Premier of Nevis and Leader of the Opposition Mark Brantley, told the National Assembly on Wednesday that the long-standing dispute over Nevis’ fair share of Citizenship by Investment (CBI) revenues has finally been resolved under the administration of Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew, drawing a clear contrast with what he described as years of broken commitments and deliberate delay under the former Dr. Timothy Harris-led Team Unity government.
Contributing to the 2026 Budget Debate, Brantley confirmed that a definitive and predictable revenue-sharing formula is now in place, allocating CBI proceeds on a 75/25 pro-rata population basis between St. Kitts and Nevis. He said the agreement brings closure to an issue that had lingered for many years and restores certainty to federal-Nevis relations. According to Brantley, Prime Minister Drew engaged constructively and resolved the matter on principle, ending a dispute that had eroded trust between the Federal Government and the Nevis Island Administration.
Brantley was explicit that the resolution was achieved without political bargaining or transactional arrangements. “Dr. Drew never promised me anything,” he told the House, adding that neither he nor the Concerned Citizens Movement which he leads, entered into any agreement in exchange for support. He stressed that the distinction was critical, noting that fairness was delivered without secret deals, conditional promises, or political leverage, reinforcing his view that the current administration acted transparently and in good faith.
In stark contrast, Brantley delivered a sustained indictment of the former Team Unity administration – of which he was a senior member – accusing it of reneging on the 2014 Charlestown Accord, which guaranteed Nevis a pro-rata share of CBI revenues. He reminded Parliament that the agreement was signed and publicly celebrated, only to be abandoned once Unity assumed office. “The promise was made, and the promise was broken,” Brantley said, arguing that Nevis was systematically short-changed despite clear and documented commitments.
He further accused former Prime Minister Harris of deliberately stalling implementation by commissioning a World Bank study instead of honouring the agreed formula. Brantley dismissed the move as a delay tactic rather than a genuine effort at resolution, telling the Assembly that the fundamentals of fairness were never in doubt. “You don’t need a World Bank study to tell you what is fair,” he said, insisting that the issue was one of political will, not technical complexity.
Challenging the broader narrative of Team Unity’s economic stewardship, Brantley rejected claims that the administration’s reported fiscal surpluses reflected sound or inclusive management. He argued that those surpluses were driven almost entirely by unchecked CBI inflows rather than real economic expansion, while Nevis continued to grapple with underfunded infrastructure and limited fiscal support. In his assessment, the appearance of prosperity masked deep and persistent inequities between the two islands.
Brantley went further, accusing Dr. Harris of using Nevis and the fair share issue as a vehicle for personal political advancement. He told the National Assembly that Nevis was “used” as part of a political strategy, asserting that commitments made to secure power were later discarded once that objective had been achieved. Brantley said Dr. Harris “rode the issue” of fair share to elevate himself politically, only to abandon Nevis after assuming office — a sequence he described as a profound betrayal of trust that left the island short-changed despite formal agreements being in place.
Throughout his contribution, Brantley elevated the fair share dispute beyond partisan disagreement, framing it as a moral question rooted in justice, equity, and trust. “This was never about politics,” he told Parliament. “It was about fairness.” He accused his former Cabinet colleague Harris of benefiting from agreements when convenient and abandoning them once power was secured, warning that such conduct undermines confidence in governance and weakens federal unity.
By contrast, Brantley said the Drew administration’s handling of the issue demonstrates a willingness to confront inherited problems and resolve them on principled grounds. His remarks positioned the current Government as a stabilising force that has restored predictability to federal-Nevis relations and rebuilt confidence through action rather than rhetoric.
Stay informed with the latest news and updates from SKN Source! Click here to join our WhatsApp channel and get updates straight to your mobile. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook for more stories and insights!
Be the first to comment on "Brantley Says Drew Resolved “Fair Share” as He Condemned Unity’s Broken Promises to Nevis"