Saint Kitts and Nevis. Only the most important things about obtaining economic citizenship of St. Kitts and Nevis and about the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis in the offshore business of dishes that are worth trying


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Official name: Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis
Capital: Buster
The area of ​​the land: 261.6 sq. km
Total population: 49.9 thousand people
Population composition: 90% are Africans, 8% are Europeans.
Official language: English.
Religion: 80% are Anglicans, 20% are Catholics.
Internet domain: .kn
Mains voltage: ~230 V, 60 Hz
Telephone code countries: +1-869
Country barcode:

Climate

Tropical trade wind, hot and very smooth. Fluctuations in average monthly temperatures are insignificant - from +18 C to +24 C, and the air temperature in summer rarely drops below +27 C even at night and rarely exceeds +30 C during the day.

Precipitation ranges from 700 to 1200 mm per year. The pattern of rain distribution directly depends on the altitude of a place above sea level and its geographical location. Maximum rain falls between May and October-November, and during this period, up to 70% of the annual precipitation can fall on the northeastern slopes of the mountains (in some years - up to 2000 mm), and on the southern slopes the weather differs little from the rest of the year . The relatively dry season lasts from December to April.

Like the other Leeward Islands, St. Kitts and Nevis is in the path of severe tropical storms, which are most likely to occur between August and October.

Geography

The state of Saint Kitts and Nevis is located in the territory islands of the same name, lying in the northern part of the Leeward Islands group. It borders on Antigua and Barbuda to the east, Montserrat to the southeast, the Netherlands Antilles (St. Eustatius) to the northwest, and Saint Barthelemy, which is part of French Guadeloupe, to the north (all borders are maritime). Washed by waters on all sides Caribbean Sea(total length coastline- 135 km). The total area of ​​the state is 261.6 square meters. km (Saint Christopher - 168 sq. km, Nevis - 93 sq. km). It is the smallest country in the Western Hemisphere.

Flora and fauna

Vegetable world. The slopes of the mountains are occupied by sugar cane and cotton plantations, and higher up there are shrubs and small mountain tropical forests.
Vegetation in the interior mountainous areas The islands are represented by dense tropical rain forests (lianas, mangoes, breadfruit and cinnamon trees, tamarind, avocados, bananas, papaya grow). At the tops of the mountains, forests give way to meadows, and in the lower parts they are cleared and replaced by plantations of sugar cane and other crops. They are especially common in the northern part of the island of St. Kitts, which consists of gently undulating hills. Southern slopes steeper and mostly covered with dense forests and orchards.
On the western slopes of the island of Nevis, rows of palm trees rise, forming a real coconut forest. The eastern slopes retain more natural forms of native vegetation and are mostly occupied by tropical forests, bushland and relatively small farmland.

Animal world. The forests are home to numerous tropical birds and butterflies, and there are monkeys. Many seabirds, including pelicans, nest on the coast. The waters abound with fish.

Attractions

The islands, known today as Saint Kitts and Nevis, were settled by Indians from South America long before the new millennium. Columbus discovered them for Europeans in 1493, and from the beginning of the 17th century they became the arena of confrontation between Great Britain and France, with some participation of the Spanish crown. In 1628, the British colonized the island of Nevis, and in 1783 - St. Christopher (St. Kitts), thereby becoming the first British colony in the West Indies. The French settlements that also existed on the islands were either removed from the islands or brought under British jurisdiction by the Treaty of Paris in 1783, and by the early 19th century the islands had become a thriving center for the sugar industry in the eastern Caribbean. In 1816, Saint Kitts and Nevis became part of a single colony with Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands, forming a powerful center of influence of the metropolis on the countries of the region. In 1958, Great Britain attempted to unite St. Kitts and Nevis with other islands into the Federation of the West Indies, but failed - the population of Anguilla categorically opposed such a merger, and after numerous attempts to restore the unity of the three islands, lasting almost two decades, on September 19, 1983 The islands of Saint Kitts and Nevis gained independence.

These days, these two small islands are perhaps one of the most tranquil and pastoral places in the region, being one of the few places in the West Indies where Agriculture tourism still dominates, and commerce is retreating under the pressure of tradition. Calm and relaxed lifestyle local residents remains virtually unspoilt by the influence of civilization, and the beauty of nature is only emphasized by the pristine beaches, sea, sunlight and fantastically abundant vegetation.

Saint Christopher Island
Buster

The small and unremarkable capital of the islands lies on the shores of a wide bay surrounded by green hills, being home to almost half the population of St. Christopher (this is the traditional name of the island itself, which is part of the Federation under the name St. Kitts, although local residents use these names interchangeably proportions). The town's name, meaning "lowland" or "lowland", is one of the few remaining traces of the French presence in the islands. The dominant European influence in Basseterre is unmistakably British, reflected in the buildings and even the layout of the city's streets. Basseterre is surrounded by the Szekes ring road, but even with the naked eye you can see that the place in front of the bronze clock of the Berkeley Memorial is copied from Piccadilly, and even the traffic jams seem to be the same (only older cars, and no traditional London smog). Although most of Basseterre's historic buildings were destroyed in a fire in 1867, a number of stone Victorian buildings remain, with second floors made of wood and decorated with intricate latticework or graceful, curvaceous stucco. Many of these houses were built with a certain amount of imagination and ingenuity, most evident on Fort Street, where old fortress walls were simply incorporated into the designs of the houses during construction. Some buildings seem very ancient, but this impression is deceptive, since they were erected in late XIX centuries of sooty stones left over from a city devastated by fire.

