Saint Peter Basseterre Parish
Encyclopedia
Saint Peter Basseterre is one of 14 administrative parishes
that make up Saint Kitts and Nevis
. It is located on the main island of Saint Kitts
and the parish capital is Monkey Hill
.
, home to the Monkey Hill Village
and most of the other settlements of the parish. It is also home to many peasant farms and also the Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport
, which serves the island. The coastline is marked by a 6 miles (9.7 km) long continuous strip of sand that stretches from Saint Mary Cayon, into Saint Peter Basseterre and eventually into Saint George Basseterre, the sands lightening in hue as one descends southward. Notable areas along the stretch are Barker's Point and Conaree Beach. The beaches of Saint Peter Basseterre are used by Leatherback turtles to lay their eggs and have large reef formations offshore.
Other Villages:
The parish capital is Monkey Hill and is located in the center of the parish. Other villages located in the central area are New Road, St. Peter's, Parry's, Ogee's, Stapleton, Bayford's and John England Village.
Also, Conaree is near the seashore. The fertile lands are in the central area and also on the hillsides of the South East Range mountains.
The parish is also home to the island's airport, the larger of the two in the federation. Near the village of Conaree also lies two of the island's best-kept sporting facilities, used for cricket
and football.
The Conaree area was once home to many small inns, which hugged Conaree beach, though many have been deserted. It also once housed a gospel radio station but it was moved to Nevis in 1990.
Agriculture dominates the Basseterre Valley, and peasant farmers rear livestock and grow various fruits and vegetables for local consumption on their small holdings.
Tourism is not a particularly key industry in the parish, though it is home to the White House Inn and the ruins of the Chateau de Montagne at La Fontaine, once the elaborate and lavish home of St.Kitts' famous former French governeur, Phillipe de Longvilliers de Poincy
.
, which serves the island of Saint Kitts, and is often credited as being the finest mid-sized airport in the Caribbean.
There are no seaports in the parish due to the harsh Atlantic waves along the coast and the many dangerous reef formations.
This festival features calypso shows, queen shows, parties, street jam sessions and late night limes (hang outs).
Parishes of Saint Kitts and Nevis
The Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis is divided into 14 parishes. Nine parishes are located on the island of Saint Kitts and five on Nevis. The parishes are drawn like pie-slices from the ridgeline of the central mountains of both islands....
that make up Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Kitts and Nevis
The Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis , located in the Leeward Islands, is a federal two-island nation in the West Indies. It is the smallest sovereign state in the Americas, in both area and population....
. It is located on the main island of Saint Kitts
Saint Kitts
Saint Kitts Saint Kitts Saint Kitts (also known more formally as Saint Christopher Island (Saint-Christophe in French) is an island in the West Indies. The west side of the island borders the Caribbean Sea, and the eastern coast faces the Atlantic Ocean...
and the parish capital is Monkey Hill
Monkey Hill
Monkey Hill is a town in the southeast of the island of Saint Kitts, in Saint Kitts and Nevis. It is the capital of Saint Peter Basseterre Parish. The geographical feature for which the village was named, and beneath which it rests, Monkey Hill, despite its name is over 1000 ft. high and is thus in...
.
Land
The parish's 8 square miles (20.7 km²) consists of forest-covered rugged hills and mountains in the North west and interior, climaxing at the near 3000 ft (914.4 m) Olivee's Mountain. Another notable feature is Monkey Hill, which despite its name rises to over 1000 ft (304.8 m) above sea level and is thus in actuality a mountain. It lies just South-East of Olivee's Mountain. The ridge of hills in the North continues Eastward to the Canada hills before breaking to the Conaree Hills. South of this Northern ridge lies the flat and fertile Basseterre ValleyBasseterre Valley
The Basseterre Valley is a low-lying valley on the island of Saint Kitts, surrounded by the Canada Hills and Olivees Mountain. It contains Basseterre, the capital of Saint Kitts and Nevis. The valley has two rivers or ghauts named Westbourne Ghaut and College Ghaut.The Basseterre Valley was...
