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St. Kitts and Nevis

Quick Facts

Population:	45,000
Land area:	269 square Km
Capital:	Basseterre
Language(s):	English
Local Currency:	East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Exchange:	US$1.00 = EC$2.70
UNDP Human Development Rank:	54 of 177
Life Expectancy:	70.0
Adult Literacy rate:	97.8
Official Government website:	http://www.gov.kn/default.asp?SKGovNews=%22200701%22

Government

Governor General - Sir Cuthbert Montraville SEBASTIAN
Prime Minister - Denzil DOUGLAS, Dr.
Dep. Prime Min. - Sam CONDOR
Min. of Agriculture, Fisheries, & Consumer Affairs -Cedric Roy LIBURD
Min. of Consumer Affairs - Timothy HARRIS
Min. of Education - Nigel CARTY
Min of Finance, Sustainable Development and Human Resource Development - Dr. Denzil DOUGLAS
Min. of Foreign Affairs, National Security, Labour, Immigration and Social Security - Sam CONDOR
Min. of Health, Social Services, Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs - Marcella LIBURD
Min. of Immigration & Labor -Gerald Anthony Dwyer ASTAPHAN
Min. of International Trade, Industry, Commerce, Agriculture, Consumer Affairs, Constituency empowerment and Marine resources - Timothy HARRIS
Min. of Justice and Legal Affairs - Patrice NISBETT
Min. of National Security - Gerald Anthony Dwyer ASTAPHAN
Min. of Public Works, Housing, Energy and Utilities - Dr. Earl Asim MARTIN
Min. of Sustainable Development - Dr. Denzil DOUGLAS
Min. of Tourism & Culture - Denzil DOUGLAS, Dr.
Min. of Youth Empowerment, Sports, Information Technology and Telecommunications.. - Glen PHILLIP
Min. of State in the Office of the Prime Minister With the Responsibility for Finance, Technology, & Sustainable Development -Nigel Alexis CARTY
Min. of State in the Office of the Prime Minister With the Responsibility for Tourism, Sports, & Culture - Richard SKERRIT
Attorney General - Delano Frank BART
Ambassador to the US - Izben Cordinal WILLIAMS
Permanent Representative to the UN, New York - Joseph CHRISTMAS

Public Holidays: New Year's Day (01 January); Carnival Day (02 January); Good Friday; Easter Monday; Labour Day (05 May); August Monday (first Monday in August); Independence Day (19 September); Christmas Day (25 December); Boxing Day (26 December)

Economic Development

Economic Survey of the Caribbean 2007-2008

According to the survey the economies of the ECCU continued to show positive growth for the sixth consecutive year. In 2007, preliminary data indicated that growth slowed to 5.2% from 6.3% in 2006 as many public and private construction activities geared towards the CWC were completed. In addition there was a significant contraction in the tourism sector, which actually declined by 0.6% in 2007 compared to 6% in 2006. Fuelled by hikes in oil and food prices, especially in the last quarter of 2007, the rate of inflation increased to 6.1% from 1.3% in 2006 and is expected to continue on an upward trend in 2008. Economic growth will continue to slow but remain positive in 2008, projected at 3.8%, mainly influenced by the slowdown in the United States economy and rising international oil, food and other commodity prices.

In 2007 growth was strongest in Anguilla (21%), St Vincent and the Grenadines (6.9%) and Antigua and Barbuda (6.9%) while Hurricane Dean, which struck in August 2007, negatively impacted on the growth rates of Saint Lucia (1.7% compared to 4.9% in 2006) and Dominica (1.8% compared to 3.8% in 2006). Despite the challenge of continuous volcanic activity in Montserrat, the economy grew by 2.8% compared to negative growth of 3.8% in 2006. Intermediate growth of 3% was recorded in both St Kitts and Nevis while growth in Grenada was 4.4%. The main impetus of growth continued to be the construction sector with spill over effects into mining and quarrying, transportation and communication, electricity and water and banks and insurance. Construction activity will remain robust in 2008 driven by the private sector and the Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP).
Source: UN ECLAC

OECS Country Profile 2008: St. Kitts and Nevis

Tourism
St Kitts and Nevis is an upper-middle-income country, with GDP per head estimated at US$8,411 in 2007. Strong growth in the mid-1990s, mainly as a result of tourism development, was curtailed by a series of damaging
hurricanes in 1997-99. Economic growth recovered in 2000, but the economy was negatively affected as international demand for tourism dipped in 2001-03. The tourism sector has rebounded since 2004, resulting in average annual real GDP growth of 4.7%. Growth is estimated to have slowed slightly in 2007, to 3.1%, as construction demand slowed following a spike in 2006.

Tourism is the major source of foreign-exchange earnings and the economy"s most promising growth area, with several large hotels recently completed, enlarged or reopened, and others planned. There were 117,300 stopover arrivals on the two islands in 2007, nearly two-thirds of which were tourists from the US, one-quarter from the rest of the Caribbean, and around 5% from Canada. There were also over 251,000 cruise-ship passenger arrivals in 2007, well above levels in the two previous years.

Financial Sector
Nevis has a growing offshore financial sector, which in 2007 included more than 30,000 international business companies, nearly 10,000 limited liability companies, and 3,600 international trusts.
Source: Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU)

The Economic Performance for 2006

Sourced from The St.Kitts 2007 Budget, The ECCB 2006 Economic Review, Eastern Caribbean Currency Union: Selected Issues

St. Kitts and Nevis deceased sugar-cane production in 2005, their once long-time mainstay contributor to the economy’s development, became too uncontainable due to high operational costs. Despite this recent event, the country has been able to maintain a good standing in terms of development. Estimates from the 2007 Budget indicate that real GDP expanded by 4.6% in 2006. Manufacturing, Construction, and Tourism were the leading sectors of relevance to GDP contribution, as the country initiated their diversification process.

