Deputy Premier in the Nevis’ Island Administration took the former SKNLP Administration Prime Minister Douglas to task during a Unity Government townhall meeting in Nevis last week over their failure to provide funding for Nevis projects during their 20 year tenure in Government. Brantley demonstrated how up to 2013 some 94 million of SIDF funds were spent in St Kitts and none had reached Nevis.
Brantley compared this with some 62 million spent by the Unity Government in just two years in Nevis.
“When I looked at the numbers, the published numbers, I see that in 2013 before Unity the SIDF spent $95,474,153, every copper was spent in St. Kitts, not a penny of that money reached Nevis. $95,474,153, I want you to understand that, that was in 2013. Unity took office in 2015 and look at the difference, Same SIDF we got $6 million for a pier in Nevis, $2.5 million for the upgrade of Sporting Facilities. The Geothermal Project $7 million, Mondo Track $10 million, Airport Runway $2 million, Control Tower $1.5 million, Alexandra Hospital $9 million, Equipment for the Long Point Port $1 million, Purchase of a Generator by NEVLEC $13.5 million. Our Treasury, remember it was brought down we are going to rebuild it, $6.5 million, Water Project $2.5 million. You know what that comes up to in less than 2 years of Unity $62.2 million from the SIDF for Projects on the island of Nevis”.
While in opposition the Unity Government had called for the SIDF funds to be deposited in a consolidated fund but have not since taking office put that in place.