The center of the city is Independence Square - a small public park with a fountain in the center, previously used as a slave market (1790), and now as a reminder of the island's colonial past. Topped with a statue of a maiden, the fountain was a gift from Queen Elizabeth II on Independence Day (1983) and marks the former site of the largest slave market in the Antilles. The front facing the square is the two-domed Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (1927). The French parish of Notre Dame (1670), which originally stood on this site, was burned by the British in 1706, and in its place in 1856-1859 an Anglican church was built, from which only the Gothic window openings on the ground floor of the modern cathedral have survived .

Part of the city's history is presented in the St. Christopher Heritage Museum, which contains a large collection of historical photographs, shell tools and pottery shards from the Carib Indians who inhabited the islands before the arrival of Europeans. The domed colonial Treasury building dominates the coastline, a reminder of the importance of the island's sugar industry in the past (St. Christopher was the largest supplier of sugar and tobacco to the European market in the 17th and 18th centuries). Almost the entire trade turnover of the island and, until recently, all its visitors passed through its arches.

Also noteworthy in the capital area are the House of Crafts, the Primate Research Center and the volcanic crater of Mount Liamuiga or Misery (1156 m). Liamuiga (“fertile land” is what the Carib Indians called the whole island) rises above the city blocks like a huge natural frame around a painter’s painting, and today the lush volcanic peak of this mountain serves as one of the favorite places for active rest residents of the island, there are many hiking trails, horse riding routes, cycling trails and easy climbing sites (however, access to its northern and northeastern slopes is limited by local environmental legislation).

Old Road Town

The entire northern part of St. Christopher is bordered by Circle Island Road, which can be driven, and in some places walked, in just a day. The narrow-gauge railway running next to the road, the ancient “sugar trains” that still tow cargo from the nearby cane plantations, as well as numerous fields and factories (more like “factories”) form a rather impressive landscape for which the areas adjacent to Cycle Island Road are famous .

The old town (more like a seaside village) of Old Road Town, lying just a few kilometers west of Basseterre, is considered one of the best historical and natural attractions of St. Christopher. The town grew up on the very spot where the first British settlers landed in 1623. Sir Thomas Warner, who led them, founded the first permanent European settlement in the Leeward Islands. Oddly enough, the inhabitants of the colony were able to establish good neighborly relations with the Caribs (although such friendship did not last long) and began to grow tobacco here, which created the wealth of the Warner clan and the island itself. Until 1727, Old Road Town served as the capital of St. Christopher, and after the transfer of capital functions to Basseterre, it became simply a beautiful and tranquil town, retaining much of its colonial charm, although all that remains of all its old buildings is the red brick and marble Government House the crypt of Sir Warner himself, lying in the old cemetery in the courtyard of the modest church of St. Thomas, 1.5 km north of the main road.

On the surrounding rocks there are numerous petroglyphs of the Carib Indians, who settled here long before the new era and already had a fairly developed and distinctive civilization by the 10th century. Batik, produced in Old Road Town, is also famous; here you can watch the process of creating the fabric, its design and painting, and also buy the finished product at the Caribel-Batik factory, located north of Old Road Town, in the suburb of Wingfield -Estate. Initially, the Romney Manor sugar plantation (XVII century), where the complex is now located, belonged to the great-grandfather of Thomas Jefferson, a prominent lawyer and third President of the United States. Around "Karibel-Batik" there is a small botanical garden, the main decoration of which is considered to be a 350-year-old adobe tree (the oldest on the island). And from the ruins of a sugar plantation that belonged to William Jefferson (brother of Thomas Jefferson) and its picturesque aqueduct (the only one in the entire Caribbean region), many excursions to the nearby tropical forests begin.

7 km north of Basseterre, between the capital and Old Road Town, lies the picturesque islet of Middle Island and the village of Challengers - the site of the brutal massacre of the Carib Indians in 1626. Here, among the green rocks, lie huge boulders and even entire sections stone walls, many of which bear ancient petroglyphs, widely known for their unique compositional structure - scientists believe that these are the first animations on Earth, in the sequence of signs of which some religious or historical events of Indian peoples are narrated.

