Opposition NRP Senator Carlysle Powell told an “Issues” audience on Monday that economic development in Nevis was stagnant and that in spite of what was being peddled by the CCM Administration, and as it relates to businesses on Nevis, about 12 of them had closed down in recent months. Powell said it was costing the NIA some EC $1 million for Seaborne Airlines to fly into Nevis almost empty while LIAT and Cape Air had pulled out of Nevis. Powell said Seaborne Airlines was costing Nevisians too much money, and no new airlines were coming to Nevis.
Powell named several businesses that had closed down in Nevis in recent times including Bargain House, Building Paradise, Dan Backhoe, Elements, Indo Carib, De Las Clothing Store, De Galley Pot Restaurant, Hope at the Patio, Olivia’s Clothing, Main Street Supermarket, Tire World and Island Fever.
Powell further called on Minister of Health, Mark Brantley to stop the talk and implement an action plan to deal with health and tourism on Nevis. Powell said that Brantley should do something about the dialysis unit in Nevis, as a year ago during a trip to Guyana, he promised to implement a dialysis unit, and that “while two units under NRP would bankrupt the country, the Health Minister Brantley had promised another four dialysis units.”
Powell called on Minister Brantley to implement an economic prosperity plan that would help young Nevisians to find work and put Nevis on a secure footing.