In his National Address on 7th July, 2025, Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Terrance Drew unveiled an ambitious update on the progress of the Sustainable Island State Agenda (SISA) and its economic engine—the Sustainable Economic Expansion and Diversification (SEED) plan. The address underscored the administration’s focus on real, tangible outcomes across key sectors such as water security, road infrastructure, job creation, digitalisation, and social protection.
Delivering a status report on the long-anticipated Basseterre Desalination Plant, Dr. Drew confirmed that the project is over 75% complete and set to be commissioned by the end of this quarter. Once operational, the plant will generate two million gallons of potable water daily, directly addressing chronic water shortages across Basseterre, St. Peters, and surrounding areas
Meanwhile, significant progress is being made on the geothermal front. Five internationally recognised companies have submitted bids for production well drilling in Nevis, supported by secured financing totalling US $37 million. Drilling is expected to commence in early 2026, paving the way for baseload renewable energy that promises energy sovereignty for the Federation
The Prime Minister also highlighted a record-setting EC $80 million road infrastructure expansion, described as the largest in the nation’s history. Completed and ongoing works include major arteries such as the F.T. Williams Highway and St. Peter’s Main Road, as well as community roads across Basseterre, Old Road, Sandy Point, and more.
On the tourism front, the 2025 St. Kitts Music Festival recorded over 8,000 visitors, representing a 76% increase over the previous year. This spike, aided by the successful rollout of the new Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) system and biometric FaceLanes, delivered record visitor satisfaction and faster immigration processing
Digital reform also featured prominently. The government is set to roll out a new national e-ID system by October 2025, followed by a full launch in 2026. This will be complemented by a digital payments platform for seamless government transactions, from business registration to tax payments
Other key highlights included the announcement of a seafood processing facility at LaVallee, expected to employ up to 100 persons, and major developments in agriculture. Vegetable and poultry production have risen by 17% and 22% respectively, while local egg production now exceeds 7 million annually
Housing also received a boost, with 183 homes delivered and 79 under construction. The Prime Minister revealed the National Housing Corporation (NHC) secured US $10 million in funding to accelerate affordable housing across all constituencies
Social safety nets remain robust. Over EC $30 million was distributed to 22,000 people under the Budget Boost Wallet (BBW), while a temporary VAT reduction from 17% to 13% saved consumers over EC $10 million. These initiatives were credited with boosting household cash flow and consumer confidence
The national minimum wage has been increased to EC $12.50 per hour or EC $500 per week, a significant jump from EC $360 in 2014. The administration also pledged to review statutory deductions to maximise workers’ take-home pay
The Federation saw an 11% increase in job registrations for the first half of 2025, primarily in construction, agriculture, and public services—clear indicators of an economy rebounding with purpose.
Prime Minister Drew closed with a call for continued unity, pride, and participation as St. Kitts and Nevis builds its future under the SISA framework, reminding citizens: “Progress is not a promise waiting to be fulfilled; it is a reality already in motion.”
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