Honourable. Mark A. G. Brantley
Premier of Nevis and Chief of the Opposition in St. Kitts and Nevis
New 12 months’s Deal with 2026
Fellow residents and residents, the winds of time have as soon as once more opened the door to a different yr. I belief that you simply have had a joyous Christmas and I pray that the new yr finds you in good spirits; renewed, refreshed and with a coronary heart full of hope. Might the new yr deliver you new alternatives, overcome all challenges, in addition to new experiences which fortify your religion.
The brand new yr is all the time a time for reflection and contemplation. It’s a time after we interact within the helpful conference of trying backwards on the journey that we’ve taken and trying ahead to the trail that lies forward. As we interact on this train, my prayer is that we discover the willpower to make 2026 a greater yr than the one earlier than, and that we muster the power to face all adversities with braveness and fortitude. Might we start this new yr with excessive spirits, readability of thoughts, singleness of goal and alive to new views. 2025 was a yr full of triumphs and failures, successes and challenges.
The place we’ve been profitable, I hope that we proceed to benefit from the fruits and advantages of our actions and resolve to construct upon such successes. The place our actions and efforts haven’t borne fruits equal to our output and expectations, allow us to not despair however dedicate ourselves to better effort and dedication. Our measure as a folks will all the time be whether or not we picked ourselves up and saved making an attempt.
Allow me to increase my honest gratitude to all who’ve made 2025 a profitable and memorable yr. Your contribution is a strong funding in the way forward for our nation. It’s a true testomony to your selflessness and love of nation. By way of your various expertise, resilience and exhausting work, you will have impressed us to pursue our objectives, try for excellence and imagine in what is feasible. By way of your efforts, you embody the spirit of nation-building, demonstrating that devoted people working collectively can create a stronger, extra affluent St. Kitts and Nevis for all. I right here check with the private and non-private sectors, safety forces and civilians, important and non-essential staff – our Nation is indebted to you to your invaluable contribution all year long. We’re grateful to your participation, your engagement, your views and opinions, your criticisms and your suggestions. It has been your continued collective patriotic spirit that has really reworked and constructed our nation brick by brick, one step at a time, one contribution at a time. Your continued dedication to obligation and repair is essential as we work in the direction of our broader nationwide aim of bettering the general well-being and high quality of life for our folks.
In latest occasions, we’ve witnessed a deep erosion of our social discourse and dialogue. Now we have turn out to be much less tolerant and fewer respectful of the views and opinions of others. That is fairly evident in our each day face-to-face and social media interactions. Such intolerance and lack of respect have had destructive repercussions on our interpersonal relationships and our nation’s social cohesion. Within the yr forward, allow us to enhance upon how we relate to one another, particularly these with differing views. Allow us to suppress our worst instincts of anger, intolerance, and bitterness. Allow us to embrace the enlightening qualities of affection, understanding and respect for all. Allow us to construct a nation of mature residents with participation, accountability, inclusion and accountability being the cornerstones of our social interplay. We should search to eradicate the coarseness that has crept into our public discourse and return our nation to a Nation of civility the place we respect one another and our variety of opinions. At this juncture in our Nation’s historical past we, greater than ever, want the need and energies of all our folks. We should commit ourselves to respect and honour all political, non secular, racial and ethnic variations. We must always by no means permit our variations to divide us however deal with discovering frequent floor that may unite us. On this aggressive and harsh world surroundings, uniting our skills and energies is essential for our private and nationwide survival. A group or nation that’s divided towards itself can’t and won’t stand.If we’re to construct the most effective St. Kitts and Nevis, we should stand collectively, stand united, stand shoulder to shoulder in the frequent explanation for nationwide growth. We should embrace variety and welcome constructive change as we proceed on the pathway of growth. My brothers and sisters, I am assured that we’re equal to the duty.
As we speak, I summon all nation builders in each household, political get together group and civil society, to commit unreservedly to the venture of creating our nation a most popular place of option to stay, work and lift our youngsters. I’m persuaded that we possess the ability, the power and the mindset to realize this aim.
