Location : archipelago of 102 km2, 9 miles (appr. 15 km) north of
Saint Maarten.
Surface area : 91 km2, 26 kilometres long and 5 kilometres wide.
Highest point : only 70 m.
Status : Independent territory, though still dependent of the United
Kingdom, member of the Commonwealth, conducted by a legislative assembly
composed of 11 members, 7 of whom are elected for 5 years. The British crown
is represented in Anguilla by a Governor, responsible for foreign affairs,
defence and public functions.
Population : approximately 12.500 inhabitants
Capital : The Valley.
Language : English.
Currency : as in all islands of the former British West Indies (with
the exception of Barbados), the currency in use is the East Caribbean
Dollar, referred to as EC or “biwi” (for British West Indies). The EC$ is
thus also the currency of Saint Kitts and Nevis, of Antigua and Barbuda, of
Montserrat, of Dominica, of Saint Lucia, of St Vincent and the Grenadines
and of Grenada. The value of the Caribbean Dollar is calculated in function
of the US Dollar, also accepted on the islands.
Advisories & Safety : similarly to neighbouring Saint Maarten,
Anguilla also bears the reputation of being a centre for drug traffic. Drug
consumers are often the ones responsible for thievery while passing through
this island.
Overview of Saba
The name Saba refers to the day the island was discovered by Christopher
Columbus: sabato, Italian for Saturday. Emerging from the sea, Saba is a
volcano which has been extinct for 5000 years. The runway of Saba’s airport
is among the shortest ones in the world. The island is a real natural
beauty, crude, with no beaches, yet lush with green vegetation.
Location : North-West of Saint Eustatius, South-West of Saint
Barthelemy, 45 kilometres (25 miles) South of Saint Maarten.
Surface area : 13 km², nicknamed “the small pebble”
Highest point : Mount Scenery, 877 m.
Status : Part of Leeward Islands Territory, attached to the autonomous
colony of the Dutch West Indies.
Population : 1 600 inhabitants, half of whom are descendants of Dutch
and English colonists, with the remaining part descendants of black slaves.
Capital : The Bottom.
Language : the official language is Dutch, but English is spoken
everywhere
Currency : As Saba is part of the Netherlands, the official currency
is the euro, however practically all prices are based on the US Dollar, the
use of which is extremely widespread. Saba is a duty free zone.
Overview of Saint-Kitts & Nevis
Location : 30 miles (48 km) South of Saint-Barth.
Currency : East Caribbean Dollar.
Language : English and Creole.
Saint-Kitts
Surface area : 168 km², 37 km long and 8 km wide.
Highest point : Mont Liamuiga (Misery), 1131 m.
Status : Independent state along with Nevis, member of the Commonwealth.
Population : 34 000 inhabitants.
Capital : Basseterre.
Nevis
Surface area : 93 km², 13 km long and 10 km wide
Highest point : Nevis Peak, 985 m.
Status : Independent state along with St-Kitts, member of the
Commonwealth.
Population : 9 000 inhabitants.
Capital : Charlestown.
Overview of Saint Eustatius
Location : situated among the Leeward Islands between Saba and St
Christophe. It takes 20 minutes by plane to reach St Eustatius from St
Maarten.
Surface area : 30 km2.
Highest point : Mount “The Quill” and Mount Mazinga are 600 metres
high
Status : Saint Eustatius is part of the Dutch Federation
Population : 2600 inhabitants
Capital : Oranjestag
Languages : Children are taught Dutch as an official language, but
English, as well as Creole and Spanish are spoken in all families.
Currency : the Euro, but the US Dollar remains accepted everywhere.
Advisories & Safety : Practically no risk. Despite a tumultuous past,
today’s Saint Eustatius is a harbour of peace.
Religion : a great diversity of religions: Anglican, Apostolic,
Bahai, Baptist, Catholic, Jehova’s Witness, Methodist, Seventh Day
Adventist.
