Cabinet Meeting at Park Hyatt Yields Power Deals, Sparking Nevis Fair Share Concerns

The first joint cabinet meeting of 2025 between the Federal Cabinet of St. Kitts and Nevis and the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) Cabinet, held at the Park Hyatt in St. Kitts, was touted as a pivotal event with the potential to reshape the nation’s future. Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Terrance Drew and Premier Hon. Mark Brantley led discussions focusing on critical areas such as crime, economic reform, and the promising geothermal energy project. While the meeting showcased a commitment to collaborative governance, the conspicuous absence of any mention of the “Fair Share” issue for Nevis raised concerns and fueled speculation about the sincerity of the unity displayed. The Fair Share, a central campaign promise of the Concerned Citizens’ Movement (CCM) in the 2022 elections, remains a contentious point of contention between the two islands.

Premier Brantley emphasized the importance of open communication and ongoing dialogue between St. Kitts and Nevis, highlighting it as a necessary foundation for achieving progress and addressing the challenges facing the nation. This call for transparency and collaboration was seen by many as a direct response to perceived communication breakdowns in previous administrations. However, the lack of any reported discussion regarding the Fair Share issue cast a shadow over the meeting’s proclaimed success and raised questions about whether the commitment to dialogue was truly being honored. The absence of this crucial topic from the agenda fueled concerns that Nevis’s interests were being overlooked, despite Premier Brantley’s insistence on its importance.

The Fair Share debate centers around Nevis’s perceived inequitable distribution of resources and revenue generated within the Federation. This issue played a significant role in the dissolution of the previous Team Unity government and remains a sensitive topic for Nevisians. Premier Brantley revealed that despite Prime Minister Drew receiving a World Bank report on the Fair Share matter in early February, the report had not been shared with the Nevis Island Administration. This lack of transparency further exacerbated tensions and fueled suspicions of a deliberate sidelining of Nevis in critical national discussions. The absence of any public acknowledgment or discussion of the Fair Share issue during the joint cabinet meeting heightened anxieties and cast doubt on the government’s commitment to addressing this long-standing concern.

Prime Minister Drew countered the concerns surrounding the Fair Share omission by emphasizing the need for unity and collaboration despite political differences. He highlighted the success of the joint crime-fighting strategy implemented between the two islands, showcasing it as an example of effective cooperation. Drew stressed that disagreements should not be allowed to fracture the nation and that a united front was essential for tackling the challenges facing St. Kitts and Nevis. While Drew’s call for unity resonated, the lack of any concrete action or discussion on the Fair Share issue undermined his message and left many Nevisians skeptical of the government’s true intentions.

The geothermal energy project emerged as a focal point of the meeting, with both leaders expressing optimism about its potential to revolutionize the Federation’s economy. This ambitious project aims to shift the nation away from its reliance on fossil fuels and establish St. Kitts and Nevis as a regional leader in renewable energy. Prime Minister Drew revealed that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) was closely monitoring the project’s progress, recognizing its potential to significantly reduce the Federation’s dependence on the Citizenship by Investment (CBI) program. The geothermal project is seen as a key component of the government’s economic diversification strategy, aiming to reduce vulnerabilities and enhance the nation’s resilience to global economic shocks.

The joint cabinet meeting also addressed the need for economic diversification beyond the CBI program. While acknowledging the program’s contribution to the nation’s finances, both administrations agreed on the importance of developing alternative revenue streams to ensure long-term economic stability. Prime Minister Drew outlined a comprehensive plan to prioritize renewable energy, agriculture, and digital finance as key drivers of future economic growth. This diversification strategy aims to reduce the Federation’s dependence on a single revenue source and create a more robust and resilient economy. The success of this strategy, however, hinges on the government’s ability to effectively implement these initiatives and garner support from various stakeholders, including those currently benefiting from the CBI program. The meeting concluded with both leaders expressing optimism about the future of collaboration and joint governance. However, the unresolved Fair Share issue and the lack of transparency surrounding the World Bank report cast a pall over the meeting’s outcomes, leaving many to question the true depth of the proclaimed unity.