Brimstone Hill Fortress

Brimestone Hill Fortress National Park is located approximately 13 km north-west of Basseterre. The basis of the park was not forests or reefs, but a large and rather chaotic 18th-century fort of the same name, known in its time as the “Gibraltar of the West Indies.” The main British outpost in the region was built on top of a 244-meter ancient volcanic massif, and its walls are surrounded by sulfur sulfur outcrops, which apparently gave the fort additional impressiveness in the face of a potential enemy. Moreover, the fort was built for almost a hundred years - its foundation was made in 1690 and until its capture by French troops (the fort capitulated in 1782 after just one month of siege, however, a year later the French themselves abandoned both the island and the fortress) new walls were constantly erected here and bastions. After the catastrophic fire of 1867, which engulfed almost the entire vicinity of Basseterre, some of the fort’s structures were partially dismantled, and the stones were used to restore the capital. The main tower of the fortress, the Citadel, is equipped with 24 guns and provides an excellent panorama of St. Eustatius and Sandy Point. Inside the old Citadel Barracks there is now a Museum of Colonial History, which displays cannonballs, blades and other weapons and equipment from the period. There is also a small collection of Native American period objects, some pottery fragments, and recovered petroglyph fragments from Old Road Town. In 2000, the entire complex of fortifications was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The town of Sandy Point is the second largest town in St. Christopher. In the 17th century, Sandy Point was largest center tobacco trade on the island, so its main attraction is considered to be the large warehouses for storing tobacco, built at the same time by the Dutch West India Company. There seems to be nothing more to see here, but the nearby coral reef is considered one of best places on the island for diving. And the coastal strip between Newton Ground and Sandy Bay evokes associations with the era of colonization of the New World, with its windswept shores, fantastic ocean vistas, fields of wild sugar cane and ruins of plantations, many of which (surviving, of course) have been rebuilt today to inns. The island's northernmost bay, Dieppe Bay, marks the beginning Atlantic coast, and just to the south begins one of the main natural attractions of St. Christopher - Black Rocks. Black waves of solidified lava fall directly into the sea here, forming a chaotic and mesmerizing landscape.

South East Peninsula

The southeastern peninsula of St. Christopher stretches in a long, flat strip from the mountainous northern part of the island to Nevis. At the isthmus, the coast is sandwiched by Friget Bay (or rather, four bays, each of which differs from its neighbor only by a prefix to its name, designating it geographical position), and to the south it expands noticeably, forming the “blade” of St. Thomas Lowland County, strongly indented by bays and salty reservoirs. The peninsula is wild and strikingly beautiful. Dotted with barren salt ponds, grassy hills and sparse vegetation, it is inhabited, for the most part, only by vervet monkeys, flocks of which sometimes even manage to block the only major road here, deer and feral goats grazing on the hilly plain of the south-eastern region. The shores of the South East Peninsula until recently were difficult to reach, but the construction of the road brought some elements of civilization here, although the development of the region as a tourist attraction is artificially restrained by the country's authorities. The country has fairly strict environmental protection standards, so these snow-white shores and pristine reservoirs are planned to be left natural nature reserve, developing tourism only within the framework of respect for nature (now only 3 resort complexes are open here).

Frigate Bay, the main resort and beach area on the island, covers the northern end of the peninsula. The best shores of the island are located here - Turtle Beach (in addition to the most beautiful beach area, there is a colorful restaurant called Ash Turtle), the coast of Boobie Island (a great place for aquatic species recreation), Cockleshell Beach, modest White beach White House Bay (one of the best snorkeling spots on the island), the narrowest bays of North Fries Bay and South Fries Bay, the long beaches of Sand Bank Bay and many others. The stunning pink saltwater pools found in this part of St. Christopher provide a vibrant alternative to the colorful seashores. The color of the water is determined by the myriads of tiny crustaceans that inhabit these “lakes.” This sheltered and little-visited area is also inhabited a huge amount tropical birds, white-tailed deer and monkeys.

Nevis Island

The island of Nevis (area 93 sq. km) lies south of St. Christopher, approximately 350 km southeast of Puerto Rico and 80 km west of Antigua. The Indians called this island Wali ("Land of Beautiful Waters"), and the early British settlers called it Dulsina ("Sweet"). Yours modern name it was received with the light hand of Christopher Columbus, who named it in 1493 Nuestra Señora de Las Nevis ("Virgin of the Snows" - Columbus believed that this cloud-hidden peak was covered with snow). Since the 18th century, the island of Nevis has been known as the “Queen of the Caribbean”, becoming one of the most fashionable resort areas on the planet over the past 100 years. The fertile soil and warm climate made it possible to form a rich plantation estate here, which, along with prosperity and peace, allowed the islanders to quite calmly survive the earthquake and tsunami of 1680, which almost completely destroyed its capital, Jamestown. Intensive clearing of forests for plantations has led to the fact that many areas of the once green island have become noticeably deserted ( East Coast, for example, almost completely lost its forests and even part of its coral reefs), but with the decline of the sugar industry, the island gradually began to regain its natural charm, becoming one of the most colorful places in the region. Moreover, unlike its northern neighbor, there is no farmland visible on the island, which further enhances its natural charm.

Charlestown

The largest city, educational and commercial center on the island, Charlestown lies in the very middle west coast islands, between Fort Charles and Fort Black Rocks. The city is famous as a real museum of colonial architecture under open air- many small but very well-preserved buildings of the 17th-19th centuries form its central part. Some of them have now been turned into museums, making Charlestown good place to study local history. Numerous earthquakes, which repeatedly caused considerable damage to city blocks, led to the formation of a special architectural style here - most of the old houses in the city are built on a stone foundation, but with wooden structures on the upper floors - such a “composite” is much more resistant to seismic activity.

