PM Terrance Drew vows to work closely with Nevis Administration for 'Geothermal Project'

St Kitts and Nevis: Prime Minister Terrance Drew vowed that he will be working closely with Premier Mark Brantley on the geothermal project. He said that this is one of the major things which the government intends to push through. The statement was made by the PM during the joint Cabinet Meeting between the Federal Cabinet of the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis and the Cabinet of the Nevis Island Administration on January 22, 2024.

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The meeting marked a significant improvement in the working relationship between both islands. PM Drew led the delegation of Cabinet members to Nevis for the joint meeting, the first under his leadership. [caption id="attachment_66919" align="alignnone" width="2048"] Officials of Federal government and NIA during the joint meeting[/caption] While discussing geothermal energy, the Prime Minister said, "I will speak to that because I think if we were looking for oil, that is our oil. But the resource resides here in Nevis and needs the input of the federal government."

It is to be noted that large deposits of geothermal have been found in Nevis which has the potential not just to benefit St Kitts and Nevis but also to export this harmless and advantageous renewable energy to neighbouring islands.

During the meeting, PM Terrance Drew vowed that the federal government will put all the resources that it has to put to see this come to a reality.

He added that he had a discussion with the Energy Minister this week who gave him an update and he will be in a private session with him to talk about the geothermal project.

"He knows more about this than me. He is an engineer, and he has studied this. However, what we are seeing is that we are moving steadily along, and we have put together what is the final number. So I want to say that this in itself is a revolutionary move," he added.

PM Drew also said that the country also has investors and other countries who are now willing to come on board because he, along with Premier Brantley, decided that St Kitts and Nevis will move together on this resource to benefit and transform the country as a federation.

In addition to this, he also higlighted several other opportunities on which the federal government and the NIA can work together.

He said, "When we work together, it allows for the transfer of knowledge, transfer of expertise, transfer of many other resources that result in a better outcome and it can also be more cost-effective for us."

While citing example, Terrance Drew said that in the Ministry of Health, the sources can be shared as people from Nevis can come to St Kitts to be dialysed and the island has that that facility to accommodate them.

Similarly, he noted that Nevis has one of the most up-to-date CT scans and added, "Why can't we send people from St Kitts to Nevis to have those done?" He also said that there are doctors who do very advanced eye surgery here in Nevis and said, "Why can't we have people from St Kitts come over?"

According to the PM, these collaborations will allow them not to repeat a lot of these things because they are very close, and if they share resources, it would result in advancing the people on both islands.

While reiterating his commitment to work on all spheres with the NIA, PM Drew said that if something is being institued in St Kitts, he will make sure that the people of Nevis are included as far as possible and not excluded.

He also recognised the island as an individual authority and stated that the Nevis Island Administration has its own way forward, and he completely respects that, which is why he looks for opportunities where there is space to work together.

"We are here to work together as far as possible for the benefit of all of our people," vowed the PM. He also stated that St Kitts and Nevis is one country and there is no space for either to survive independently.

[caption id="attachment_66920" align="alignnone" width="2048"] Premier Brantley giving a warm welcome to PM Drew as he visits Nevis[/caption]

The Prime Minister has also expressed his will to introduce constitutional reform to see where the areas are on which both the islands can work together closely to benefit all the people of St Kitts and Nevis.