, home to the Monkey Hill Village
Monkey Hill
Monkey Hill is a town in the southeast of the island of Saint Kitts, in Saint Kitts and Nevis. It is the capital of Saint Peter Basseterre Parish. The geographical feature for which the village was named, and beneath which it rests, Monkey Hill, despite its name is over 1000 ft. high and is thus in...
and most of the other settlements of the parish. It is also home to many peasant farms and also the Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport
Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport
Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport is an international airport located just northeast of Basseterre, on the island of Saint Kitts, serving the nation of Saint Kitts and Nevis. It was named after the first Premier of St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla , Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw.A major renovation was...
, which serves the island. The coastline is marked by a 6 miles (9.7 km) long continuous strip of sand that stretches from Saint Mary Cayon, into Saint Peter Basseterre and eventually into Saint George Basseterre, the sands lightening in hue as one descends southward. Notable areas along the stretch are Barker's Point and Conaree Beach. The beaches of Saint Peter Basseterre are used by Leatherback turtles to lay their eggs and have large reef formations offshore.
Villages
Capital - Monkey HillMonkey Hill
Monkey Hill is a town in the southeast of the island of Saint Kitts, in Saint Kitts and Nevis. It is the capital of Saint Peter Basseterre Parish. The geographical feature for which the village was named, and beneath which it rests, Monkey Hill, despite its name is over 1000 ft. high and is thus in...
Other Villages:
- Bayford's
- Canada
- Conaree
- John England Village
- La Fontaine
- Morgan Heights
- New Road
- Saint Peter's
- Ogee's
- Parry's
- Stapleton
The parish capital is Monkey Hill and is located in the center of the parish. Other villages located in the central area are New Road, St. Peter's, Parry's, Ogee's, Stapleton, Bayford's and John England Village.
Also, Conaree is near the seashore. The fertile lands are in the central area and also on the hillsides of the South East Range mountains.
Economy
Saint Peter's parish's economy is highly industrial. The Canada Estate area is home to the island's quarry site, and many subsidiary industries which manufacture blocks and ready-mixed concrete. Many of the island's trucking and heavy-equipment services are also headquartered there. The parish is also home to the island's waste disposal area, located North of the village of Conaree.The parish is also home to the island's airport, the larger of the two in the federation. Near the village of Conaree also lies two of the island's best-kept sporting facilities, used for cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
and football.
The Conaree area was once home to many small inns, which hugged Conaree beach, though many have been deserted. It also once housed a gospel radio station but it was moved to Nevis in 1990.
Agriculture dominates the Basseterre Valley, and peasant farmers rear livestock and grow various fruits and vegetables for local consumption on their small holdings.
Tourism is not a particularly key industry in the parish, though it is home to the White House Inn and the ruins of the Chateau de Montagne at La Fontaine, once the elaborate and lavish home of St.Kitts' famous former French governeur, Phillipe de Longvilliers de Poincy
De Poincy
Phillippe de Longvilliers de Poincy was a French nobleman and Bailiff Grand Cross of the Knights of Malta.On 12 January 1638 de Poincy set sail for the Caribbean on board La Petite Europe On February 20 he took up his commission as Lieutenant Governor of the Isles of America and Captain general...
.
Ports
The parish is home to the Robert L. Bradshaw International AirportRobert L. Bradshaw International Airport
Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport is an international airport located just northeast of Basseterre, on the island of Saint Kitts, serving the nation of Saint Kitts and Nevis. It was named after the first Premier of St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla , Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw.A major renovation was...
, which serves the island of Saint Kitts, and is often credited as being the finest mid-sized airport in the Caribbean.
There are no seaports in the parish due to the harsh Atlantic waves along the coast and the many dangerous reef formations.
Community festivals
There is but one community festival: the St. Peter's Fest, which is celebrated in October. Many persons from outlying villages such as Monkey Hill and Ogee's watches the splendour in this riveting festival.This festival features calypso shows, queen shows, parties, street jam sessions and late night limes (hang outs).