Basseterre, << bahs TAIR >> (pop. 11,500), is the capital of the Caribbean nation of Saint Kitts and Nevis. It is also the country’s largest city and chief port. Basseterre lies on the southern coast of St. Kitts, the larger of the two islands that make up St. Kitts and Nevis.
Basseterre has a number of old colonial buildings, including the Treasury Building and St. George’s Anglican Church. At the center of the city is the Circus, a circular intersection modeled after London’s Piccadilly Circus. The Berkeley Memorial Clock, with four faces, stands in the middle of the intersection. Independence Square also lies near the center of the city. The square was built in 1790 for slave auctions and council meetings.
Growing and refining sugar once dominated Basseterre’s economy. In 2005, the government shut down the sugar industry, which was experiencing financial difficulties. Today, Basseterre’s chief economic activities are banking, manufacturing, and tourism. The city is a financial center for St. Kitts and Nevis and for the eastern Caribbean region. Small factories in Basseterre produce beverages, clothing, electronic products, and other goods. The Robert Llewelyn Bradshaw International Airport serves the city, and many cruise ships stop at Basseterre’s port.
The French founded Basseterre in the 1620’s. The city’s name is French for lowland. In 1713, the British gained control of Basseterre and other parts of St. Kitts that had been held by the French. In 1983, St. Kitts and Nevis became an independent country with Basseterre as its capital.
See also Saint Kitts and Nevis .
