Nevis was entitled to get $1.35B instead received only $400M in 7 years, says Mark Brantley

Premier of Nevis and leader of the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) Mark Brantley again released a statement.

Monday, 13th June 2022

Mark Brantley- Premier of Nevis (St Kitts and Nevis)

Premier of Nevis and leader of the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) Mark Brantley again released a statement, accusing the government of lacking fair sharing of revenue. He stated that since 2008 the Citizenship by Investment programme had brought roughly $5.3 BILLION to Basseterre, and from that, the island of Nevis has received just under $400 million. Brantley stated that if the government had distributed the amount fairly on the basis of population, then Nevis would have received some $1.35 billion. "I became Premier of Nevis in December 2017, and ever since then, I have been agitating for Nevis to receive what he was committed to. Timothy Harris became PM in 2015 on the back of the Charlestown Accord that he has refused to honour, notwithstanding that he signed it," stated Premier Mark Brantley. He stated that the entire scenario had been a matter of some amusement to him and that throughout this public debate about Fair Share, Dr Harris has repeatedly said how much money Nevis has received from CBI. "He has never once said how much money St Kitts kept for itself. And so the rhetoric uttered over and over by him and now taken up by his recently purchased partners in the NRP is that Nevis received $400 million," stated Brantley. As per Brantley, St Kitts has kept 93% of CBI revenues while Nevis has received a paltry 7%. "Nevis is constantly being asked to account for its share by those who refuse to join the fight for what belongs to Nevis. St Kitts has not been asked to account for its 93%, and the NRP has said on their platform that they do not wish to know about that,". He stated that his government is transparent. Brantley stated that the $400 million was received not at one time but over the course of 7 years, totalling just $57 million per year. Following the details shared by Mark Brantley on the usage of CBI money by the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) 1. Salaries and pensions for public servants in Nevis average $8.5 million per month or $102 million per year. During COVID, we applied all of CBI receipts to salaries and pensions but still had to find another $45 million to do so. Put differently; the paltry 7% could not even cover our civil servants and pensioners. 2. In 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2021, double salaries were paid to public servants and workers at statutory corporations. Those amounts totalling roughly $61,200,000 were paid from the same $400 million. 3. We expanded our road network with major projects at Hanley's Road, Braziers, Brown Hill, Butlers, Shaws Road, Farms, and Island Main Road, to name a few. 4. We built the IAAF-certified Mondo track, which has helped our athletes develop into champions in the Federation, and we also refurbished the drag race track. 5. We built the new landmark Treasury Building in Charlestown. 6. We built the water taxi pier at Oualie, which has revolutionized travel between St Kitts and Nevis. 7. We are engaged in the ongoing expansion at the Alexandra Hospital, an expansion 2.5 times the size of the existing hospital. 8. We purchased new ambulances, ventilators, generators and other critical equipment for our health sector 9. We deployed CCTV islandwide and constructed a state-of-the-art CCTV Command Center. 10. We built a brand new police and fire station at Newcastle. 11. We provided the cultural venue, David Freeman Center of Excellence, at Market Shop, where we hosted Culturama last year. 12. We purchased several generating sets at Nevlec to ensure that we all now enjoy better electricity. 13. We have provided emergency medical assistance totalling $3.56 million to our people since 2015 14. We established a $5 million fund to provide seed money to assist youth and women 15. We purchased various vehicles for the police and army in Nevis and provided food and accommodation to the army regiment stationed in Nevis. 16. During the Covid pandemic, we offered relief on water and electricity. We offered stimulus to our businesses and farmers. We increased our social safety nets to ensure that those who couldn't afford it could eat. We upgraded and outfitted our schools to make them Covid-proof. We serviced our debt. We provided support to our statutory corporations. 17. We expanded our affordable housing programme, and for the first time in history, we have housing projects at Maddens, Hamilton, Craddock Road, Garners, Prospect and Rices happening at the same time. 18. We offered concessions on construction materials leading to a boom in the local home and commercial construction sector. 19. We provided financial assistance to Nevisian students studying abroad and online. 20. We built the Malcolm Guishard Recreational Park in partnership with Taiwan. 21. We built the TVET center in Gingerland 22. We built a kitchen at the Joycelyn Liburd Primary School 23. We rebuilt the Tender Pier in Charlestown 24. We secured equipment for the Long Point Port. 25. We resurfaced the runway at the Vance Amory airport and upgraded the equipment at the Tower. 26. We funded the exploratory phase of the geothermal project with the drilling of test wells at Hamilton 27. We built the Artisan Village and improved the VOJN playing field, including adding stands. We expanded the abattoir and the Vet clinic. 28. We built a brand new Cultural Village which can accommodate up to 4,000 patrons and also improved the Cultural Complex 29. We improved roads, sidewalks and drainage all across Charlestown. 30. We undertook the most ambitious water enhancement project in the history of Nevis, incorporating new water mains, new storage tanks and a treatment plant at Hamilton. 31. We undertook roof and home repairs after the Hurricanes\ of 2017 to those affected and uninsured. 32. We initiated free water and electricity for our elderly. 33. We improved nearly all sporting facilities in Nevis, including basketball courts, cricket fields and the Netball complex in Charlestown. 34. We invested heavily in new equipment for Public Works, including a new paver and milling machine to facilitate our road works. 35. We have purchased two brand new garbage trucks and various heavy equipment for the Solid Waste Management Authority, which should be on the island shortly. 36. We fixed sewage problems for over 58% of the homes in Cherry Gardens.