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| Nevis Facts At A Glance |
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Name |
Nevis, West Indies |
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Capitol |
Charlestown |
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Size/Population |
36 square miles; 10,000 residents |
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Location |
Nevis is roughly 1300 miles from Miami, 1750 miles from New York City and less than a one hour flight from Puerto Rico, St. Martin, Antigua, and the US Virgin Islands. |
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Weather |
Nevis is sunny all year and temperatures average 78° F (25° C). No rainy season but short, heavy showers are common from August to February. |
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Language |
English is the official language. |
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Government |
The twin-island Federation of St. Kitts & Nevis gained its independence from England in 1983 but still remains a member of the commonwealth. |
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Currency |
The US dollar and Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC) are both accepted forms of currency. The EC is tied to the US dollar at approximately $2.67 EC to $1.00 US. |
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Electricity |
220 volts at 60 cycles (Most hotels supply 110 volts). |
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Getting Around |
Driving is on the left, and those who wish to drive must obtain a temporary driving license; taxis are readily available at Newcastle Airport in Charlestown. Ferries travel between St. Kitts and Nevis daily. Newcastle Airport is a new air-conditioned facility that easily accommodates flights directly from San Juan. Other airlines with connecting flights to Nevis are Continental, American Airlines and US Airways. From Europe, connecting fights include Air France, BWIA, KLM, British Airways and Lufthansa. |
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Customs/Immigration |
Passports are required of all visitors. |
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Dress |
Casual dress is the norm; no bathing suits on streets. There are strong laws against public indecency. |
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Post Office |
8-3:30 except Thursdays and Saturdays when they close at noon. |
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Airlines Serving Nevis-St. Kitts
Newcastle Airport on Nevis is a new air-conditioned facility
with extended runway that easily accommodates private jets and
flights from various islands. Several airlines provide direct
flights from the U.S. and Canada to the Caribbean. Students
from the US and Canada typically fly to either St. Marten,
San Juan, PR, or Antigua on Continental, American Airlines,
U.S. Air or TWA. Connecting flights to Nevis include: Windward
Island Airlines (Winair) from St. Marten and LIAT from Antigua and San Juan. From Europe, connecting flights
include Air France, BWIA, British Airways, KLM and Lufthansa.
Language and Currency
English is the first language on Nevis. The U.S. dollar and
Eastern Caribbean dollar are both accepted forms of currency.
The Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC) is tied to the US dollar at
$2.70 EC per $1.00 US.
Hospital
Alexandra Hospital is a 50 bed multi-care facility with a team
of full time physicians, surgeons, and trained nurses. The hospital
serves a population of 10,000, providing a wide range of services
including Internal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics,
Gerontology, General Surgery and Urology. During the basic sciences,
students may be assigned to the hospital to improve their skills
in physical diagnosis and learn basic hospital procedures prior
to entering the clinical medicine portion of their program in
the United States.
Driving and Public Transportation
Driving is on the left side of
the road in St. Kitts and Nevis. In order to operate any vehicle on the island it is necessary to obtain
a temporary local driver’s license. Students can obtain a temporary St. Kitts and Nevis driver’s license
from the Traffic Department at either the Charlestown or Newcastle police stations. The fees are $48 US for
one year or $24 US for three months. Students must provide a valid driver’s license and passport. In addition
to good public transportation, there are approximately 15 car rental agencies on Nevis.
Accommodations
Nevis has many fine restaurants and hotels, including the five-star
Four Seasons Resort and Golf Course.
Immigration Requirements
Passports are required of all visitors.
Because medical students will be staying longer than 30 days,
everyone attending the Medical University of the Americas must
have a valid passport.
Communications
Cable & Wireless, Ltd. provides Nevis with fully digitized,
international direct dialing, credit card calling, internet, beeper and fax services. Caribbean Cable provides
cable television, as well as cable based internet access. Internet provider services on Nevis are available and
reliable with bandwidth in excess of 512 kps.
Telephones
Many homes and apartments include telephones. For
installation, a security deposit of EC $1000 is generally required for non nationals. Installation takes a
maximum of 13 working days.
Cell Phones
Cellular phones on Nevis use the GSM system. Many cell
phone companies provide discounted rates to MUA students. Many students choose to make international telephone
calls with their computer using a VOIP such as Vonage® or
Packet-8®. These units in general have to be purchased abroad. In addition,
web-based calls can be made using services such as www.iconnecthere.com
or www.crystalvoice.com. These services require a "computer-style" headset,
with separate plugs for microphone and speakers
Shipping
There are regular freight services to St. Kitts & Nevis
from the U.S. and Europe. Most ocean freight is now fully containerized.
The deep-water harbor can easily accommodate the largest vessels.
Banking on Nevis
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Bank of Nova Scotia, Main Street, Charlestown |
869-469-5411 |
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Bank of Nevis, Main Street, Charlestown |
869-469-5564/5796 |
Banking hours are Monday - Thursday 8 am-2 pm, Friday 8 am-4 pm. There are ATM machines on Nevis, in Charlestown and at the Airport. Money is dispensed in EC dollars.
The Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC) is the official currency. It is tied to the US dollar at $2.67 EC per $1.00 US, though the exchange rates may vary 1-2%.
The US dollar, Travelers checks, Bank Drafts (Cashier's checks), VISA, MasterCard, and American Express are accepted everywhere on Nevis. Students may have funds wire transferred directly to the banks on Nevis. Note: It takes approximately 30 days for checks to clear.
Students planning to open a checking or savings account generally should have:
- Picture ID
- Minimum of EC $100
- Letter from MUA stating that they are current students
- A reference letter from their current or previous bank might be required for some banks
Public Education and Schools on Nevis
Pre-Schools
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Charlestown Preparatory Ramsbury Site |
869-469-1080 |
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Nicholas Viola Victoria Road |
869-469-3828 |
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Maude Bath Village |
869-469-0328 |
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The Learning Center Pump Road, Stoney Grove |
869-469-0317 |
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Wesleyan Holines Church Shaws Road, Newcastle |
869-469-9558 |
Primary Schools
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Grades Kindergarten through 6th. These are government schools, therefore; tuition is not required.
Subjects covered include: Language Arts, Reading, Mathematics, Social Studies, Music, Science, Art,
and Physical Education.
To register children, provide a birth certificate, grade report from last school attended, and
immunization record.
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Charlestown |
869-469-1569 |
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Combermere |
869-469-9377 |
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Gingerland |
869-469-3779 |
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Lowlands |
869-469-5152 |
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Prospect |
869-469-5915 |
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St. James |
869-469-9245 |
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St. John's |
869-469-3927 |
Private Primary Schools
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Charlestown Prep School |
869-469-1080 |
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Belle Vue |
869-469-4111 |
Secondary Schools
| Children graduate from 6th grade and go to secondary schools starting at
Form 1. The education system is similar to the British system. The grades are Forms 1-6. Forms 1-5 (equivalent
to grades 7-11) are in preparation to sit for the "O" Level exams, and the 2 years of Form 6 are in
preparation to sit for the "A" Level exams. Classes begin at 8:30am and end at 3:30pm. |
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Charlestown |
869-469-0993 |
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Gingerland |
869-469-3926 |
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Lynn Jeffers High School (private school) |
869-469-7909 |
High School
| To register a child for secondary school a birth certificate, grade report
from last school, and immunization record must be provided. Subjects covered include English, Literature,
Agricultural Science, Principles of Business, Principles of Accounting, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, History,
Geography, Computer Studies, Integrated Science, Food Production and Service, Physical Education,
Technical Drawing, Woodwork, Office Production, Art, and others.
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Churches on Nevis
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