nevis Island Assembly The CCM (with three seats) won the January the St Kitts seats, and the People’s Action elections, the CCM won four seats and the 2013 Nevis Island Assembly elections and Movement (PAM) one. The Nevis seats were NRP one, and Amory was returned as Vance Amory was sworn in as Premier. The again divided between the Concerned Premier. An unsuccessful attempt at NRP took the remaining two seats. triggering a referendum on Nevis was Citizens’ Movement (CCM; two seats) and initiated in June 2003. the Nevis Reformation Party (NRP; one). In January 2010 the SKNLP won its fourth International relations St Kitts and Nevis is a member of the African, Constitution consecutive general election, taking six seats in St Kitts and 47 per cent of the national Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, Status: Monarchy under Queen Elizabeth II vote; and Douglas was returned as Prime Association of Caribbean States, Caribbean Legislature: National Assembly of St Kitts Minister. The remaining seats were again Community, Non-Aligned Movement, and Nevis divided between PAM (two in St Kitts; 32 per Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States, Independence: 19 September 1983 cent), CCM (two in Nevis; 11 per cent) and Organization of American States, United Nations and World Trade Organization. St Kitts and Nevis is a constitutional NRP (one in Nevis; ten per cent). Turnout was monarchy, recognising Queen Elizabeth II as 84 per cent. The election was observed by a head of state. She is represented by a Commonwealth expert team. Traveller information Governor-General who takes advice from the Governor-General Sir Cuthbert Sebastian Immigration and customs: Passports must Prime Minister and cabinet. The country is a retired on 1 January 2013, from the office he be valid for at least six months from the date sovereign democratic federal state, with a had held since 1996, and was succeeded by of departure. Visas are required by most unicameral National Assembly of 14 members Sir Edmund Lawrence on 2 January 2013. Commonwealth nationals. (plus the Attorney-General if he or she is not an elected member). Eleven Assembly members are elected for a term of no longer Further information than five years by universal adult suffrage in Government of St Christopher and Nevis: www.cuopm.com eight constituencies in St Kitts and three in Eastern Caribbean Central Bank: www.eccb-centralbank.org Nevis, and three are nominated ‘senators’, St Kitts Tourism Authority: www.stkittstourism.kn two on the advice of the Prime Minister and Commonwealth Secretariat: www.thecommonwealth.org one on the advice of the Leader of the Commonwealth of Nations: www.commonwealthofnations.org/ Opposition. The cabinet comprises the Prime country/St_Kitts_and_Nevis Minister (who must be able to command the Media support of the majority of members of the St Kitts and Nevis Observer : www.thestkittsnevisobserver.com National Assembly), five ministers and the The Labour Spokesman : www.labourspokesman.com Attorney-General. Voice of Nevis: www.vonradio.com Winn FM: www.winnfm.com Nevis has its own legislature, Premier and ZIZ Radio and Television: www.zizonline.com administration. The Nevis legislature, the SKNList: www.sknlist.com Nevis Island Assembly, has five members

THE COMMONWEALTH YEARBOOK 2015 St Kitts and Nevis

Travel within the country: Traffic drives foreign driving licence. Travel health: Prevalent diseases where appropriate precautionary measures are on the left. A temporary driving licence There are regular passenger ferries between recommended include dengue fever and must be purchased before visitors can drive St Kitts and Nevis, journey time about 40 hepatitis B. on the islands, available at car hire firms minutes. The bus network provides a regular and police stations, on production of a but unscheduled service. Taxis have set rates. There were 107,000 tourist arrivals in 2013.

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THE COMMONWEALTH YEARBOOK 2015