St-Kitt's and Nevis
St-Kitt's and Nevis
Today's Flag:
is St-Kitts and Nevis, a Commonwealth Realm in the Leeward Islands of the Lesser Antilles of the Caribbean. Exchanged repeatedly between French, British and even Spanish colonial powers, the islands were once inhabited by pre-ceramic migrants from Florida. Over the following centuries, they were successively displaced by Saladoid, Igneri and Kalinago people. By 1493, a Spanish expedition claimed the island, and then after multiple exchanges of administrations due to war or treaty, the islands remained in British hands from 1783 through until independence. Original European settlers harvested tobacco for export, however soon switched to sugar cane due to intense competition from Virginia. Slavery was employed early on to provide labour for island plantations, however emancipation in 1834 led to the imported African slaves to vastly outnumber Europeans, radically altering the island's social structure. Sugar cane eventually grew to dominate the entire island economy for over 300 years until the government discontinued reliance on the unprofitable commodity in 2005, citing concerns over price-cutting by the European Union. The government has instead focused its investment stimulation efforts on a diversified economy that includes offshore banking, export manufacturing and its growing tourism sector. Administration of St-Kitts included Nevis and Anguilla between 1883 to 1980. In 1967 however, armed Anguillan rebels forcibly expelled the Royal St-Kitts Constabulary and actually attacked the island of St-Kitts in an abortive 12-man attempt to overthrow the government! (See, Anguilla) Following intervention by British armed forces and several referendums, Anguilla was separated by 1971 and remains a British Overseas Territory to this day. Achieving independence from the United Kingdom in 1983, St-Kitts and Nevis remains a Commonwealth Realm with a unique constitution that explicitly authorizes the secession of Nevis from the Federation, should the inhabitants of that island choose to exercise their right to self-determination.
From the Official Government website: The National Flag of St. Kitts and Nevis was adopted on September 19th, 1983. It was designed by Edrice Lewis in a national design competition. Green represents our fertile lands. Yellow represents our year-round sunshine. Black represents our African Heritage. Red represents our struggle from slavery through colonialism to independence. The white stars are symbols of hope and liberty.
Quick Facts:
Monarch: King Charles III
Title: Charles the Third, by the Grace of God King of Saint Christopher and Nevis and His other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth
Accession: 8 September 2022
Represented by Governor-General: His Excellency Sir Samuel Weymouth Tapley Seaton, GCMG,CVO,QC,JP
Population: 47,606 (click here for current statistic)
Inhabitants of St-Kitts are called: Kittians, Inhabitants of Nevis are called: Nevisians
State Religion: none
Currency: XCF$, East Caribbean Dollar: current exchange rate
Capital: Basseterre, St-Kitts
Population: 16,000 (Official Website of St-Kitts and Nevis, 2022)
Type of Government: Federal Constitutional Monarchy
Governing Body: Parliament = King + National Assembly
Founded: 19 September 1983
Flag Adopted: 19 September 1983
Special National Holiday: Independence Day, 19 September; Emancipation Day, 1 August
Map of St-Kitts and Nevis: freeworldmaps.net
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