The Island of Saint Kitts – Fact Sheet
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Geography & Demographics
- Land = 68 square miles (168 km) or 29km x 8km (18m x 5m)
- The twin-island nation is located in the northern section of the Eastern Caribbean’s Leeward Islands
- 1200 miles from Miami, 1600 miles from New York (or 3.5 hour flight)
- 2miles or 3km’s from Nevis
- Atlantic Standard time
- Population – 35,000 (Kitts) & 11,000 (Nevis)
- Main language is English with a 98% literacy rate
- Unemployment is among the lowest in the Caribbean (4.3%)
- Drinking water is safe and comes from numerous volcanic springs
- Relatively crime free
- Visa not required when visiting from most countries
- English Common Law
- Pet friendly island
History
The island alternated repeatedly between English and French control over the century due to treaties or military action (Brimstone Hill). 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.
Business
- Largest City is Basseterre, ring road goes around the perimeter of the
- Major Banks include Bank of Nova Scotia, RBC, First Caribbean Int Bank
- Use the Eastern Caribbean Dollar which remains fixed at 2.67 to one with the US dollar
- St. Kitts operated as a sugar monoculture but due to decreasing profitability the government closed the industry in 2005. Tourism is a major and growing source of income to the island but the number and density of resorts is less than on other Caribbean islands. Transportation, agriculture, manufacturing and construction are the other growing sectors of the economy
Education Centre
- Ross University of Veterinary Medicine
- Windsor University School of Medicine
- Robert RossInternational University of Health Sciences
- International University of Nursing
Arts & Culture
- Annual St. Kitts Music Festival, held annual since 1996 in the last week of June
- Carnival is celebrated over Christmas and new years
Climate
Yearly average temperature is 79 degrees; annual rainfall averages 55 inches; humidity is low, and constant northeast trade winds keep the islands cool. Average winter temp is 81 degrees and in the summer it is 86 degrees. The driest months are February to June, and the hurricane (and rainy) season is July to November, although even during this period the weather can be gorgeous. High-season rates start from around mid-December and go to mid-April. The best time to visit, price- and weather-wise, is November and early December.
What to Wear
Light summer clothing may be worn all year. Dress is informal, even at elegant hotels and plantation inns, though you may want to dress up a bit for a nice dinner. Nudity is not permitted at any beach. Swim wear or scant clothing should never be worn in towns or villages. Activities There is outstanding hiking through rain forests, golfing on internationally ranked golf courses, fishing, boating and diving or snorkeling through underwater reefs and unexplored wrecks.
Airport
The official name of the airport on St. Kitts is the Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw (RLB) International Airport, while the booking (sabre) code is SKB. The airport can accommodate commercial jumbo jets and handles scheduled non-stop flights – provided by various airlines – from the United Kingdom, Canada and United States (New York, Miami, Charlotte, Philly, Atlanta), as well as numerous regional commuter flights from within the Caribbean area. RLB International Airport also provides facilities for cargo jets, private jets and various other types of aircraft.