The city center is quite compact - most of the historic quarters are concentrated around Cotton Ginnery Mall, where most of Charlestown's shopping spots are located, and Main Street. Usually all city tours begin with a visit Historical Museum Nevis, which occupies a Georgian building on the very site where American statesman Alexander Hamilton was born in 1757 (Hamilton's house itself was destroyed by the 1840 earthquake). In addition to Hamilton's portraits, the museum contains a collection of period photographs and a display of Nevisian cultural and history objects. Another very popular object among guests of the island, the Horatio Nelson Museum, lies in the southern part of the city, next to the Government House. The famous British admiral stayed on Nevis in the 80s of the 18th century, fell in love with the niece of the island's governor, Fanny Nisbet, and married her. The museum's collection largely consists of various pieces of tableware painted with portraits of the admiral, ceramic sculptures and several personal items of Nelson. However, it contains the largest collection of Nelson memorabilia in the Western Hemisphere, as well as a rather interesting exhibition on the influence of the "Mistress of the Seas" on the destinies of the Caribbean.

A short walk east of the town centre, on Government Road, lies the small and largely forgotten Jewish Cemetery, a simple grassy field dotted with horizontal gravestones with inscriptions in Hebrew, English and Portuguese. The oldest graves date from 1684-1768, when up to 25% of the free population on Nevis were Sephardic Jews. The path that runs around the cemetery, commonly known to locals as Jewish Walk, leads from the cemetery to a nearby gray stone building (built in 1684), which scholars believe was the site of the first synagogue in the Caribbean. The memorial square, located a little closer to the city center, was created in honor of the citizens of the island who died on the fronts of the world wars.

The Bath House, located a short walk south of downtown Charleston, is an old hotel dating back to 1778 (one of the oldest hotels in the Leeward Islands). The complex was built over thermal spring, medicinal qualities mineral water which were the main attraction of the island during the colonial years, when wealthy tourists came here even from Europe. It is still operational today, but to take a dip in the hot waters of Hot Springs you must bring your own towel and other accessories as there are no maintenance facilities at the this moment there is no. Situated between Market Road and the shores of Gallows Bay, Charlestown Market is a real commercial hub and is open from Tuesday to Thursday and on Saturday mornings, when it seems like everyone in the city flocks to it.

Also noteworthy are the Courthouse (1825), the luxuriously decorated interior of the Public Library building (XVIII century), the Alexandra Hospital building, the Nevis Philatelic Bureau (stamps issued on the island are widely known among collectors around the world), Eva Wilkin's studio, the Eden building -Brown Great House, Grave Park with its cricket fields, as well as Newcastle Pottery and a whole quarter of craft workshops south of Prince Charles Street. Some of the old plantation buildings that line almost the entire perimeter of the city have now been rebuilt into cozy boarding houses, of which the Nisbet Hotel is the most famous.

The chaotic landscape of the area, which has received the name Gingerland ("country of ginger") for obvious reasons, stretches south from the walls of Eden Brown Great House, skirting almost all South coast islands and even part of the western one. This area is famous for the largest concentration of old sugar plantations, the tranquil charm of green hills and gently sloping seashores. The main attractions here are the Fig Tree Church located north of the capital of the island (1680, the site of the wedding of Nelson and Fanny Nisbet), the Botanical Gardens of Nevis (open Monday to Saturday from 9.00 to 16.30) near the Montpellier Hotel, where terraces of purple orchids are interspersed with groves tropical trees, as well as the once formidable Fort Charles (XVII-XIX centuries), which guarded the southwestern part of the island.

The coast north of Charleston is dotted with a string of small forts and fortified settlements, the largest of which is Fort Black Rocks, and the most colorful is Fort Ashby, which was built around 1702. It is Fort Ashby that is considered the only surviving site of the old capital of the island, Jamestown, which was washed out to sea by an earthquake and tidal wave in 1680. Situated almost on the very shore of the luxurious Pinni beach, it has retained several of its old guns and partially restored walls.

Banks and currency

Banks are open from Monday to Thursday from 8.00 to 14.00, on Fridays - from 8.00 to 13.00 and from 14.00 to 16.00-17.00, however, some banks stop working with individuals as early as 13.00. Some bank offices in airport and sea ​​ports open from Monday to Friday from 07.00 to 17.00, and exchange offices- from 8.00 to 12.00 and from 15.00 to 17.00 on weekdays.

Currency can be exchanged at almost any bank in the country, with the best rates usually offered for US dollars and euros.

Credit cards (Eurocard, MasterCard, Visa, American Express, etc.) are accepted for payment in most restaurants, almost all hotels and many large stores. ATM machines can be found in most banks in the country.

Travel checks can be cashed almost everywhere - in bank offices, hotels and large stores. To avoid additional conversion costs, it is recommended to use traveler's checks in US dollars.

East Caribbean dollar (XCD or EC$), equal to 100 cents. In circulation there are banknotes in denominations of 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5 dollars and coins in denominations of 1 dollar, 50, 25, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cent. The East Caribbean dollar is pegged to the US dollar and the exchange rate has not changed since 1976 (EC$2.7 = US$1).

The US dollar is freely circulated on the islands; many prices are indicated both in American dollars and in East Caribbean dollars.

