The last census held in the territory was in 1970. The total population in St Kitts and Nevis was then found to be 45,457 (St Kitts 34,227; Nevis 11,230). It was not possible for Anguilla to be included in the census, but the estimated population there is about 6,500. The majority of the population are African or of mixed descent. Sugar is the main employer of labour, on 30 estates, in the Factory and in ancillary services. The yield has been dropping steadily in recent years from 43,600 tons in 1964 to 23,800 tons in 1972. A vigorous campaign to improve the yield has been launched under the auspices of the Sugar Industry Recovery Organisation (SIRO). The other main employers are Government, a colour TV assembly factory, a garments factory, beer and beverages plants, hotels, offices, and shops. There are 29 Government Primary and 6 Government Secondary Schools in St Kitts and Nevis with about 15,000 pupils and employing 530 teachers. Primary education is compulsory for all children between the ages of 6 and 14, but no pupil is required to leave school until the age of 16 years. Agriculture in Nevis is almost exclusively on a peasant small-holding basis and more than half the small farms in the territory are on this island. There are, however, five large coconut estates and some privately-owned livestock farms. The main crops are cotton and vegetables. Farming in Anguilla follows a similar pattern to that of Nevis, though livestock raising is more prevalent and fishing plays a major part in the economy. Airports in the territory are: Golden Rock, St Kitts, runway length 6,000 feet (being extended to 8,000 feet), about 1.5 miles from Basseterre; Newcastle airfield, Nevis, runway length 2,700 feet, 7.5 miles from Charlestown; the Wall Blake airfield, Anguilla, runway length, 2,800 feet. There is a narrow-gauge light railway in St Kitts, owned and operated by the St Kitts (Basseterre) Sugar Factory Ltd. It is 36 miles long and is used to transport cane from the fields to the factory and sugar from the factory to the wharf. St Kitts has approximately 60 miles of road, Nevis 63 miles and Anguilla 35 miles. In recent years efforts have been made to diversify the economy and encourage the development of tourism, and the extension of Golden Rock airport and the development of the Frigate Bay area should make a considerable difference to the economy. Government revenue for 1971 was EC$21,368,614 with expenditure at EC $23,870,670. The figures for revenue and expenditure during 1972 were estimated to balance at EC$28,393,205. For 1973 the balanced estimate was EC $34,552,641. HISTORY St Christopher, discovered by Columbus on his second voyage in 1493, was the first island in the West Indies to be colonised by the English, when Sir Thomas Warner took settlers there in 1623. In 1624 the French, under d'Esnambuc, also colonised part of the island. Intermittent warfare between the French and British settlers during the seventeenth century ravaged the economy of the island. It was, however, ceded to Britain by the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713. The last fighting on the island took place in 1782 when the French captured Brimstone Hill after a memorable siege and once more took possession of St Christopher. The island was finally restored to Britain by the Treaty of Versailles in 1783. Nevis, also sighted by Columbus on his second voyage, was settled by the English in 1628 and soon became one of the most prosperous of the Antilles. Although it suffered from French and Spanish attacks in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, it maintained a sound economic position until the middle of the nineteenth century. Anguilla, too was probably first sighted by Columbus. The island remained continuously British after its colonisation in 1650 but was subject in its early days to severe depredations by pirates. CONSTITUTION Following decisions taken at a conference in London in May 1966, subsequently endorsed by a resolution of the Legislative Council, provision was made in the West Indies Act 1967, under which St Kitts, Nevis and Anguilla assumed a status of association with the United Kingdom on 27th February 1967. The association is a free and voluntary one, terminable by either country at any time. The State is fully self-governing in all its internal affairs. The United Kingdom is responsible for defence and external affairs. Agreement has been reached on close consultation over the discharge of these responsibilities and on the delegation of executive authority in a wide field of external relations. The British Government conduct their affairs with the State and the rest of the West Indies Associated States through the British Government Representative, whose headquarters are at Castries, St Lucia. On 19th March 1969, H.M. Commissioner was installed on the island of Anguilla under the Anguilla (Temporary Provision) Order in Council, 1969. Additional powers were conferred upon H.M. Commissioner by the Anguilla (Administration) Order in Council which was made on 28th July 1971 under the provisions of the Anguilla Act 1971. Under the Constitution the Governor is Her Majesty's Representative. Except where otherwise provided the Governor is required to act in accordance with the advice of the Cabinet or a Minister acting under the general authority of the Cabinet. The Cabinet is collectively responsible to the Legislature for the government of the State. The Cabinet consists of the Premier, the other Ministers and at any time when his office is a public office, the Attorney-General ex officio. The Governor appoints as Premier a member of the House of Assembly who appears to him likely to command a majority in that House. The other Ministers are appointed from among the members of the House on the advice of the Premier. There is provision for the appointment of Parliamentary Secretaries. The Legislature consists of Her Majesty and a House of Assembly. The House of Assembly consists of a Speaker; members (for the present, ten) elected in single member constituencies under universal adult suffrage, one of whom may be the Speaker; and three nominated members or, if a nominated member is Attorney-General, four. Transitionally the first House of Assembly includes the Speaker and elected members of the former Legislative Council. The Legislature may make laws for the peace, order and good government of the State. The Constitution contains safeguards for fundamental rights and freedoms. Special provisions relate to a Bill to alter the Constitution or the law establishing the West Indies Associated States Supreme Court or the law relating to appeals to the Privy Council. A Puisne Judge of the West Indies Associated States Supreme Court (q.v.) is resident in St Kitts. The appointment, dismissal and disciplinary control of public officers is, with certain exceptions, vested in the Public Service and Police Service Commissions. There is provision for appeals to the Public Service Board of Appeal. LAND POLICY Aliens cannot own land except under licence from the Government. GOVERNOR His Excellency Sir Milton P. Allen, OBE MINISTRY Premier: The Hon. Robert L. Bradshaw, JP Deputy Premier, Minister of Finance, Trade, Development and Tourism: Minister of Education, Health and Welfare: The Hon. F. C. Bryant, JP Director of Public Prosecutions: H. M. Squires Cabinet and External Affairs Secretary: Ira Walwyn, OBE BRITISH GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE Deputy British Government Representative: R. F. Gillett, OBE H.M. COMMISSIONER, ANGUILLA A. C. Watson ST LUCIA T LUCIA, in the Windward Island group, lies 24 miles to the south of Martinique and 21 miles north-east of St Vincent, latitude 13° 54′ N., longitude 60° 59′ W. The island is pear-shaped and measures 27 miles by 14 miles. Its circumference is 150 miles and its area about 238 square miles. The island is mountainous, with magnificent scenery. The highest peak is Mt Gimie (3,145 feet); the most spectacular are the Gros Piton (2,619 feet) and the Petit Piton (2,461 feet) which are old volcanic forest-clad cones rising sheer out of the sea near the town of Soufrière on the leeward coast. A few miles away in an ancient crater are hot, sulphurous springs. The mountains are intersected by numerous short rivers. In places, these rivers debouch into broad, fertile and well cultivated valleys. The scenery is of outstanding beauty, even when compared with other Caribbean islands, and in the neighbourhood of the Pitons it has the less common element of grandeur. There is a dry season roughly from January to April, and a rainy season from May to August, with an Indian summer in September-October. Towards the end of the year it is usually wet. The island lies in latitudes where the northeast trade winds are an almost constant influence. The mean annual temperature is about 80°F. Rainfall varies (according to altitude) in different parts of the island from 60 inches to 138 inches. The population of St Lucia, according to the 1970 census, was 101,000. The population of the capital, Castries, is about 45,000. There are twelve secondary schools with about 4,000 students, and some 73 primary and infant schools. The number of children in these schools is about 30,000. Adult education is provided by the Extra Mural Department of the University of the West Indies and by organised voluntary groups. Community education centres provide facilities whereby the people of the area can meet to discuss matters of common interest and to take part in recreational activities. Medical services are provided by eight district medical officers and three specialists based at Victoria Hospital, Castries, where there are also two resident medical officers. Available beds are 233 general (including obstetrics). There is a separate wing for Tuberculosis patients. Mental cases are accommodated at a Mental Hospital providing 126 beds. This institution also caters for a limited number of geriatric cases. A private hospital