Saint Kitts was originally settled by the French in 1627, while the British took Nevis a year later. Over 150 year later, both islands came under British control but it took another hundred years for Saint Kitts and Nevis to gain their independence (1983). The economy of the islands rests heavily on sugar products, an industry that was hurt by 1990's Hurricane Hugo. There has been some dissension between the islands as Nevis began to agitate for separation from Saint Kitts over the issue of taxes but a 1998 referendum failed to settle the issue conclusively.