St. Kitts and Nevis Country & Tourist Information

Location
Eastern Caribbean, Leeward Islands.

Area
St Kitts: 176.1 sq km (66.1 sq miles). Nevis: 93.3 sq km (36 sq miles). Total: 269.4 sq km (104 sq smiles).

Population
46,000 (UN, 2001).

Population Density
170.74 per sq km.

Capital
Basseterre.
Population: 15,000.

Government
Constitutional monarchy since 1983. Gained independence from the UK in 1983.  
Recent history: The Head of State of the Federation of St Christopher and Nevis (the islands’ formal title) is the British monarch, represented locally by a Governor-General. Legislative power is vested in the Governor-General and the National Assembly, which has 11 members elected directly by universal suffrage for a five-year term and three appointed members. Nevis Island also has a separate legislature that, subject to certain conditions written into the constitution, may secede from the Government of the Federation.
Denzil Douglas was re-elected for a third consecutive term in October 2004. Tourism development and social projects are among his priorities. However, his Government has failed to rejuvenate the ailing sugar industry and deal with the country’s large debt.

Language
The official language is English.

Religion
Anglican and other Christian denominations.

Time
GMT - 4.

Electricity
230 volts AC, 60Hz (117 volts available in some hotels).

Head of Government
Prime Minister Dr Denzil Douglas since 1995.

Head of State
Queen Elizabeth II, represented locally by Governor General Sir Cuthbert Montroville Sebastian since 1996.

Telephone
IDD is available. Country code: 1 869.

Mobile Telephone
Unregistered roaming is available – visitors with TDMA handsets can make calls without registering, provided they can give a credit card number.

Internet
Public access is available at many hotels and the Internet kiosk at the Cable & Wireless (website: www.candw.kn) offices in Basseterre, St Kitts.

Media
The government operates national television and radio networks. There are several private radio stations. The main political parties publish weekly or fortnightly newspapers.

Post
Airmail to Western Europe takes five to seven days. Post office hours: Mon-Wed, Fri and Sat 0800-1500, Thurs 0800-1100.

Press
Newspapers published in English include: The Democrat (website: www.pamdemocrat.org), The St Kitts and Nevis Observer (website: www.stkittsnevisobserver.com) (weekly) and The Labor Spokesman (website: www.sknlaborparty.org/spokesman) (twice weekly).

Radio
ZIZ and ZBC Radio are the government-owned stations. Winn FM, Voice of Nevis (VON) and Big Wave are commercial stations.

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2007-December 2008 period.

2007
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
2 Jan Carnival Day.
6 Apr Good Friday.
9 Apr Easter Monday. 
7 May Labor Day.
28 May Whit Monday.
7 Aug Emancipation Day.
17 Sep Heroes’ Day.
19 Sep Independence Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
26 Dec Boxing Day.

2008
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
2 Jan Carnival Day. 
21 Mar Good Friday. 
24 Mar Easter Monday. 
5 May Labor Day. 
12 May Whit Monday.
7 Aug Emancipation Day.
17 Sep Heroes’ Day.
19 Sep Independence Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
26 Dec Boxing Day.

Note
Where a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, certain rules may apply meaning the holiday is usually moved. These rules have not been taken into account here.

Contact Information:

St Kitts Tourism Authority in the UK
10 Kensington Court, London W8 5DL, UK
Tel: (020) 7376 0881.
Website: www.stkitts-tourism.com

Nevis Tourism Authority in the UK
c/o Nevis Island Estates, Elm House, Park Lane Lower Froyle, Alton, Hampshire GU34 4LT, UK
Tel: (01420) 520 810 or 0870 200 1314.
Website: www.nevisisland.com

High Commission for St Kitts & Nevis in the UK
2nd Floor, 10 Kensington Court, London W8 5DL, UK
Tel: (020) 7937 9718.
Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 1000-1730, Fri 1000-1700.

Caribbean Tourism Organization in the UK
22 The Quadrant, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 1BP, UK
Tel: (020) 8948 0057.
Website: www.doitcaribbean.com or www.onecaribbean.org

Embassy of St Kitts & Nevis in the USA
3216 New Mexico Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20016, USA
Tel: (202) 686 2636.
Website: www.stkittsnevis.org

St Kitts Tourism Authority in the USA
414 East 75th Street, Suite 5, 75th Floor, New York, NY 10021, USA
Tel: (212) 535 1234 or 1 800 582 6208.
Website: www.stkitts-tourism.com

Nevis Tourism Authority in the USA
Tel: 1 866 556 3847.


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