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Saint Kitts and Nevis

Saint Kitts and Nevis is an island nation in the Caribbean with a population of less than one million.

Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis
Flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Kitts and Nevis: Coat of Arms
(In Detail)
National motto: Country Above Self
image:LocationSaintKittsAndNevis.png
Official language English
Capital Basseterre
Queen Elizabeth II
Governor General Sir Cuthbert Sebastian
Prime Minister Dr. Denzil Douglas
Area
 - Total
 - % water
Ranked 186th
261 km²
Negligible
Population


 - Total


 - Density
Ranked 186th


38,819 (July 2000)


149/km²
Independence
 - Date
From the United Kingdom
September 19, 1983
Currency East Caribbean dollar (EC$)
Time zone UTC -4
National anthem Oh Land of Beauty!
Internet TLD .KN
Calling Code 1-869
Contents

History

Main article: History of Saint Kitts and Nevis

Originally colonies of the United Kingdom, Saint Kitts and Nevis along with Anguilla, became an associated state with full internal autonomy in 1967. Anguilla rebelled and was allowed to secede in 1971. St. Kitts and Nevis achieved independence in 1983. 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.

Politics

Main article: Politics of Saint Kitts and Nevis

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 bicameral legislature: an 11-member 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 which has eight St. Kitts seats and three Nevis seats. The prime minister and the cabinet are responsible to the Parliament.

Parishes

There are fourteen parishes: Christ Church Nichola Town, Saint Anne Sandy Point, Saint George Basseterre, Saint George Gingerland, Saint James Windward, Saint John Capisterre, Saint John Figtree, Saint Mary Cayon, Saint Paul Capisterre, Saint Paul Charlestown, Saint Peter Basseterre, Saint Thomas Lowland, Saint Thomas Middle Island, Trinity Palmetto Point

Geography

Main article: Geography of Saint Kitts and Nevis

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

Economy

Main article: Economy of Saint Kitts and Nevis

Saint Kitts and Nevis was the last sugar monoculture in the Eastern Caribbean. Faced with a sugar industry that was finding it increasingly difficult to earn a profit, the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis embarked on a program to diversify the agricultural sector and stimulate the development of other sectors of the economy.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Saint Kitts and Nevis

As of July 2000, there were 38 819 inhabitants; their average life expectancy was 70.73 years.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Saint Kitts and Nevis

Miscellaneous topics

Map of Saint Kitts and Nevis


Countries in West Indies

Antigua and Barbuda | Bahamas | Barbados | Cuba | Dominica | Dominican Republic | Grenada | Haiti | Jamaica | Saint Kitts and Nevis | Saint Lucia | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Trinidad and Tobago

Dependencies: Anguilla | Aruba | British Virgin Islands | Cayman Islands | Guadeloupe | Martinique | Montserrat | Netherlands Antilles | Puerto Rico | Turks and Caicos Islands | U.S. Virgin Islands


Last updated: 10-24-2004 05:10:45