St Kitts Tumultuous History

St Kitts has a pretty impressive and often bloody history, but this has contributed greatly towards the colourful culture of this island. In fact the history of St Kitts is notable for being one of the longest written histories in the Caribbean.

The island was named St Christopher by Christopher Columbus after the patron saint of the travellers, but this was eventually shortened to just St Kitts. However the island was inhabited long before this as the first settlers arrived nearly 3,000 years BC, but these early settlers disappeared after just a few hundred years.

It wasn't until around 1300 AD that the Caribbean people arrived on the island, and if it hadn't been for the first European settlers they would have succeeded in colonising the island. Between the 15th and 18th centuries St Kitts saw many wars being fought over her lands.

During this time St Kitts became known for producing tobacco and many planters became very rich. However production was soon overtaken by the colony of Virginia who dominated the world market, and as profits started declining production switched to sugarcane in 1640. Sugarcane production required large amounts of labour and African slaves were brought in to make up the numbers.

This business proved very profitable until slavery was abolished in the British Empire in 1834. The sugarcane industry was also affected by new competition in the market from countries such as India, Cuba and Brazil. In spite of this sugarcane production remained important for many years until the industry was finally shut down in 2005. By this stage St Kitts had begun to turn its attention towards its burgeoning tourism industry, and nowadays it is one of the most sought-after destinations in the Caribbean.

What Can Visitors Expect from the Island of St Kitts?

First-time visitors to the Caribbean island of St Kitts are likely to be surprised by how much this little island has to offer. Although relatively new to tourism, St Kitts has all the necessary infrastructure in place to offer visitors a luxurious yet very friendly experience. The island has seen a significant number of new developments over the past few years, many of which have been aimed at the luxury market.

It's a great destination for anyone who loves nature, as there are many opportunities to track through the expanding rainforests, and to see the natural flora and fauna of the island. Mount Liamuiga is the highest point on St Kitts, reaching 3,792 feet into the sky. It was formally named Mount Misery and was renamed on Independence Day in 1983, but you'll probably find many older residents still refer to it by its original name. You can climb all the way to the summit, but should hire a local guide.

A more relaxing way to see the island is to hop on the narrow gauge train and take a scenic tour through old sugarcane plantations. It's a great way of seeing the beautiful landscapes as well as learning about the island's history.

Snorkelling and diving enthusiasts will want to visit Bloody Bay Reef which is well-known for its underwater grottoes. Coconut Tree Reef is the place to go for spotting diverse marine life, and then of course there's the Talata shipwreck in Sandy Point Reef. The beaches here are stunning, and one of the nicest is that Frigate Bay, but if you prefer something a little quieter then try Sand Bank Bay.

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.

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.

St Kitts Colourful Past

St Kitts may be a beautiful holiday destination, but it also has a colourful past and a heritage created by the nation's indigenous people and Europeans and Africans. The island is located in between Puerto Rico and Trinidad and Tobago, and was originally volcanic.

Columbus spotted the island in 1493, but long before this it was inhabited by indigenous Indians called Siboney who left very few traces behind. They were eventually overtaken by the Arawaks who were a group of farmers, who were in turn overtaken by the Carib Indians who were warriors. When the Europeans eventually began to arrive on St Kitts, the Carib Indians waged war against them.

The first British settlers arrived in 1623, while the first French settlers arrived around 1627. The two groups lived in relative harmony for a while and fought the Carib Indians and Spanish attacks together.

Unfortunately the harmony didn't last, and cumulated in a war which would last more than 100 years. In 1782 St Kitts and Nevis came under permanent British control after a bitter battle on Brimstone Hill. Once they regained control, the British began establishing sugar plantations which were originally maintained by Irish servants before being cultivated by African slaves.

A large percentage of the island's population is of African descent, and this influence is seen throughout their culture in celebrations, art, food and music. Eventually the sugarcane industry became unprofitable and has been replaced by tourism. It is now becoming one of the top luxury destinations in the world, and also has a growing reputation for eco-tourism.