For Some, Nevis Should Be An Island Unto Itself

"TWO ISLANDS, ONE PARADISE"

That, at least, is the official tourism slogan of the tiny, twin island nation of St Kitts and Nevis in the eastern Caribbean.

At first sight all indeed seems idyllic. Separated by a narrow channel, both islands host luxury hotels and offshore financiers offering everything from secluded beaches to secret trust funds.

But ever since the pair were joined by their British colonial masters more than 100 years ago, forming the smallest nation in this hemisphere, St Kitts and Nevis have never seen eye-to-eye.

Now Nevis, the smaller of the two, is finally hoping to break away. After the island's five-member assembly voted last month to hold a referendum on independence, Nevis is poised to set a new standard in Lilliputian nationhood.