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SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS

(Saint Kitts and Nevis)

General information

Official name - Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis(Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis). Located in the West Indies. Area 261.6 km 2, incl. the islands of Saint Kitts - 168.4 km 2, the islands of Nevis - 93.2 km 2. Population: 45.1 thousand people. (est. 2002). The official language is English. The capital is Basseterre (15 thousand people). Public Holiday- Independence Day September 19 (since 1983). The currency is the East Caribbean dollar.

Member of the UN and its specialized organizations (since 1983), OAS (since 1983), Commonwealth of Nations, CARICOM.

Geography

S.-K. - N. are located between 17°05" and 17°26" northern latitude and 62°33" and 62°52" western longitude. Washed by the Caribbean Sea in the west and the Atlantic Ocean in the east, they are separated by a narrow strait 3 km wide. Length coastline 135 km, Nevis is surrounded by coral reefs. Islands of volcanic origin, mountainous, highest peak on St. Kitts - Liamuiga (Misery) (1156 m), on Nevis - Nevis Peak (985 m). Climate tropical, dry. The average annual temperature is +27°C, seasonal variations are insignificant. The annual precipitation is 1397 mm on St. Kitts and 1219 mm on Nevis. The rainy season is from May to November, with tropical storms possible from July to October. Water sources are few in number and have no economic importance. In the south of the island of St. Kitts - salt Lake, in the crater extinct volcano on Liamuiga - fresh. Soils on St. Kitts they are sandy, on Nevis they are clayey. The tops of the mountains are occupied by alpine meadows , slopes - forests , covering approx. 30% of the country's territory. The largest animals

- green monkeys brought from Africa.

Population The population is declining (0.7% annually in 1975-2000) as a result of emigration. Birth rate 18.6‰, mortality 9.0‰, infant mortality 15.8 people. per 1000 newborns (2002 estimate). Lifespan 71.3 years, incl. women 74.3, men 68.5 years. : 0-14 years - 29.4%, 15-64 years - 61.9%, 65 years and older - 8.7%. There are 96 men for every 100 women. The share of the urban population is 38%. 98% of the adult population is literate. OK. 90% of the inhabitants are descendants of African slaves brought in in the 17th-19th centuries, partially mixed with the British, mulattoes, and small groups of immigrants from India, China, Lebanon and Portugal. The bulk of believers are followers of the Anglican and Methodist churches, groups of Moravian brothers and Catholics, immigrants from Lebanon are Muslims.

Story

The first Indians appeared on the islands at the end. 1st century BC. The Arawak tribes were displaced by the Caribs before the arrival of Europeans. Discovered by H. Columbus in 1493. English settlers appeared on St. Kitts in 1623, on Nevis - in 1628, the French - in 1627. Anglo-French rivalry ended with the islands coming into the possession of Great Britain in 1713, although attempts at revenge on the part of the French continued until the beginning . 19th century Until 1956, they were part of the Leeward Islands colony as a federation, which from 1882 also included Anguilla, and in 1958-62 - part of the West Indies Federation. In 1967 they received the status of a “state associated with Great Britain” and internal self-government, at the same time Anguilla separated from North Carolina. - N. Independence was proclaimed on September 19, 1983. In 1993 there were mass riots with the declaration of a state of emergency, the demand for the introduction of collective security forces and the holding of early elections in 1995. In 1998, a referendum was held in Nevis on secession from the federation (“in favor” 61.8% of voters voted in favor of the required 66.7%). In 2003, Nevis's political leaders announced their intention to seek independence.

Government and political system

British Dominion. According to the Constitution of 1983, the “Westminster model” of the organization of state power operates ( cm.). IN administratively is divided into 14 parishes. Largest cities : Basseterre, Sandy Point and Charlestown are the administrative center of Nevis. Head of State - Queen of Great Britain (Elizabeth II), represented by the Governor General, since 1996 K.M. Sebastine. Supreme body of legislative power - a house of assembly consisting of 11 elected members (8 from St. Kitts and 3 from Nevis) and 3 senators appointed by the Governor General. Executive branch - a government headed by a prime minister appointed by the governor general based on the results of elections, since 1995 D. Douglas.

Elections to the House of Assembly are held once every 5 years using a majoritarian system in single-mandate constituencies. Universal suffrage is granted from the age of 18 to all citizens who have lived in the country for more than a year.

Nevis enjoys autonomy in all matters except defense, security and foreign policy, and has its own legislative body - the Assembly, formed of 5 members elected once every 4 years and 4 members appointed by the Vice-Governor General. The Government of Nevis has broad powers and has its own financial resources. According to the Constitution, the Assembly can initiate the withdrawal of Nevis from the federation, for which at least 2/3 of the island's residents must vote for it in a referendum, subject to the participation of more than half of the registered voters.

