Premier Mark Brantley has raised concerns that Nevisians are not sufficiently informed about the recently passed Special Sustainability Zones Authorization Act, 2025, despite the heated public debate and opposition stirred by the Nevis Reformation Party (NRP).
Speaking at his monthly press conference, Brantley was asked by SKN Newsline if he believed the public had an adequate understanding of the law. His response was unequivocal:
“I think my answer would be no, because if I were to say yes, then I would have to accuse a lot of people of deliberately misleading the public.”
Brantley pointed to recent examples of misinformation, including a pundit who boldly claimed the Act allows the creation of a separate country. When challenged to identify such a provision, the pundit could not.
“This tells me he did not really know what the law said,” Brantley explained. “That is how misinformation takes hold—people repeat what others say without checking the facts.”
“Use Your Brain Before You Use Your Mouth”
The Premier expressed frustration at the spread of half-truths on radio, Facebook, and talk shows, warning that too many residents rely on others to interpret legislation instead of reading or listening for themselves.
“I often say we must use our brain before we use our mouth. We must engage our mind before we engage our fingers. When we don’t, we end up repeating rumors instead of facts,” Brantley said.
He disclosed that the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) will roll out a series of town hall meetings to ensure that citizens are properly informed about what the law actually provides.
Opposition Calls for Repeal
The NRP has strongly opposed the Act, with MP Patricia Bartlett insisting it fails to protect Nevisian patrimony and calling for its repeal. Bartlett pointed to provisions requiring a minimum of 500 acres for developments in Nevis and accused Brantley of attempting to distance himself from an amendment he had previously supported.
Federal Clarification
Amid concerns that the Act gives too much power to the federal government, the St. Kitts and Nevis Information Service (SKNIS) clarified that no development can proceed in Nevis without the explicit consent of the Premier and the NIA. The Prime Minister cannot unilaterally authorize projects on the island.
Educating the Public
Brantley stressed that Parliament sessions were open to the public—through attendance, radio, and television—but many chose not to pay attention. Going forward, he pledged to speak about the Act at every public engagement and to confront misinformation directly.
“The truth is available,” Brantley concluded. “But people must be willing to listen, and they must be willing to learn.”
