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NAVIGATION
Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis
former: Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis
GOVERNMENT
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis
conventional short form: Saint Kitts and Nevis former: Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis |
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Government type:
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constitutional monarchy with Westminster-style parliament |
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Capital:
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Basseterre |
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Administrative divisions:
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14 parishes; Christ Church Nichola Town, Saint Anne Sandy Point, Saint George Basseterre, Saint George Gingerland, Saint James Windward, Saint John Capesterre, Saint John Figtree, Saint Mary Cayon, Saint Paul Capesterre, Saint Paul Charlestown, Saint Peter Basseterre, Saint Thomas Lowland, Saint Thomas Middle Island, Trinity Palmetto Point |
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Independence:
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19 September 1983 (from UK) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 19 September (1983) |
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Constitution:
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19 September 1983 |
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Legal system:
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based on English common law |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Cuthbert Montraville SEBASTIAN (since 1 January 1996)
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the governor general is appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general in consultation with the prime minister head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Denzil DOUGLAS (since 6 July 1995) and Deputy Prime Minister Sam CONDOR (since 6 July 1995) |
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral National Assembly (14 seats, 3 appointed and 11 popularly elected from single-member constituencies; members serve five-year terms)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - SKNLP 8, CCM 2, NRP 1 elections: last held 6 March 2000 (next to be held by July 2005) |
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Judicial branch:
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Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based on Saint Lucia; one judge of the Supreme Court resides in Saint Kitts and Nevis) |
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Political parties and leaders:
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Concerned Citizens Movement or CCM [Vance AMORY]; Nevis Reformation Party or NRP [Joseph PARRY]; People's Action Movement or PAM [Lindsey GRANT]; Saint Kitts and Nevis Labor Party or SKNLP [Dr. Denzil DOUGLAS] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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NA |
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International organization participation:
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ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WTrO |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Izben Cordinal WILLIAMS
chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 telephone: [1] (202) 686-2636 FAX: [1] (202) 686-5740 consulate(s) general: New York |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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the US does not have an embassy in Saint Kitts and Nevis; the US Ambassador in Barbados is accredited to Saint Kitts and Nevis |
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Flag description:
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divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a broad black band bearing two white, five-pointed stars; the black band is edged in yellow; the upper triangle is green, the lower triangle is red |
ECONOMY
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Economy - overview:
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Sugar was the traditional mainstay of the Saint Kitts economy until the 1970s. Although the crop still dominates the agricultural sector, activities such as tourism, export-oriented manufacturing, and offshore banking have assumed larger roles in the economy. As tourism revenues are now the chief source of the islands' foreign exchange, a decline in stopover tourist arrivals following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks has eroded government finances. The opening of a 1,000+ bed Marriott hotel in February 2003 is expected to bring in much-needed revenue. |
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $339 million (2002 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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-1.9% (2002 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $8,800 (2002 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 3.5%
industry: 25.8% services: 70.7% (2001) |
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Population below poverty line:
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NA% |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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1.7% (2001 est.) |
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Labor force:
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18,172 (June 1995) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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NA |
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Unemployment rate:
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4.5% (1997) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $89.7 million
expenditures: $128.2 million, including capital expenditures of $19.5 million (2003 est.) |
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Industries:
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sugar processing, tourism, cotton, salt, copra, clothing, footwear, beverages |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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NA% |
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Electricity - production:
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100.3 million kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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93.28 million kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh (2001) |
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Oil - production:
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0 bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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710 bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - exports:
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NA (2001) |
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Oil - imports:
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NA (2001) |
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Agriculture - products:
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sugarcane, rice, yams, vegetables, bananas; fish |
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Exports:
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$47 million (2001 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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machinery, food, electronics, beverages, tobacco |
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Exports - partners:
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US 68.5%, UK 22.3%, Caricom countries 5.5% (1995 est.) |
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Imports:
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$152 million (2001 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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machinery, manufactures, food, fuels |
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Imports - partners:
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US 42.4%, Caricom countries 17.2%, UK 11.3% (1995 est.) |
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Debt - external:
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$171 million (2001) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$8 million (2001) |
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Currency:
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East Caribbean dollar (XCD) |
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Currency code:
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XCD |
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Exchange rates:
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East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7 (2002), 2.7 (2001), 2.7 (2000), 2.7 (1999), 2.7 (1998) |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year |