Wayzata World Factbook 1996/The World Factbook - 1996 Edition - Wayzata Technology (3079) (1996).iso/mac/TEXT/backgrd/SAINT_KI.BKG

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
BACKGROUND NOTES: ST. KITTS AND NEVIS
PUBLISHED BY THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS
NOVEMBER 1994

Official Name:  Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis


PROFILE

Geography
Area:  St. Kitts 168 sq. km. (65 sq. mi.); Nevis 93 sq. km. (36 sq.
mi.).
Cities:  Capital--Basseterre (pop. about 15,000).
Terrain:  Generally mountainous; highest elevations are 1,156 m. (3,792
ft.) at Mt. Liamuiga on St. Kitts and 985 m. (3,232 ft.) at Nevis Peak
on Nevis.

People
Nationality:  Noun and adjective--Kittitian(s), Nevisian(s).
Population (est.):  40,400 (St. Kitts 31,100; Nevis 9,300).
Annual growth rate (1993 est.):  0.6%.
Ethnic groups:  Almost entirely of 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 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.

Economy
GDP (1991):  $142 million.
Annual growth rate (1991):  6.8%.
Per capita GDP (1991):  $3,500.
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--$126 million.  Major markets--CARICOM, U.S.,
U.K.  Imports--$115 million.
Official exchange rate:  Eastern Caribbean $2.70=U.S. $1.  n


HISTORY

The islands of St. Kitts and Nevis were originally inhabited by Carib
Indians.  Christopher Columbus landed on St. Kitts in 1493 on his second
voyage and named it after his patron saint, St. Christopher.  Columbus
also discovered Nevis on his second voyage, reportedly calling it Nevis
because of its resemblance to a snowcapped mountain (in Spanish,
"Nuestra Senora de las Nieves" or "Our Lady of the Snows").  European
colonization of the islands did not begin for some time.

In 1624, Sir Thomas Warner led the first English party to St.
Christopher island; "Kitt" was an English nickname for "Christopher,"
hence it became known as "St. Kitt's" island.  From there, English
colonists spread to other islands in the region.

The same year, the French also colonized part of the island.  St. Kitts
was held jointly by the English and French from 1628-1713, and
intermittent warfare between French and British settlers during the 17th
century ravaged its economy.  The island was ceded to Great Britain by
the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713.  St. Kitts was taken by the French and
held from 1782-83.

In 1628, Warner sent Capt. Anthony Hilton to colonize Nevis.  Hilton
became the first governor of Nevis, setting it on a path to prosperity
for the next 150 years.  Its relative opulence in the 17th century gave
it the name "Queen of the Caribbees."  Nevis was taken by the French in
1782.

The Treaty of Paris in 1783 definitively awarded both islands to
Britain.  They were part of the colony of the Leeward Islands from 1871-
1956 and of the West Indies Federation from 1958-62.  In 1967, together
with Anguilla, they became a self-governing state in association with
Great Britain; Anguilla ceded later that year.  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 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.

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.

St. Kitts and Nevis has enjoyed a long history of free and fair
elections.  The most recent elections were held in November 1993.  The
two major parties--the ruling People's Action Movement, or PAM, and the
St. Kitts Labor Party--each won four seats, and both claimed victory.  A
constitutional quarrel--including some demonstrations that turned
violent--ensued through December.  Finally, the PAM, under Prime
Minister Kennedy Simmonds, garnered the support of the Premier of Nevis
(one parliamentary seat) and now holds a 5-4-2 majority.  Subsequent
political grumblings have continued, but overall the tone is quiet.

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 excellent 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
has 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
Ambassador to the U.S.--Irvin R. Sweeney (charge d'affaires)
Ambassador to the OAS and the UN--William V. Herbert (resident in
Basseterre)

Principal Nevis Island Government Official
Premier--Vance Amory

The embassy of St. Kitts and Nevis is located at 3216 New Mexico Ave.,
NW, Washington, DC 20016 (tel. [phone]).


ECONOMY

Until recently, St. Kitts and Nevis was the last sugar monoculture in
the Eastern Caribbean.  Faced with continuing reductions in the U.S.
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 uses for its sugarcane, such as gelled ethanol for cooking and a new
cane 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
the Investment Promotion Agency in 1987 has greatly assisted this
effort; light manufacturing has expanded, particularly in electronics.

Tourism has shown the greatest growth.  In 1987, tourism surpassed sugar
as the major foreign exchange earner for St. Kitts and Nevis.
Completion of the U.S. 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 U.S. Caribbean Basin
Initiative and also belong to the 13-member Caribbean Community and
Common Market (CARICOM), which has signed a framework agreement with the
United States to promote trade and investment in the region.


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; 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 CARICOM.

As a member of CARICOM, St. Kitts and Nevis strongly backed efforts by
the United States to implement UN Security Council Resolution 940,
designed to facilitate the departure of Haiti's de facto authorities
from power.  The country agreed to contribute personnel to the
Multinational Force, which restored the democratically elected
Government of Haiti in October 1994.


U.S.-ST. KITTS AND NEVIS RELATIONS

Since St. Kitts and Nevis attained full independence in 1983, U.S.
relations have been very friendly.  The U.S. embassy in Bridgetown,
Barbados, 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 are strategically placed in the Leeward
Islands, near maritime transport lanes of major importance to the United
States.  St. Kitts and Nevis benefit from a number of USAID projects,
including scholarship and training programs and small business
assistance, although these programs will diminish in 1996, when the
regional USAID office in Barbados closes.

Principal U.S. Embassy Officials
Ambassador-designate--Jeanette W. Hyde
Deputy Chief of Mission--Tain P. Tompkins
Political/Economic Counselor--Thomas R. Hutson
Consul General--Dale Shaffer
Regional Labor Attache--Peggy Zabriskie
Economic-Commercial Officer--Carole Jackson
Public Affairs Officer--Tyrone Kemp
USAID Regional Director--Mosina Jordan
Peace Corps Director--James Scanlon (resident in St. Lucia)

The United States maintains no official presence in St. Kitts and Nevis.
The ambassador and embassy officers are resident in Barbados and
frequently travel to St. Kitts and Nevis.

The U.S. embassy in Barbados is located in the Canadian Imperial
Bank of Commerce Building, Broad Street, Bridgetown (tel:  [phone];
fax:  [phone]).

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