CHARLESTOWN, Nevis (Thursday 27th August 2026)- Premier of Nevis and Leader of the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) Mark Brantley says the ongoing house-to-house visits across Nevis have so far produced no concerns from residents about the proposed Destiny project.
“…that is instructive because it tells me that there's a certain disconnect that we get sometimes from those who spend their time on social media and exist in a sort of echo chamber and start to speak about all Nevisians and what Nevisians want.”
Brantley made the disclosure while responding to a question from a reporter during his monthly press conference on Tuesday 25th August 2026.
The reporter asked: “With the House to house visits currently in motion. What are some of the major concerns from persons in the community? And what are the government's plans or plans to rectify those issues, if there are any?”
In response, Brantley said the walkthroughs had already touched every parish in Nevis.
“…I'm going to say something here that is probably a little interesting…We've touched every parish in Nevis thus far with these walkthroughs,” he said.
“We were in Brown Hill yesterday. Thanks to the good people of Brownlee, we will be in Butler's this afternoon, God’s willing, and I think it is instructive what is not coming up. We have not heard anyone that we have walked around talk to, anyone that we have walked around talk to, come with any concerns about this Destiny project,”
He added: “I say that because I think we have spent so much time on social media and there's so much noise on radio about it, you would have thought that when you go to people's homes, that would be issue number one. The issue has not come up.”
According to Brantley, the main question raised by residents in relation to the project was when it would begin.
“On the few occasions that youngsters have raised it, it’s largely been to do with when the project is going to start. That is their concern. When is it going to start?” he said.
Brantley added: “So that is instructive because it tells me that there's a certain disconnect that we get sometimes from those who spend their time on social media and exist in a sort of echo chamber and start to speak about all Nevisians and what Nevisians want.”
He continued: “When you go to Nevis people's homes now, you're having a conversation with them that doesn't appear to be very high on the agenda, save and except they want to know when the project is going to start.”
Brantley identified the cost of electricity as the main concern raised by residents during the house-to-house visits.
“What I will say is that the main thing that I have heard from residents is to do with the cost of electricity. That has been the main feedback; the cost of electricity. Everywhere we go, people are complaining that the cost has significantly increased for most of them.”
He noted that there had also been some residents who had not noticed a significant increase.
“Interestingly, in a very few cases, they've said they have not noticed any increase or any significant increase but for the majority of persons, they have indicated that they're seeing a significant increase.”
Brantley said the government continued to encourage consumers to conserve electricity.
“We continue to urge our consumers to practice conservation, to try not to use electricity excessively or unnecessarily,” he said.
He also addressed the government's decision regarding the fuel surcharge.
“And of course, we have apologized because the reality was that the pressure of carrying the fuel surcharge for an additional period was beyond the capacity of the government. We carried it for four years, from 2022 until 2026; households paid no fuel surcharge in Nevis. With the escalating costs occasioned by the war in Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, we could not continue.”
Brantley said the government had explained the situation to residents.
“We came, we explained, and we understand the difficulty but it is a burden that everybody is bearing together. None of us is exempt from it, and we are asking persons, please, to conserve electricity.”
He said the government was also seeking to accelerate renewable energy deployment.
“We are trying our very best to expedite our deployment of renewable energy, to insulate ourselves from the incredibly difficult situation we find ourselves in being dependent on fossil fuels, and we're asking persons to conserve energy.”
Brantley also shared examples of electricity conservation measures mentioned by residents during the visits.
“People here are telling me that they would go to work leaving on their AC and things like that because they want to come home to a cool house. I understand that, but to me, those are the types of things that can lead to real difficulty insofar as your energy costs are concerned.”
He said another resident had described changes to their use of washing machines and electric dryers.
“Another householder said that in terms of their washing, they use, you know, machines and dryers, electric dryers, and they were washing several times a week because as something got dirty, they threw it into the washer, threw it into the dryer.”
“And they've now cut back by only doing that particular show once or twice a week. And they've seen a difference. So there are certain steps I think that persons can take. And we're trying our very best to assist as best as we can.”
Brantley also said that any relief in electricity costs would be passed on to consumers.
“What I have committed to is that once we see some relief, that relief will be passed on immediately to the consumers. So that is what we're hoping.”