Collectively we are able to.
Collectively we are going to.
Collectively we should.
Let this second mark the beginning of a New 12 months that’s full of alternatives, progress and the deepening of our shared bonds of group and nation.
Within the yr forward, we are going to undoubtedly be confronted with challenges. Certainly there is no such thing as a life that’s with out challenges. Nonetheless, as we chart a course to a brighter tomorrow, we should see challenges as alternatives for us to rekindle our Nevisian oneness and our spirit of braveness and resilience. We should not despair or retreat. We should all the time display our capability to maneuver ahead and to transfer forward regardless of overwhelming odds. As we face challenges sooner or later, allow us to accomplish that with the understanding that they usually require a collective and consensus response. Allow us to confront them realizing that there is no such thing as a state of affairs or circumstance that’s insurmountable or unbeatable, as soon as we unite as one folks, one nation in pursuit of happiness, peace and prosperity with God on the middle of our lives.
On the financial entrance, the yr 2025 was an inspiring and productive yr for our island. We registered vital progress within the financial system. We enhanced our social security nets for our most susceptible residents; we elevated our help for our college students in any respect ranges together with offering our main and secondary college students with entry to expertise at their fingertips by our free distribution of lap tops and units and enlarging scholarship alternatives for our college students to check overseas; we improved our healthcare and our meals safety; we facilitated youth and gender empowerment; we expanded housing alternatives for our folks; and we continued enhancing our street, water and electrical energy infrastructure.
· In 2025, we noticed a 3% enhance in our jobs and employment numbers.
· We noticed a rise of 30% in new registrations in the Monetary Companies Business.
· Within the space of water manufacturing, we continued with our profitable water drilling and water mapping venture throughout the island in an effort to reinforce our water provide and sustainability. We additionally witnessed the operationalization of the Desalination Photo voltaic Plant in Butlers .
· We noticed the development of roads at Morgan Property and the rehabilitation and resurfacing of roads, culverts and drainage techniques throughout the size and breadth of Nevis.
· We made vital strides in healthcare. Throughout the interval underneath assessment, 25 sufferers have been handled by a Colon Specialist. 633 males have been screened for prostate sicknesses; 1,576 sufferers have been handled at our Eye Care Program. Cataract surgical procedure, glaucoma remedy, diabetic eye remedy together with historic corneal transplants have been all carried out at our Alexandra Hospital.
· The Nevis Housing and Land Company constructed 25 houses to the tune of 6.9 million {dollars}. It’s additionally instructive to notice that since our return to authorities in 2013, the Nevis Housing and Land Company has constructed 346 houses at a complete price of 76.1 million {dollars}. Actually a housing revolution.
· 2025 proved to be the yr after we noticed the consolidated and tangible constructive results of our resolution through the COVID-19 pandemic to create a movie business in Nevis. Throughout the course of the yr, six (6) films have been filmed on our island. Along with the filming of those films, the Southern Tide Trend Model additionally did their second trend shoot in Nevis. The movie business continues to provide numerous Nevisians the chance to show their skills, whereas on the similar time, offering financial advantages for our island.
· In 2025, we took a large step in upgrading and bettering our nationwide safety equipment. We witnessed the operationalization of a contemporary 911 Dispatch Unit, the acquisition of three (3) canine for the K9 Unit and the set up of the primary part of the Radar System with excessive decision cameras.
Sure, we’re transferring ahead on many ranges, however the work is not at all full. There are nonetheless many rivers to cross and lots of mountains to climb.
