St. Caribbean Island of Saint Kitts and Nevis
The Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis (also known as the Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis), located
in the Leeward Islands, is a federal two-island nation in the West Indies. It is the smallest sovereign nation in
the Americas, in both area and population. The capital city and headquarters of government for the federated state
is Basseterre on the larger island of Saint Kitts. The smaller state of Nevis lies about 2 miles (3 km) southeast
of Saint Kitts, across a shallow channel called "The Narrows”. Historically, the British dependency of Anguilla was
also a part of this union, which was then known collectively as Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla. Saint Kitts and
Nevis are geographically part of the Leeward Islands. To the north-northwest lie the islands of Saint Eustatius,
Saba, Saint Barthélemy, and Saint-Martin/Sint Maarten. To the east and northeast are Antigua and Barbuda, and to
the southeast is the small uninhabited island of Redonda, and the island of Montserrat, which currently has an
active volcano (see Soufrière Hills.)
Saint Kitts and Nevis were amongst the first islands in the Caribbean to be settled by Europeans. Saint Kitts was
home to the first British and French colonies in the Caribbean.
HISTORY
The islands of Saint Kitts and Nevis are two of the Caribbean's oldest colonized territories. Saint Kitts became
the first British colony in the West Indies in 1624 and then became the first French colony in the Caribbean in
1625, when both nations decided to partition the island.
Five thousand years prior to European arrival, the island was settled by Indian peoples. The latest arrivals,
the Kalinago peoples, arrived approximately 3 centuries before the Europeans. The Kalinago allowed the Europeans to
colonize Saint Kitts, while earlier attempts to settle other islands were met with immediate destruction of the
colonies by the Indians. The Kalinago were eventually wiped out in the great Kalinago Genocide of 1626. Often
overlooked in history is the fact that in the 1600s, under Cromwell's reign, England shipped approximately 25,000
Irish to St. Kitts as slaves to work on the island.
Battle of Saint Kitts, 1782, as described by an observer in a French engraving titled "Attaque de
Brimstomhill".The island of Nevis was colonized in 1628 by British settlers from Saint Kitts. From there, Saint
Kitts became the premier base for British and French expansion, as the islands of Antigua, Montserrat, Anguilla and
Tortola for the British, and Martinique, the Guadeloupe archipelago and St. Barths for the French were colonized
from it.
Although small in size, and separated by only 2 miles (3 km) of water, the two islands were viewed and governed
as different states until the late 19th century, when they were forcefully unified along with the island of
Anguilla by the British. To this day relations are strained, with Nevis accusing Saint Kitts of neglecting its
needs.
Saint Kitts and Nevis, along with Anguilla, became an associated state with full internal autonomy in 1967.
Anguillans rebelled, and their island was allowed to separate from the others in 1971. St. Kitts and Nevis achieved
independence in 1983. It is the newest sovereign nation in the Americas. In August 1998, a vote in Nevis on a
referendum to separate from St. Kitts fell short of the two-thirds majority needed. In late September 1998,
Hurricane Georges caused approximately $445 million in damages and limited GDP growth for the year.
Alexander Hamilton, the first United States Secretary of the Treasury, was born in Nevis; he spent his childhood
there and on St. Croix, then belonging to Denmark, and now one of the United States Virgin Islands.
CULTURE
Saint Kitts and Nevis is known for a number of musical celebrations including Carnival (17 December to 3 January
on Saint Kitts). The last week in June features the St Kitts Music Festival, while the week-long Culturama on Nevis
lasts from the end of July into early August.
Additional festivals on the island of Saint Kitts include Inner City Fest, in February in Molineaux; Green Valley
Festival, usually around Whit Monday in village of Cayon; Easterama, around Easter in village of Sandy Point;
Fest-Tab, in July or August in the village of Tabernacle; and La festival de Capisterre, around Independence Day in
Saint Kitts and Nevis (19 September), in the Capisterre region. These celebrations typically feature parades,
street dances and salsa, jazz, soca, calypso and steel pan music.
The flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis was adopted on September
19, 1983, consisting of two white stars on a diagonal black band, fimbriated in yellow, separating background
colors of green and red. It was the winning entry in a local competition. The flag contains the Pan-African
colours, although officially the colours are given a different significance:
Green
the island's fertility;
Red
the struggles of the people from slavery through colonialism to independence;
Yellow
year round sunshine;
Black
the African heritage of the people;
White stars
hope and liberty.
{credit} http://en.wikipedia.org
Nevis Biking Tour
Take the road less traveled as you explore Nevis on bike. Your experienced guide delights in sharing local
knowledge and showing you another side of the island
Private Fishing Charter from Nevis
Charter your own boat for a day of fishing off the coast of Nevis - a fisherman's dream! Test your fishing skills
against the large population of marine fish.
Nevis Rainforest Hiking Tour
This fantastic hiking
adventure takes you through the lush rainforest of Nevis. Hear birds chirp and monkeys chatter, sample delicious
wild fruits and take beautiful
Nevis Horse Riding Adventure
Take a horseback ride along
the mountain trails of Nevis on this 1.5 hour riding adventure. Your ride takes you from the stables, along the
coast of Fort Ashby.
Nevis Island Half Day Tour
For the perfect combination of history and culture
Brimstone Hill Fortress
This 38 acre fortress, dubbed "the Gibraltar of the east" is situated on the upper slopes of an 800 foot high
mountain with superb views all around. Six other islands can be seen on a clear day
Mount Liamuiga
A 3,792 foot dormant volcano. Guided tours ascend the volcano, and, if properly equipped, descend into its 400-foot
deep mouth.
Nevis Peak is the volcanic mountain which in ancient times created the island of Nevis. The peak rises to over
three thousand feet, and it is quite often surrounded by cloud at the very top.
Mountain Bike Nevis
Bike Nevis runs guided mountain bike tours in Nevis, and they also provide mountain bike and road bike rentals .
Bike tours are available for the beginner, advanced and expert biker.
Bloody River
Folklore holds that this dried river bed once flowed blood for three days following a slaughter of Carib Indians by
British and French colonial forces.
Fig Tree Church
This small Caribbean church (aka St. John's Figtree Church) is perhaps best known for its church register, in which
is recorded the marriage of Horatio Nelson to Frances Nisbet, as follows: "1787...
Chevy's Calypso Bar
Chevy's Calypso Bar is a cheerful, red-roofed set-up, right on on Pinney's Beach. It is south of the Four Seasons,
north of Sunshine's and a little way south of where the Golden Rock Beach Pavilion...
Sunshine's
Sunshine's is a popular beach bar, located on Pinney's Beach, a little way south of the Four Seasons Resort. They
recently had to move further down the beach to just south of Chevy's. They serve a rum
Getting Married Saint Kitts
Getting married in St.Kitts is very easy, There is no residency is required.
Couples are only required to obtain a marriage license in St.Kitts and have the following documents:
1. A valid passport or photo ID.
2. Original or certified copy of Birth Certificate.
3. If you have never been married before, an Affidavit confirming single status.
4. If divorced, a decree absolute (an original or certified copy showing court's stamp or seal) must be
presented.
5. If widowed, a copy of the death certificate of the deceased spouse must be presented.
6. If documents are not in English they must be accompanied by a
notarized translation.
7. If a catholic priest is to perform the ceremony:
8. Couple must receive marriage counselling sessions from their parish priest and submit the required Catholic
documents. A letter must come from the couple's resident priest verifying that they are unmarried and that they
have received the necessary instructions. All Catholic weddings take place in the church.
9. If an Anglican or other minister of religion is to perform the ceremony:
It is recommended that a letter be brought from the couple's resident minister verifying that they are known and
unmarried.
10. The licence fee for getting married on St. Kitts is $200.00 (XCD). The Justice of the Peace may also assess a
fee.
11. The wedding ceremony can be held on the grounds of your hotel, in a church of almost any denomination,
amongst historic ruins, in a rustic gazebo in a picturesque garden and, of course, on the beach.
12. Marriage Times are between 6a.m. – 6p.m. for ceremonies presided over by a religious person.
and between 8a.m. - 6p.m. if performed by a Magistrate.
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