St Kitts and Nevis
Business/social hints
Attire for business meetings: men should wear a lightweight or tropical suit, women a lightweight two-piece suit or equivalent.
Etiquette: it is customary to shake hands on meeting and taking leave. In business an informal attitude prevails.
Invitations: when a service charge has been added to the bill, gratuities are not necessary. Gratuities in restaurants, which may sometimes be added to the bill, are around 10%. Dress as for business meetings unless otherwise indicated.
Local time: GMT +4 hrs.
Capital: Basseterre.
Language: English.
Electricity: 220V AC 60Hz.
Int. direct dialling code: 1 869.
Driving: temporary licence must be obtained from Police Traffic Department issued on presentation of National licence or International Driving Permit (fee XCD 30).
Currency: Eastern Caribbean Dollar (XCD 1 = 100 Cents).
Notes: XCD: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100.
Coins:XCD: 1. Cents: 1, 2, 5, 10, 25.
Business hours
Banks: 8am-3pm Mon-Thurs, 8am-5pm Fri, 8.30-11.30am Sat (National Bank).
Offices:8am-12noon and 1pm -4pm Mon-Sat (some shops close Thurs afternoon).
Emergency services
Police, Fire, Ambulance: 911.
Health
Compulsory vaccinations: yellow-fever certificate if arriving from infected areas. Infants under one year are exempt.
Clothing
Visitors should dress as the residents do, conservatively – no bikinis or short clothing in public. Beachware is appropriate for the beaches only.
Weather
Climate
Hot and tropical climate tempered by trade winds.
Basseterre Temp C Humidity % Rain
Max/Min am pm (mm)
January 27 24 69 65 122
February 28 22 66 61 86
March 29 21 65 59 112
April 30 22 62 58 87
May 31 23 64 60 97
June 32 24 65 63 114
July 29 27 75 69 155
August 32 23 76 69 183
September 32 23 74 67 168
October 30 22 75 70 196
November 29 22 78 68 177
December 28 21 77 69 141
Robert L Bradshaw SKB
Postal Address: PO Box 963, Basseterre, Saint Kitts.
Telephone: + 1 869 465 84 72/81 21 ext 128.
Fax: +1 869 465 9122/8124
Transportation to city centre: Bus: fare XCD 1, journey time 7-10 mins.
Taxi: fare XCD 13, journey time 7mins.
Airport departure tax: XCD 10 (residents), XCD 27 (non-residents). Note: children under 12 years are exempt.
Flight information: tel 465 2286/8200/8490/8010. This service is available from 0800-1600.
Business facilities: available from 0800-1700.
Passport
Required.
Customs
Import allowances: a) 200 cigarettes b) 1.136 litres of wine or spirits c)170ml of perfume.