Nevis: Premier Mark Brantley slams NRP, says “party just ran a campaign attacking me”

Premier of Nevis and the leader of Concerned Citizens Movement- Mark Brantley, lambasted NRP for running a campaign against him. He stated that the opposition party put the issue on billboards all over Nevis that somehow $400 million received over seven years is unaccounted for.

Nevis: Premier Mark Brantley slams NRP, says
Nevis: Premier Mark Brantley slams NRP, says "party just ran a campaign attacking me"

Nevis: Premier of Nevis and the leader of Concerned Citizens Movement– Mark Brantley, lambasted NRP for running a campaign against him. He stated that the opposition party put the issue on billboards all over Nevis that somehow $400 million received over seven years is unaccounted for.

He stressed that despite their false propaganda, Nevis chose CCM and gave them all the seats, and rejected all the propaganda of NRP. 

Read Here: Full Statment of Premier Mark Brantley

The NRP just ran a campaign attacking me … as usual. One of the BIG issues they put on billboards all over Nevis was that somehow $400 million received over seven years is unaccounted for. Obviously, the people rejected the NRP and their propaganda and gave the CCM ALL the seats in Nevis.

But I believe there is value in repetition, so I am reposting a long post I made in early June and asking Nevisians once again to have a read. I have modified the post in some areas and taken out references to Timothy Harris as he’s now history!

The Long Read: What has Nevis done with $400 million? (First posted June 12, 2022)

1. Salaries and pensions for public servants in Nevis average $8.5 million per month or $102 million per year. During the two years of 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 $57 million per year 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, 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 and built a brand new kitchen there as well.

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 built 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 provided emergency medical assistance totaling $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 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 tax breaks 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 critical 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, improved VOJN playing field including adding stands. We expanded the abbatoir and the Vet clinic.

28. We built a brand new Cultural Village which can accommodate up to 4,000 patrons and also dramatically 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 Hurricanes of 2017 to those affected and uninsured.

32. We initiated free water and electricity for our seniors.

33. We improved nearly all sporting facilities in Nevis including basketball courts, cricket fields and the Netball and tennis complex in Charlestown and we are lighting ALL sporting grounds in Nevis.

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 2 brand new garbage trucks and various heavy equipment for the Solid Waste Management Authority.

36. We fixed sewage problems for over 58% of the homes in Cherry Gardens.

37. We created a 35 acre fruit orchard at Indian Castle where we planted over 4,500 coconut palms, mangoes, bananas, guava and other crops.

38. We built the Larrison Parry agricultural storage depot at Prospect.