The French island in the Caribbean was a Swedish colony between 1785 -1878. There are still many Swedish footprints on the island. When you arrive at the small airport you are welcomed in Swedish. Even texts on the signs describing different memorials are in French, English and Swedish. There are still buildings on the island from the Swedish era, as the Swedish clock tower.
The terrain on the island is dry and rocky and even if early settlers managed to grow both vegetables and cotton they are today importing most commodities. In 1785 St. Barts became a freeport which contributed to a financial development. One year later the West India Company was established in Sweden and they were set to handle the commerce on St. Barths. They were also given the permission to trade slaves between West Africa and the West Indies. The slave trade was not abolished in the Swedish territories until 1847.
Today high end tourism, mainly from North America, contributes to the high standard of living and today there are both luxury hotels and villas on the island.
According to the 2008 census, St. Barts had 8,823 inhabitants but probably there are more residents on the island. Gustavia, once Sweden’s fifth biggest town is the center on the island, where also the local administration is located. St. Barts is today a PTOM, “pays territoire d’outre mer” which gives them greater financially autonomy towards France.
Piteå’s twin town since 1977
In 1976 four sailors from Piteå tried to “recapture” the Island. Even if they didn’t succeed they were very well received. The following year a delegation from St. Barts visited Piteå. In December 1977 a formal decision was taken by the city council to make St. Barts a sister town. A corresponding decision had already been taken at St. Barts.
During the years Piteå has received groups and delegations and on the island they have done the same. In 2008 there was an exhibition during the Swedish week on the island where our citizens showed their pictures from our daily life. In 2011 a sun dial designed by a local designer in Piteå and made from stone from the county of Norrbotten was presented as an official gift and will be seen in front of the town hall in Gustavia.
The Piteå day
Since 1979 the relationship with Piteå has once a year been celebrated on the island. Today the Piteå Day is part of the Swedish week, a week in November where Sweden and Piteå is in focus. The celebration starts the day before by hundreds of children participating in a race. Early the following morning an increasing number of runners, amateurs and professionals are competing in a 10 km long road race on the hilly terrain.
