By Eboni Brandon
It was billed as a press conference, but anyone who attended or viewed online knew better. The recent People’s Labour Party (PLP) event, led by former Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris, was less about accountability and more about ambition — a thinly veiled political rally staged before a carefully selected crowd of loyalists. But amid the applause and partisan theatre, Dr. Harris crossed a line that no national leader should.
In a moment of breathtaking arrogance, he declared that “Nevis could never be a Dubai.” The words, delivered with mocking condescension, went far beyond political critique. They were an insult — a dismissal of Nevisians’ capacity for progress, innovation, and self-determination.
Dr. Harris’ comments were not merely careless; they laid bare a troubling mindset — one that views ambition through the narrow lens of cynicism. Coming from a former Prime Minister now courting the electorate for another chance to lead after his magnificent failure as leader of the Team Unity political coalition, they were deeply revealing and profoundly disheartening.
Nevisians have never claimed to to want to become another Dubai. The island’s people have simply aspired, as every proud society should, to build an economy rooted in excellence, sustainability, and opportunity. The Four Seasons Resort, a world-renowned pillar of Caribbean tourism, has proven since it opened doors in 1991 that Nevis can attract and sustain world-class investment while preserving its culture and natural beauty. It stands as living evidence that Nevis has always been capable of achieving greatness — on its own terms.
To mock that ambition — to sneer at the idea that Nevis could host transformative development — is to mock the very spirit of the Federation. It is also deeply hypocritical. As Prime Minister, Dr. Harris actively pursued international investors, sought major development projects, and celebrated economic expansion as proof of national strength. Yet now, in opposition, he casts those same ambitions as dangerous, spinning fear and suspicion where once he preached prosperity.
His rhetoric surrounding the Special Sustainability Zones (SSZ) Act is the clearest example. Instead of engaging with the law on its merits, he has deliberately distorted it — portraying it as a vehicle for foreign domination and a threat to sovereignty. He has invoked images of gated enclaves, of citizens reduced to servants, and of “states within the state” — all calculated to provoke fear.
But none of this aligns with the text of the law. The SSZ Act explicitly subjects all investment activity to government oversight, Cabinet approval, and constitutional compliance. It contains built-in mechanisms for transparency, environmental protection, and public accountability. Far from surrendering national control, it strengthens it — creating a modern legal framework that attracts responsible investors while safeguarding the rights of citizens.
Dr. Harris’ suggestion that the Act would relegate Kittitians and Nevisians to second-class status is therefore not just misleading — it is reckless. It disrespects the intelligence of the very people he once led and seeks again to represent. His subsequent attempt to backtrack — claiming he only meant to reference Dubai’s imported labour model — fooled no one. By then, the damage was done. His disdain for Nevisian aspiration had already been exposed. More tellingly, his remarks exposed his true belief: progress is acceptable only when he alone holds the blueprint.
The irony is that Nevis’ ambition has never been about imitation. It has been about evolution — harnessing modern development to build a more resilient and prosperous future. From renewable energy to sustainable tourism, Nevis has consistently demonstrated the will and capacity to lead. Its people are not waiting to be defined by anyone’s limitations, least of all by a man who once led them and now mocks their progress.
True leadership inspires confidence. It uplifts rather than belittles. It recognises that the greatness of a nation lies not in its size, but in its people’s belief in their potential. Dr. Harris’ words betrayed that understanding. They reduced vision to vanity and ambition to arrogance.
The people of Nevis have nothing to apologise for in dreaming big. They have built legacies, not illusions. The Four Seasons stands. The geothermal project advances. The economy continues to grow through ingenuity and perseverance. Nevis has proven — again and again — that it does not need to be Dubai to be extraordinary!
And perhaps that is what Dr. Harris truly forgot: the Federation’s greatness lies in the quiet determination of its people — not in the cynicism of those who would belittle them for daring to dream.
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