*Saint Kitts and Nevis, Government
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Minister-Counselor (Deputy Chief of Mission), Charge d'Affaires ad interim
Aubrey Eric HART
chancery:
Suite 608, 2100 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20037
telephone:
(202) 833-3550
US diplomatic representation:
no official presence since the Charge d'Affaires resides in Saint John's
(Antigua and Barbuda)
Flag:
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
*Saint Kitts and Nevis, Economy
Overview:
The economy has historically depended on the growing and processing of
sugarcane and on remittances from overseas workers. In recent years, tourism
and export-oriented manufacturing have assumed larger roles.
National product:
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $142 million (1991)
National product real growth rate:
6.8% (1991)
National product per capita:
$3,500 (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.2% (1991)
Unemployment rate:
12.2% (1990)
Budget:
revenues $85.7 million; expenditures $85.8 million, including capital
expenditures of $42.4 million (1993)
Exports:
$24.6 million (f.o.b., 1990)
commodities:
sugar, clothing, electronics, postage stamps
partners:
US 53%, UK 22%, Trinidad and Tobago 5%, OECS 5% (1988)
Imports:
$103.2 million (f.o.b., 1990)
commodities:
foodstuffs, intermediate manufactures, machinery, fuels
partners:
US 36%, UK 17%, Trinidad and Tobago 6%, Canada 3%, Japan 3%, OECS 4% (1988)
External debt:
$37.2 million (1990)
Industrial production:
growth rate 11.8% (1988 est.); accounts for 11% of GDP
Electricity:
15,800 kW capacity; 45 million kWh produced, 1,120 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
sugar processing, tourism, cotton, salt, copra, clothing, footwear,
beverages
Agriculture:
accounts for 7% of GDP; cash crop - sugarcane; subsistence crops - rice,
yams, vegetables, bananas; fishing potential not fully exploited; most food
imported
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY85-88), $10.7 million; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $67 million
Currency:
1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed rate since 1976)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
*Saint Kitts and Nevis, Communications
Railroads:
58 km 0.760-meter gauge on Saint Kitts for sugarcane
Highways:
300 km total; 125 km paved, 125 km otherwise improved, 50 km unimproved
earth
Ports:
Basseterre (Saint Kitts), Charlestown (Nevis)
Airports:
total:
2
usable:
2
with permanent-surface runways:
2
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
1
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
0
Telecommunications:
good interisland VHF/UHF/SHF radio connections and international link via
Antigua and Barbuda and Saint Martin; 2,400 telephones; broadcast stations -
2 AM, no FM, 4 TV
*Saint Kitts and Nevis, Defense Forces
Branches:
Royal Saint Kitts and Nevis Police Force, Coast Guard
Manpower availability:
NA
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP
*Saint Lucia, Geography
Location:
in the eastern Caribbean Sea, about two-thirds of the way between Puerto
Rico and Trinidad and Tobago
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean, South America, Standard Time Zones of the
World
Area:
total area:
620 km2
land area:
610 km2
comparative area:
slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
158 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
24 nm
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season from January to
April, rainy season from May to August
Terrain:
volcanic and mountainous with some broad, fertile valleys
Natural resources:
forests, sandy beaches, minerals (pumice), mineral springs, geothermal
potential
Land use:
arable land:
8%
permanent crops:
20%
meadows and pastures:
5%
forest and woodland:
13%
other:
54%
Irrigated land:
10 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
subject to hurricanes and volcanic activity; deforestation; soil erosion