Labor Party S.-K. - N. was created in 1932. It advocates a combination of a market economy with the preservation of social guarantees for the population. Advisory member of the Socialist International. Had a majority in the Legislative Assembly in 1952-80. The ruling party since 1995, in the 2000 elections received 53.9% of the vote and all 8 seats from St. Kitts in the House of Assembly. Leader - D. Douglas. The People's Action Movement (PAM) was organized in 1965. It adheres to a conservative orientation. He is a member of the International Democratic Union and the Christian Democratic International. Was in power from 1980-95. In the 2000 elections, she received 29.6% of the vote and lost representation in the House of Assembly. Leader - L. Grant. The Concerned Citizens' Movement arose in 1987, operates on the island of Nevis and advocates its immediate separation from the federation. In the 2000 elections, it received 2 seats in the House of Assembly, and in the 2001 elections to the Island Assembly - 4 out of 5 elected seats. Leader - V. Amory. The Reform Party of Nevis was founded in 1970. It adheres to conservative views and is a consultative member of the International Democratic Union. In 1980-95 it was part of a coalition government with PAM. Since 1997 he has been in favor of secession of the island. Has 1 seat in the House of Assembly and 1 elected seat in the Island Assembly. Leader - J. Parry.

The main task domestic policy - maintaining the territorial integrity of the country. The revision of the Constitution, which began in 1998, proposes options for expanding the degree of autonomy of Nevis, including the possibility of a confederation. In foreign policy a course is being pursued to deepen multifaceted cooperation with neighboring countries, primarily those led by social democratic governments.

Defense Forces , disbanded in 1981, re-established in 1997, includes the Coast Guard. If martial law is declared, a police force of 360 people will be added to the army.

Economy

GDP in current prices in 2002 amounted to 339.9 million US dollars, per capita - 7.5 thousand US dollars. Annual GDP growth in 1995-2000 exceeded 5%, in 2001 it decreased to 2.3%, and in 2002 - to 0.8%. The inflation rate decreased from 8.7% in 1997 to 1.9% in 2002. The economically active population is 22 thousand people, unemployment is 13% (2002). The share of agriculture and fishing in GDP is 2.8%, industry and energy - 12.7%, construction - 16.3%, services - 68.2%, but almost 15% are employed in agriculture, and in industry - St. 20% of the economically active population (2000).

To traditional industries industry include the production of sugar (21.4 thousand tons in 2002) and rum. To develop new industries, 4 industrial parks have been created; companies operating in them are exempt from paying duties on the import of equipment, raw materials and components and receive tax benefits for a period of 10-15 years. Due to the parks, the main industry has become the production of electrical products, primarily electronic components for export.

From the 17th century S.-K. - N. specialized in growing sugar cane. Due to rising production costs, the industry is unprofitable, and the issue of its liquidation is being studied. In 2002, a 5-year diversification project began agricultural production . Cotton and mango are of export importance; root crops, vegetables and fruits are grown. 4 thousand hectares are occupied by pastures, the number of cattle in 2002 was 4.3 thousand, goats - 14.4 thousand, sheep - 14 thousand, pigs - 4.9 thousand. Fishing for the domestic market and for export, a fish processing complex was built in Basseterre.

Length of narrow gauge railways railways- 58 km, used mainly for serving tourists. Length highways 320 km, of which 136 km are paved. Ports at Basseterre and Charlestown, with ferry connections between them. In St. Kitts international Airport, on Nevis - a local airport (accepts only light aircraft). Telephone communications are provided by a joint venture with the participation of the British Cable & Wireless and the government of the country, with 600 devices. per 1 thousand inhabitants, personal computers - 182 pcs. per 1 thousand

Number foreign tourists for 1995-2002 increased from 200 to 243 thousand, of which cruise ships - from 121 to 167 thousand. Number hotel rooms- 1.6 thousand

A policy of strict state regulation of the economy is being pursued; there are no plans for privatization; control over prices for many types of food, petroleum products, building materials and public transport. In 2001, the worsening budget situation prompted the government to begin drawing up a plan for public sector reform. The most important events in social sphere began in 1995, a program for the construction of cheap housing (by 2003, 1.2 thousand houses were built), and the transfer (since 1997) of state lands into the ownership of citizens who have lived on them for more than 30 years.

Central Bank in relation to S-K. - N. is the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank. Since 1976, the monetary unit has had a fixed exchange rate against the US dollar - 2.7:1. There are 3 national and 3 foreign commercial banks and a development bank, the amount of loans to the private sector for 1996-2002 increased from 465.6 to 658.9 million East Caribbean dollars, to state-owned enterprises - from 105.1 to 228.5 million. Since 1980- x years in Nevis and since 1996 in St. Kitts, offshore activities have been developing; 22.5 thousand commercial and offshore companies are registered (2001). 2 thousand trust companies.

The state budget deficit for 1995-2002 increased from 1.7 to 16.2% of GDP; public debt increased from 59.4 to 157.5% of GDP.

Export for 1996-2001 increased from 39.1 million to 55.0 million US dollars, import - from 131.9 million to 166.7 million US dollars. The share of sugar in exports for 1997-2001 decreased from 48.1 to 11.7%, electrical products increased from 23.2 to 35%. More than 1/2 of imports are consumer goods, more than 1/4 are machinery and equipment. Main trading partners (2002, %): for exports - the USA (71) and the UK (12); for imports - USA (50), Trinidad and Tobago (12), Canada (11), Great Britain (8). The deficit on current account balances in 2002 was 33.5% of GDP. External debt is increasing, its ratio to GDP increased in 1995-2002 from 25 to 70.5%. GDP per capita, calculated by currency purchasing power parity, amounted to 11.3 thousand dollars in 2001. With the increase in the cost of living to 1 thousand East Caribbean dollars, the share of those living below the poverty line increased from 15 to 30% in North Carolina. and 32.5% for N. Minimum monthly wage in the public sector from 2000 - 1 thousand East Caribbean dollars. No income tax is charged. According to the Humanitarian Development Index of S.-K.-N. ranks 51st in the world.