The spectacular efficiency of our financial system in 2025 is really a trigger for celebration. As we have fun, nonetheless, we should accomplish that with out being distracted from the essential job of preserving and constructing upon the progress that we’ve made. Certainly, 2026 would be the yr through which we consolidate our positive aspects whereas creating a powerful basis for future progress. It’s projected that our financial progress will proceed within the yr forward as most of our financial indicators are trending upwards. My Administration will proceed to stick to sound macroeconomic insurance policies whereas on the similar time taking all mandatory steps to foster elevated funding within the financial system. In 2026, we are able to anticipate to see:
· The signing of the Geothermal Drilling Contract within the first quarter of the yr and manufacturing effectively drilling to start
· The continuation of drilling for water throughout the island
· The development of one other 34 reasonably priced houses to fulfill the wants of our folks
· The promoting of 134 heaps at Garner’s Property for residents at dwelling and overseas who are focused on proudly owning a chunk of the ‘rock’
· An accelerated continuation of the hen broiler venture at Prospect
· The development of the Bureau of Requirements Constructing, which shall be situated reverse the Social Safety Constructing
· The graduation of the Airport Undertaking through the first quarter of the yr
· The recommencement of the Alexandra Hospital Wing Undertaking and the introduction of essential new companies on the hospital
· The manufacturing of a film starring famed actor Taye Diggs, recognized for his roles in the flicks, “How Stella Obtained Her Groove Again” and “The Greatest Man”
· The rehabilitation and reconstruction of main and secondary roads throughout the island
· The completion of the second part of the Radar System on Saddle Hill
· In 2026, our cruise arrivals will expertise a rise of a whopping 27.7% and WINAIR shall be making each day flights between St Maarten and Nevis
Within the yr forward, we will proceed to put a stable platform for progress and growth in our island. We acknowledge that we at the moment are at a essential crossroad in our island’s growth and we’re due to this fact compelled to develop our financial system at an elevated tempo and scale, to be able to ship a greater life for our folks. Our youth want good jobs, our graduates want alternatives, our aged want the most effective care and our households within the diaspora want an economically vibrant island to which they will return. It’s due to this fact incumbent upon us to introduce new and daring concepts for progress and growth to proceed our financial acceleration. The proposed south coast growth known as Future is one such new, modern initiative aimed toward diversifying the island’s financial system.
Fellow residents, we can’t fake that enterprise as normal will work for us. If we fail to adapt and regulate, we shall be condemned to a situation of financial dependency and irrelevance. The financial choices that we take could not have unanimous public help presently however are mandatory to maneuver Nevis ahead. As Premier of Nevis, I do not search to decrease or ignore real fears and issues in regards to the growth of the island, however we should additionally acknowledge that worry also can result in paralysis and inertia. If our island is to progress and develop sustainably, we can’t be overtaken by worry and discover ourselves caught in a frozen financial posture. I’m right here reminded of the adage which states that we are able to by no means fathom the wonders of the ocean if we’re afraid to depart the consolation of the shore. Having listened and mentioned and negotiated over many months, we’re assured that the south coast growth shall be transformative for our island. It’s going to create a Nevis the place native companies can thrive, the place our graduates can discover jobs and the place our folks can return dwelling realizing that alternatives to take a position and work await them.
At this juncture in our historical past, I urge us all to step boldly into our new collective future the place our growth path is infused with hope somewhat than worry. Management is just not all the time simple, it usually calls for and dictates that those that are elected to steer, accomplish that. As such, my authorities is not going to flinch in making the powerful however mandatory choices that can be certain that we’re ready and able to surviving on this globally difficult financial surroundings.
As we conclude 2025 and unveil 2026, allow us to accomplish that with resilience, religion and love of our fellow males. Allow us to be decided to beat all challenges and multiply our blessings. Allow us to embrace the brand new yr, the brand new starting with a way of pleasure and goal. Allow us to dare to dream huge and act boldly, and let us summon the best qualities of citizenship and shoulder the tasks that come together with it.
Might this yr, 2026, deliver you and your family members happiness, good well being, and immense success. Might it’s full of love, laughter cherished moments. Might it deliver our land of magnificence, sustained stability, enduring peace, inclusive progress and shared prosperity.
Blissful New 12 months to you all. Might God proceed to bless our beloved nation.
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