St. Kitts and Nevis

The history of St. Kitts & Nevis is a study of French and British partnership to combat Spain and the hostile native Carib Indians. A mutual power and territory-sharing scheme was scrapped in 1782 and resulted in British domination until full independence was granted on September 19, 1983. Before imperial colonization, the native population called St. Kitts & Nevis Liamiuga, or Fertile Isle. This reflects the importance of agriculture (mainly sugar production) to the economy. Given the reliance on a single crop, and the fluctuations in world demand and market associated with lulls in economic productivity, it is surprising that St. Kitts & Nevis was initially reluctant to diversify with tourism, as has been the pattern in other Caribbean nations. Plans are underway to alleviate separatist feelings by introducing federalism and power sharing between the two islands.