Published 4 April 2018
Buckie Got It, St. Kitts and Nevis News Source
Premier pleased with NIA’s achievements in first 100 days
From the NIA
CHARLESTOWN, Nevis – Premier of Nevis the Honourable Mark Brantley says he is pleased with the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) achievements under his leadership since taking up office 100 days ago. He promised to continue to keep their commitment to the people of Nevis moving forward.
“For 100 days it has been pretty packed with activities and we continue to make best efforts to ensure that we give our people the type of representation that they voted for,” Brantley said. “And we continue to keep our commitment set that we have made in our manifesto and during our campaign…I feel that we are doing the right things in creating the type of environment and the type of ethos for our island that will see all of our people engaged in trying to build Nevis and advance Nevis. If we can achieve that, I think we would have done well.”
The premier, who leads a team of three elected ministers and two senators, stated that so far among the achievements, the 2018 budget was passed, the Mondo Track sports facility was opened, the premier’s monthly press conference was inaugurated, the process to operationalise the Integrity in Public Life Legislation had commenced, work advancing the geothermal development process, successful Agriculture Open Day and demonstrating Nevis’ commitment to women and girls and the Sustainable Development Goals of 2030 Agenda.
He said the administration had also engaged the Opposition in positive ways and will provide a fully-furnished and staffed office at the Solomon Arcade by April 9. They have also requested the Opposition’s input in the operationalization of the Integrity in Public Life Legislation.
“We’ve written to the Hon. Joseph Parry, inviting him to nominate his member to the Integrity Commission,” Brantley said. “I will nominate a member and then, of course, the chairman will be a matter for the deputy governor general in her own deliberate judgement,” he said.
Brantley said the public has been very responsive to the administration’s work so far and he continues to meet with them at his office weekly.
“That is unusual because ordinarily people say that politicians hide themselves away,” he said. “On average, I meet with 20 to 24 people every Thursday.”
The premier described his Cabinet as gelling well and used the opportunity to applaud his colleagues for their contributions.
“Personally, I feel really good,” he said. “I feel it’s a good opportunity where we have brought a new vigour and vitality to government. It’s a younger team. It’s a new-look team with new members who bring their own perspective, which I think has really enriched and inform what we do in terms of our discussions.
“We have a blend of some who were there before, some now coming. As I like to say, ‘We are old enough to know and still young enough to do’ and we have been trying our best to do. So I feel very good. I feel very optimistic,” he said.