Science and culture

Mandatory and free education for children aged 5 to 17 years. There are 30 public and 8 private schools with 12 thousand students, general education and technical colleges provide secondary specialized education, and a branch of the American International University of Medical Sciences in Nevis provides higher education (40 students in 2000/01). All educational institutions are computerized. Three weekly newspapers are published, Labour's organ, The Labor Spokesman, is published twice a week. There are 7 radio stations, 1 television station and 53 cable TV channels.

The largest cultural event year is a carnival dedicated to liberation from slavery. An international music festival has been held since 1997. Brimstone Hill Fort, built in 1695 and gaining fame as the Gibraltar of the West Indies, is declared a historical heritage site by UNESCO. In Charlestown there is the G. Nelson Museum, in Basseterre there is a botanical garden.

Encyclopedia of the countries of the world. - M.: NPO "Economics", RAS, department of social sciences. Editor-in-Chief: N.A. Simony; Editorial Board: V.L. Makarov, A.D. Nekipelov, E.M. Primakov. 2004 .

See what "SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS" is in other dictionaries:

    Saint Kitts and Nevis- (Saint Kits and Nevis), Saint Christopher and Nevis, the state of the same name about you in the east. part of the Caribbean Sea; are part of the group of Leeward Islands (Lesser Antilles). Pl. 261 km². The capital is Basseterre. The islands were discovered by X. Columbus in 1493. In 1623 on Saint ... Geographical encyclopedia

    Saint Kitts and Nevis- Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis, a state in the Lesser Antilles archipelago, in the eastern Caribbean. 269.4 km2, including... encyclopedic Dictionary

    SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS- Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis, state in the arch. M. Antilles, in the eastern part of the Caribbean m. 261.6 km², incl. Saint... ... Large Encyclopedic Dictionary Collier's Encyclopedia - (Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis) an island state in the eastern Caribbean Sea, Central America. Independence declared on September 19, 1983. Member of the British Commonwealth. The capital is Basseterre. According to the Constitution approved on March 16... ... Encyclopedic Dictionary of Constitutional Law

Somehow September flew by, followed by October. It's time for a traditional diving trip and this time we're going to explore again undersea world Caribbean Sea. Our ship starts small island state— Seth Keats and Nevis. We begin to collect information about the new country.

General information:

The Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis (Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis) is a state in the eastern Caribbean Sea, consisting of two islands - Saint Kitts and Nevis, belonging to the Lesser Antilles. The area of ​​the country is 261 km². Population - 50 thousand people (2010). The capital Basseterre is located on the island of St. Kitts. It is a member of the British Commonwealth, headed by the Queen of Great Britain. It borders on Antigua and Barbuda in the east, Montserrat in the southeast, Sint Eustatius (a special municipality of the Netherlands) in the northwest, and Saint Barthelemy (a French overseas community) in the north. All borders are maritime. The total length of the coastline is 135 km. The official language is English. Currency: East Caribbean dollar, rate 2.7 to 1 US dollar. Time: - 10 hours to Yekaterinburg. American sockets with flat pins. About 80 percent of the population is of the Negroid race.

Security questions:

When analyzing the information, I did not identify any serious factors (terrorism, military operations, kidnappings, organized crime, epidemics) that pose a danger to tourists. Of course, petty criminal acts are not excluded, but in our time absolutely safe countries not so much.

The fact of the climate factor is important. This is the equator, the humidity is high, so there are a lot of mosquitoes, which means you need to be wary of all the terrible diseases that they carry. Be sure to use repellent.

Fraud related to the acquisition of second citizenship is very common.

Interesting Facts:

— Saint Kitts and Nevis is the smallest state in the Western Hemisphere, both in terms of area and population.

— Naturally Columbus discovered the islands, who would doubt it...

— He, sailing past the island of Nevis in 1493, called it “Nuestra Senora de Las Nieves,” meaning “Our Lady in the Snow,” mistaking the dense layers of clouds at the peak of the mountains for snow.

- There is a Citizenship by Investment program. It was created to attract foreign capital to the country. To obtain a second citizenship, an investor can choose two methods.
The first method - Contributions to the Sugar Industry Diversification Fund does not imply a return on investment.
The second method - purchasing real estate in St. Kitts and Nevis - THEORETICALLY (author's note) involves a return on investment (real estate can be sold after 5 years).
The approval of real estate objects and the verification of applicants for citizenship is carried out by the organization CIU (Citizenship by Investment Unit), a specially created structure that deals ONLY with issues of issuing economic citizenship in the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis. According to the law, the minimum value of real estate for investment in order to obtain a second citizenship of the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis must be from $400,000 or the purchase of land in the Christophe Harbor project worth more than $700,000. The CIU does not work directly with potential citizenship applicants; this is done by government-licensed agents, a list of which is available on the ministry's website.
Money received in the form of grants to S.I.D.F, which is a state public charitable foundation, goes towards infrastructure development. Minimum subsidy in S.I.D.F. $250,000 per applicant, $300,000 for a family of up to 4 people, $350,000 for a family of five (prices may vary). The applicant’s family is a spouse with an officially registered marriage, their children under 18 years old, or 18-25 years old, the child must be fully supported by the investor and study full-time at a university, as well as parents over 65 years old.

