Minister Brantley Says Better Days are Ahead for Nevis
(ZIZ News) – In the coming months, the people of Nevis will see positive changes on their island. This is the expectation of Federal Minister, Hon. Mark Brantley.
According to Minister Brantley who is also a member of the Nevis Island Assembly, greater cooperation between the Federal Government and the Nevis Island Administration will result in improved economic growth and development and increased opportunities for Nevis and its people.
He said, “As far as Nevis is concerned, we expect to see more development, we expect to see greater cooperation, we expect to see a fair share of national resources being made available to the people of Nevis as they are made available to the people of St. Kitts. We have maintained that throughout the campaign, a fair share for all, and we mean that and that is what we intend to do so that the boy or girl in Jessups or Cotton Ground can feel as comfortable in his own country as the boy or girl in McKnight or Newton Ground.”
“The reality is that we are now, for the first time I feel, able to live up to our motto of one country; one nation and working together for the betterment of all of our people…not some but all of our people,” the Minister stated.
In his capacity as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Brantley has said that he intends to use his position to strengthen St. Kitts and Nevis’ human resource.
Brantley believes that one way to strengthen the Federation’s position regionally and internationally is by offering young people wide ranging educational opportunities.
He said, “In Foreign Affairs, we are taking a slight shift in relation to all diplomatic efforts. We are now emphasising partnerships; bilateral partnerships where we are asking for scholarships. You know people like to say ‘well could you build a building for us or could you give us a police vehicle’ and that’s all good and well but then the police vehicle goes down the road and gets in an accident and is no more. But things like scholarships where our people are studying in the capitals of the world; in Sweden, in Switzerland, in London; they develop longer lasting friendships and relationships which we feel we can ultimately leverage in 10-15 or 20 years.”
“When I was at the University of the West Indies many generations ago, we had people there with whom I developed relationships with. All of those people are now in leadership positions in various ways throughout the region. I can pick up the phone and I can call Belize or I can call Guyana or can call Trinidad and that is what ultimately I feel can help us leverage our existence in this Caribbean into a real juggernaut for change and for the progress and for the benefit of all of our people,” he added.