St Kitts and Nevis, Sugar and Rum

St Kitts and Nevis have a very rich history, being governed by both the French and the British. The islands finally achieved independence from Britain in 1983, and although politically stable, Nevis tried to break away from St Kitts in 1998, but a referendum held in Nevis failed to gain the necessary majority needed to achieve this.

The country achieves much of its income through tourism, offshore finance and service industries, and these have become even more important since the sugar industry was finally closed in 2005. The sugarcane industry had been important to the island for centuries, but ultimately turned into a loss-making business due to falling sugar prices throughout the world. The last sugarcane was cut on July 31^st in 2005.

When the sugarcane industry was operational, St Kitts used to produce its own rum, but nowadays there is just one small bottling and blending plant on the island in Basseterre which imports rum from Guyana before ageing it in French oak barrels left over from Baron Edmond Rothschilds involvement in rum production.

The Baron had decided that St Kitts water was some of the best in the Caribbean, and reasoned that the island would be able to produce some of the best rum in the world. The rum now produced in Basseterre can generally only be found locally, but does have a very good reputation. However rum lovers will find that all the bars in St Kitts have a large selection to choose from, as this is very much a Caribbean drink and some of these bars have been around for centuries.

Attractions on St Kitts

St Kitts has an awful lot to offer visitors, and although the main idea is to go there to relax and do at least a little bit of sunbathing and snorkelling, it's also nice to spend at least a day or two exploring the island.

There is a huge range of activities and attractions available, especially when you consider it's a relatively small island, and whatever your tastes you're sure to find something you'd like to do here.

The main city is called Basseterre and has a population of less than 20,000. It's one of the oldest towns in the eastern Caribbean and was originally founded in 1627 by the French.

It has a pretty chequered history as it has been destroyed during colonial wars, as well as by fire, riots, floods, earthquakes and hurricanes. In spite of this there are still a considerable number of colonial buildings in downtown Basseterre, and despite its small size this city has a large personality.

The scenic Railway runs from Sandy Point to Basseterre, and is an excellent way to discover a little more of the island. A round trip takes just a few hours using both the railway and sightseeing coaches, and it's a great thing to do relatively early on in your trip as it gives you a real feel for the island.

Although St Kitts used to be famous for its sugarcane production, it also is renowned for producing cotton, and it's still possible to visit the only remaining cotton ginnery on the island. Cotton was still produced until the 1970s, and the ruins date from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, as these were major periods in the agro-industrial history of the island.

St Kitts Culture and Festivities

St Kitts has a very rich culture which is shaped by its past and which encompasses a number of traditions and customs from different countries. This culture shapes the food, dance and music of the island, but most of all can be seen in its carnivals.

One of the biggest carnivals takes place at Christmas time and the costumes, which have evolved over 300 years are a true art form. They include peacock feathered headdresses, fringed aprons, masks and decorations of bangles, ribbons and mirrors, while the dancers show elements of both African and European dance genres.

One of the most exciting things to see are the dancers who dress as Moko-Jumbies, dancing on 6 foot stilts along the parade route. Their exact origin isn't really known; some believe their costumes relate to the African god of vengeance, while others believe it is based around the macaw, which is a very tall palm tree covered in thorns.

Whatever the origin this is a fabulous time to visit the island, especially as it makes a wonderful escape during winter. This carnival is a true celebration which goes on for 40 days from the end of November until the beginning of January and is known as Sugar Mas.

If you can't visit the island in winter, then there is also a music festival in June which was launched in 1996 and since then has been held annually, generally over the last weekend in June. It has become one of the most popular festivals in the Caribbean and features a large range of musical genres.

Experience the Lush, Tropical Paradise of St Kitts

St Kitts is part of the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean, but is quite different from other Caribbean islands. St Kitts is a lush tropical paradise which is quite similar to the south Pacific Islands. Kittitians are hospitable and friendly, and visitors have a tendency to return year after year.

The island was first spotted by Christopher Columbus in 1493, and was originally populated by native tribes. It was then colonised by the British in 1623 but achieved independence in 1983. The island has a population of around 35,000, and the primary language is English.

Although it is a Caribbean paradise, there are signs of its colonial history all around the island. One of the most impressive is the Brimstone Hill Fortress, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is the largest fortress ever built in the Eastern Caribbean. The fortress was the scene for many fierce battles, as the island used to be considered the gateway to the Caribbean.

There are also a number of beautifully restored plantation houses, as much of St Kitts original wealth came from the sugar plantations. St Kitts was ideal for growing sugar due to its rich volcanic soil and perfect climate. Many landowners made a fortune from this crop, and by 1775 there were 68 sugar plantations on the island.

When the last of the sugar plantations finally shut down in 2005 the government began to concentrate on promoting tourism. Thankfully it has learned from the development of other Caribbean islands, and is strictly controlling the amount of building so this beautiful island will always retain its natural charm.

The Beaches on St Kitts

Anyone visiting St Kitts is likely to spend at least part of their time on the beach, as the Caribbean is famed for having gorgeous beaches and St Kitts is certainly no different. In fact St Kitts has the advantage of having a choice of black sandy, volcanic beaches or gorgeous white sandy beaches. Some beaches are better for sunbathing and swimming while others are better for watersports and/or diving and snorkelling.

One of the best-known beaches on the island is at Frigate Bay in the south, and visitors can choose to visit the north or south side depending on their mood. The north side is fringed by the Atlantic, and is ideal for relaxing and swimming, windsurfing or surfing. The south side of the beach is fringed by calmer waters of the Caribbean. There are also numerous bars, restaurants and resorts in this area.

If you prefer something a little quieter then White House Bay is ideal, especially for snorkellers and divers, as the rocky reef harbours a sunken tugboat which is home to schools of colourful fish and marine life. It's also a great spot for just floating around in the water or simply sunbathing. Another good place for diving and snorkelling is Pump Bay at Sandy Point, and this volcanic black sand beach lies in the shadow of Brimstone Hill Fortress.

Another popular beach is Conaree Beach which lies on the Atlantic side. Although the beach is a relatively narrow strip of grey black sand, it is extremely good for snorkelling and body surfing. 

A more traditional beach can be found at Cockleshell Bay whose powdery white sands are typically Caribbean. The 2 mile long beach also offers gorgeous views of Nevis as it is directly on the Narrows which is the channel between the two islands.

St Kitts and Its History of Sugar Cane Production

If you visit St Kitts, it's nearly impossible to escape the fact that sugarcane production had a major effect on the island, as this influential part of its history is still present in a number of factories and plantation homes which have been beautifully restored and are now open to the public.

Sugarcane production reached its peak in the late 1700s, but declined in the following centuries, and nearly ceased production completely during the 20th century. Although its production had been responsible for bringing much of the wealth into St Kitts, the availability of sugar beet in Europe and the emancipation of slaves, combined with the number of countries choosing to produce their own sugar cane all contributed to the downfall of this industry.

The problem was that St Kitts used to be highly reliant on the industry which nearly became extinct in 1912, as it used to be a major part of the economy.

It was saved at that stage by the opening of the central sugar factory which was capable of processing the islands entire crop, replacing mills and boiling houses on individual plantations.

The timing was perfect, as the price of sugar soared during the First World War. However this reprieve was to be temporary and the sugarcane industry continued its gentle decline before all sugar estates were nationalised in 1974.

In 2005 production ceased completely and the island began to concentrate more fully on its burgeoning tourism industry. Nowadays the central sugar factory is designated as being a national treasure and major heritage site, and remains as a reminder of this part of St Kitts history.