Basseterre

Basseterre, referred to as Basterre in Saint Kitts Creole, is the dynamic capital and largest city of Saint Kitts and Nevis. As of 2018, it has an estimated population of 14,000 and serves as a pivotal center of activity and culture in the region. Geographically, Basseterre sits on the southwest coast of Saint Kitts Island at 17°18′N 62°44′W. Nestled within the Saint George Basseterre Parish, this site makes the Leeward Islands one of its main business hubs.

Being one of the Eastern Caribbean’s oldest towns, Basseterre has a rich history closely entwined with the colonial past of the area. Basseterre Bay, on St. Kitts’ southwest coast, the city circles a two-mile bay. Part of the bigger Basseterre Valley, this bay is practically surrounded by mountains and verdant hills. The name “Basseterre” itself, which translates in English as “low land,” captures its topography. The name also denotes its position on the leeward side of the island, thereby offering a safe anchorage apart from the main winds.

As it confronts the wind, the northern area—known as Capesterre— contrasts with Basseterre. To the north the Olivees Mountains flank the city; to the east the Conaree-Morne mountains. Locally known as “ghauts,” the College River and the Westbourne River comprise part of its drainage system. Dry throughout most of the year, these rivers have been included into the infrastructure of the city and create streets in Basseterre. But occasionally, this integration has resulted in catastrophic flooding—especially from the College River—that marks major historical events in the city.

Four primary streets flowing west to east define Basseterre‘s grid layout, which also defines her urban design: Bay Road, Liverpool Row, Central Street, and Cayon Street. Most of the stores and banks on the island are housed on Fort Street/Bank Street, the primary north-south route. The city boasts two separate centers: Independence Square, home of the cathedral, courthouse, and many old buildings; The Circus, which attracts tourists.

Basseterre falls in a tropical rainforest according to the Köppen classification. Usually averaging approximately 27 °C (81 °F), temperatures stay rather consistent all year long. There is no dry season in the city; every month gets more over 60 mm (2.36 in.), with an annual average of 1700 mm (66.93 in.).

Basseterre, St. Kitts’ principal business and industrial hub, is vital for the country’s economy. It is the main point of access for road and rail travel as well as for sea and aircraft. Along with numerous other regional financial institutions, the city hosts the administrative buildings of the federal government and Eastern Caribbean Central Bank headquarters.

Basseterre, for all its small scale, has become well-known worldwide by staging major events. Outbidding far bigger cities, it was the site of Carifesta VII, the Caribbean Festival of Arts in 2000. St. Kitts and Nevis became the smallest nation ever to hold a World Cricket Cup tournament in 2007 when it staged games at the Warner Park Sporting Complex.

Additionally a hub for education is Basseterre, especially in the medical sciences. Two for-profit private medical schools established by Robert Ross—Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine and the International University of Nursing—call it home. Four secondary schools in the city also help to shape the educational landscape of the area: two government-owned, two private ones.