— 9 advantages (VERY DUBIOUS) of second citizenship and passport of the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis:
1) Citizenship of the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis is also citizenship of a country that is a member of the British Commonwealth of Nations. The Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis considers Elizabeth II its monarch, while remaining an independent sovereign state. Australia is in the same status. New Zealand, Canada. The Commonwealth includes 54 sovereign states. The total population of the Commonwealth countries is about 1.8 billion, about 30% of the population globe. The Commonwealth is an organization within which countries that differ in their level of development and the nature of their economy can enter into close and equal cooperation.
2) Citizens of the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis are also citizens of a member country of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). CARICOM is a trade and economic union of South American countries as of 2012, it includes 15 states and another 5 countries are associative members of the community. At the moment, countries such as Mexico, Venezuela and Colombia are active in joining the union.
3) Citizenship of the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis, this is also the citizenship of a country that is part of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). Economic and Monetary Union of the Caribbean. The members of the union have a common currency - the East Caribbean dollar.
4) Citizenship of the Federation is given for life and is inherited by your children and grandchildren.
5) One of the options for obtaining a second citizenship may be the purchase of real estate approved by the government for obtaining citizenship. Both Federation islands currently have investment offers with guaranteed (HIGHLY DOUBT - author's notes) income for 5 mandatory years of ownership. There are offers for both the acquisition of full ownership and shared ownership of resort real estate.
6) There is no need to be a resident of the islands and no need to visit the islands. Citizenship can also be obtained through a subsidy to the Sugar Industry Diversification Fund.
7) The Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis recognizes dual citizenship and does not require you to renounce your first one when receiving yours.
8) Travel without a visa and stay in other countries without a visa with a passport of the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis.
9) With a passport from the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis, opportunities open up to optimize taxation and protect capital.

— The famous VKontakte member Pavel Durov has already taken advantage of this opportunity.

— Saint Kitts and Nevis is famous in the offshore world. Therefore, legal and financial business on the islands is more profitable than traditional sugar cane plantations.

— Looking at the country’s national flag, it would be logical to assume that the two stars represent Saint Kitts and Nevis, respectively. However, it is not. According to the creator's idea, two stars suddenly stand for “hope and freedom.”

— Admiral Nelson’s wife was born in Nevis and here they got married in the presence of the King of Great Britain.

— They say that in order to rent a car on the island of Nevis... you need to get a local license. The minimum period for issuing rights is three months and this pleasure costs about 25 US dollars.

— On the island of Nevis, Princess Diana with Princes William and Harry was recovering from her divorce from Charles.

Visa features:

Starting from May 24, 2013, Russian citizens do not require a visa to visit St. Kitts and Nevis, provided that the purpose of the visit is tourism or a business trip, and the period of stay in the country does not exceed three months.

Tourist season:

The tropical climate of St. Kitts and Nevis is formed under the influence of trade winds. The climate is humid and hot, with average monthly temperatures of about 26 °C, occasionally dropping to 18 °C or increasing to 32 °C. Precipitation ranges from 1500 mm per year in the lowlands to 3700 mm in the mountains. There is no rainy season as such. Precipitation is distributed fairly evenly throughout the year. The relatively dry season lasts from December to April. Best time To visit the country - the summer “low season” (from June to August), when the weather is dry and cool. Although, the islands are in an equatorial climate and the weather is approximately the same.

What to do there:

— Lying on the beach, swimming in the wonderful sea.

— Of course, scuba diving.

Religious places:

“It is rather inappropriate to call this planet Earth when it is obvious that it is an Ocean.” But they have no change. cruise ships they replenish fuel and fresh water, tourists are offered excursions around the island and souvenirs in local shops. But this is not all you need to know about these islands., and on the left is the Caribbean Sea. But that’s not all... And over there in the distance you can see the second island of Nevis. , which are located directly on the roof. Green monkeys are not indigenous to the island. I'll get there yet. Nevis, I'll get to you yet!. And I came to enjoy the wild nature. That's it, I enjoy the wild nature. The ocean is the only interlocutor in the world with whom there is always something to keep silent about. It doesn't matter what's in your head. Extra thoughts will be carried away by the waves. You can sleep without a blanket. Girls, I almost forgot to tell you about the feature of my villa.? Nothing. That's why I'm here. Flying to St. Kitts and Nevis and not visiting Nevis is the same as visiting your grandparents and not going into your grandfather’s room. I can’t do that, so right now I’m taking a ferry ticket and sailing to Nevis. for snorkeling. Three cuts, four scars, a punctured finger, a knocked-out knee and two hours of climbing later. Of course, I could save money and get to Nevis by swimming.: Slaves, money and love were involved. Edward Huggins was a wealthy and respected sugar miller. St. Kitts - near the observation deck.

 

To find a bottle in St. Kitts, head to Timothy Hill, overlooking the city.