The construction sector, like most CWC 2007 venue countries, experienced highlighted expansion by 5.7%, where the Warner Park Stadium, Homes, Private and Public Sector projects have been on the rise. This high-level construction activity had a positive impact on other sectors of domestic output, such as the manufacturing sector. Due to construction activities, there was an increase in the production of blocks and pre-mixed concrete. The advancement of beverage and electronic component output was based on higher external demands.

The facilitation for sugar-crop workers was one of the government’s main priorities for 2006, as the Prime Minister ensured the availability and accessibility to non-sugar agriculture was present. The current strategy for agricultural development is to focus on the growth of commercial farms for both crop and livestock production. The Prime Minister declared in his 2007 budget speech, “The Agricultural Sector has the potential to assist with job creation and income generation particularly for those former sugar industry workers…”

Having picked up from the first half of the year, tourism receipts to the current account grew by 7% to $296.6 million dollars. This sector is expected to expand in response to increased accommodation infrastructure, additional airlift and marketing.

The economy must be further recognized for their resilience in 2006, especially in the wake of increasing international oil prices, and the number of capital projects implemented in the year. The aim for 2007 is therefore to reduce the reliance of fossil fuels by formulating different ways to exploit abundant renewable sources such as biomass, ocean, wind, geothermal sources, solar radiation and domestic waste.

Social Development

2005 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices (Western Hemisphere)

All men and women desire and deserve to live in dignity and liberty. As President Bush said: "The advance of freedom is the great story of our time." Promoting human rights and democracy is a worldwide phenomenon and there is a growing global discussion of democracy and the universal values protected by democratic governance.

By defending and advancing human rights and democratic principles, we keep faith with our country’s most cherished values and lay the foundation for lasting peace. Fulfilling the promise of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and building vibrant democracies worldwide will take generations, but it is work of the utmost urgency that cannot be delayed.
Source:US Dept. of State

Education

Another Medical University to open in St Kitts

Another medical school will officially open in St. Kitts later this month. Saint Theresa’s Medical University, which opens on August 27, will bring to five the number of medical institutions operating on St. Kitts and to six the total number providing services in the twin island Federation.
Source: Caribbean Net News 2005

Environment

St. Kitts and Nevis National Environmental Management Strategy and Action. Jan 2005- Dec 2009

The plan is intended to guide programmes in environmental management over the long term. However, it was designed with an initial 5-year period and two-year implementation plan, so that local action linked to ongoing funding cycles and Public Sector Investment Programmes can be better managed.

Health

Prime Minister Douglas highlights CARICOM’s needs to achieve universal access for all in the region’s fight against HIV/AIDS

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, JUNE 4TH 2006 (CUOPM) St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister, Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas said while he was optimistic about achieving universal access to prevention, treatment, care and support for all Caribbean nationals in the fight against HIV/AIDS by 2010, there are obstacles that may impede CARICOM’s quest and programmes.
Source:Office of the Prime Minister

Legislation

Statistics

Selected statistics indicators for ST. KITTS AND NEVIS
UN Statistics Division for ST. KITTS AND NEVIS
Caribbean Social Statistics Database
Caribbean Trade Statistical Database

More Information

News Items

St. Kitts to purchase energy from Nevis
Wednesday February 11 2009: Following a meeting with Carlisle Powell, junior minister with responsibility for public works in Nevis, Dr. Earl Asim Martin, minister of public utilities, transport and post reported to Cabinet his ministry’s intention to purchase geothermal electricity from Nevis.
Many benefits exist for locals under EPA

Friday November 14 2008: A senior official in the Ministry of Trade has called on nationals of St. Kitts/Nevis to become familiar with the terms of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and position themselves to take advantage of the opportunities that exist.

Key Documents

Up one level

Report on the Expert group meeting on Disaster Risk Reduction in the Education Sector LC/CAR/L.236 December 2009
St.Kitts and Nevis National Environmental Management Strategy and Action Plan, Jan 2005- Dec 2009
Survey of ICT and Education in the Caribbean:a summary report based on 16 country surveys. (Vol. 2)
Commercial Banks' Statistics - St. Kitts and Nevis
ECCB. Financial Statistics Yearbook. 2005
Impact of changes in the European Union import regimes for sugar, banana and rice on selected CARICOM countries: LC/CAR/L.168
The OECS Deepening and Strengthening Integration Through an Economic Union: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank 'Economic and Financial Review' March 2008
St. Kitts and Nevis: 2006 Article IV Consultation
IMF Executive Board Concludes 2007 Article IV Consultation with St. Kitts and Nevis
St. Kitts & Nevis 2007 Budget Address
Health in the Americas 2007: country profile for St. Kitts
National Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Strategic Plan - September 2006
Towards a Single Economy and a Single Development Vision
CARIBBEAN CONNECT: A HIGH LEVEL SYMPOSIUM ON THE CARICOM SINGLE MARKET 28 - 30 June, 2006, Sherbourne Conference Centre, Two Mile Hill, St. Michael, BarbadosND ECONOMY.
Trade Integration in the Americas
Overview of CARICOM's Trade with Canada
Background to Negotiations on CARICOM Canada Trading Arrangements
Hemispheric Trade and Tariff Database

Bibliography