Former Civil Servant: “Mark Brantley places St Kitts-Nevis on International Stage”

Former civil servant Nigel Faron explains why he accredits Minister Brantley with the nation’s international growth.

The smallest sovereign country in the Western Hemisphere, St Kitts and Nevis has recently garnered international attention by strengthening ties with old allies and forging relations with new partners. According to former civil servant Mr Faron, most citizens ascribe the transformation in diplomatic visibility and stability to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Honourable Mark Brantley.

Minister Brantley took office in February 2015, and since then has made frequent headline news for his work in international relations. Mr Faron states that he and others have seen the Minister “actively embrace his role, travelling extensively and hosting foreign representatives abroad and at home.” The results of this are that several bilateral and multilateral agreements have been agreed and diplomatic relations with 30 countries forged. Mr Faron gives examples. “In just 2018,” he says, St Kitts and Nevis formed diplomatic relations with Albania, Bahrain, Cambodia, and Sao Tome and Principe.

Last month, Minister Brantley celebrated the Federation as the first Caribbean country to establish a diplomatic presence in the United Arab Emirates. At a Dubai citizenship event on the 28th, the Minister announced the opening of an embassy in the nation’s capital Abu Dhabi later this year.

Mr Faron points out that “Minister Brantley can also be accredited with Kittitians and Nevisians now being able to travel to 19 additional destinations without having to first apply for a visa.” Taiwan, a longstanding ally, had held visa-free entry rights to the Federation for years. On 12 July 2017 it reciprocated the benefit. Russia did the same on 21 November 2017. More recently, Minister Brantley negotiated agreements with Belarus and Montenegro, two European nations the latter of which is a candidate for European Union membership.

Mr Faron highlights the difference between Minister Brantley’s achievements in the role and those of past Foreign Ministers. Significantly, included are the Prime Minister, the Honourable Timothy Harris (2001-2008) and the former Prime Minister, the Honourable Denzil Douglas (1995-2000; 2008-2010). “Yet these politicians did not achieve as much for us – particularly in such short time – as Minister Brantley has.” Assiduous in his pursuit of success for the Federation, “Minister Brantley may make citizens consider what could be achieved if someone like him became our leader.”