operated by a religious order of Sisters at Vieux-Fort in the south of the island carries 100 beds and also provides specialist treatment. There are 24 health centres. There are two airfields-Vigie Airport and Hewanorra International Airport (formerly Beane Field)-owned and operated by the Government of St Lucia for scheduled and charter service. The runway at Hewanorra, which is located in the Vieux-Fort District, was recently lengthened from 5,000 feet to 9,000 feet, Air services with other territories are maintained by British West Indian Airways (BWIA) Leeward Islands Air Transport (LIAT) and Eastern Airlines. LIAT is owned by the Court Line, a British airline and shipping consortium. There are about 500 miles of roads. The island is served by the following shipping lines: Harrison lines-cargo vessels; Geest Industries-cargo and passenger vessels; French Lines-passenger vessels. During 1971, 1,885 vessels called at St Lucia. Net tonnage handled was 1,486,000. Radio Caribbean International St Lucia, a commercial radio station with a power output of 10,000 watts, broadcasts daily in French and English. There is also a Government-owned station. Radio St. Lucia, which was formerly a substation of the Windward Islands Broadcasting Service. A commercial television service is also in operation. The main crops are bananas, coconuts, cocoa, fruit, spices, root crops, such as cassava and yams, and citrus fruits. There is a fair amount of fishing, but the supply of fish does not meet the demand. The principal manufactures are rum, citrus products, coconut products (copra and edible oils, soap), cigarettes and mineral waters. In 1971, 38 per cent of total imports came from the United Kingdom, 30 per cent from other Commonwealth countries and 32 per cent from foreign countries. In 1971, 77 per cent of the island's exports were to Great Britain. The main form of direct taxation is income tax, the rates of which vary from 12c. in every $4.80 of the first $480.00 to $3.12 in every $4.80 above $24,000. Companies pay $1.92 in every $4.80 on their chargeable income. Revenue for 1972 was $20.9 million, mainly derived from customs and excise duties. The economy is now being diversified and tourism developed. HISTORY Neither the date of discovery nor the discoverer of St Lucia is known, for according to the evidence of Columbus's voyage, he appears to have missed the island. As early as 1605, 67 Englishmen en route to Guiana, touched at St Lucia and made an unsuccessful effort to settle. The island at the time was peopled by Caribs and continued in their possession till 1635, when it was granted by the King of France to MM. de L'Olive and Duplessis. In 1638 the first recorded settlement was made by English from Bermuda and St Kitts but the colonists were murdered by the Caribs about three years later. In 1642 the King of France, still claiming a right of sovereignty over the island, ceded it to the French West India Company, who in 1650 sold it to MM. Honel and Du Parquet. After repeated attempts by the Caribs to expel the French, the latter concluded a treaty of peace with them in 1660. In 1664 Thomas Warner, son of the Governor of St Kitts, made a descent on St Lucia. The English continued in possession till the Peace of Breda in 1667, when the island was restored to the French. In 1674 it was re-annexed to the Crown of France, and made a dependency of Martinique. After the Peace of Utrecht, in 1713, the rival pretensions of England and France to the possession of St Lucia resulted in open hostility. In 1718 the Regent, d'Orleans, made a grant of the island to Marshal d'Estrées, and in 1722, the King of England made a grant of it to the Duke of Montague. In the following year, however, a body of troops, despatched to St Lucia by the Governor of Martinique, compelled the English settlers to evacuate the island and it was declared neutral. In 1743 the French took advantage of the declaration of war to resume possession of St Lucia, which they retained till the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1748, when it was again declared neutral. In 1756, on the renewal of hostilities, the French put the island in a state of defence; but in 1762 it surrendered to the joint operations of Admiral Rodney and General Monckton. In the following year, by the Treaty of Paris, it was assigned to the French, who continued in peaceable possession till 1778, when effective measures were taken by the British for its conquest, but by the Peace of Versailles, St Lucia was once more restored to France. In 1793, on the declaration of war against revolutionary France, the West Indies became the scene of a series of naval and military operations which resulted in the surrender of St Lucia to the British on 4th April 1794. In 1796 the British Government despatched to the relief of their West Indian possessions a body of troops, 12,000 strong, under the command of Sir Ralph Abercromby, supported by a squadron under Admiral Sir Hugh Christian. On 26th April |