Last Updated on September 26, 2026, 6:58 AM AST by Anthony Morris
The Acting Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis Dr Geoffrey Hanley has delivered a national statement on behalf of the federation at the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly. He delivered his address on the behalf of Prime Minister Dr Terrance Drew and reflected on the national and international priorities of the country.
Dr Hanley has carried forward from Dr Terrance Drew’s address on the country’s Sustainable Island State Agenda. The Acting Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis reflected on the work done by St. Kitts and Nevis in the last year.
Earlier in the year, St. Kitts and Nevis underwent a second voluntary national review in the United Nations High-Level Political Forum. The VNR showed stronger government coordination, closer alignment with sustainable development goals, and tangible progress for the people of the country.
The Acting Prime Minister provided real life experiences from the development which the country has seen in the last year alone. Water is one of the clearest proof of that matrix.
In the last year, St. Kitts and Nevis has commissioned a 2 Million Gallon Solar Powered Desalination Plant, Completed drilling of a well in Saddlers, which would deliver 500,000 Gallons of safe water to the community, the site for which the government identified though semi airborne surveys conducted across the island.
The Acting Prime Minister also highlighted the work that St. Kitts and Nevis has accomplished n the fields of energy security, with work advancing on the 30 Megawatt Geothermal Plant in Nevis. The drilling for the geothermal plant is expected to start in early 2027 and the contract for the work has been given to Icelandic Drillers.
He also talked about the 50 Megawatt solar PV and battery storage project which are advanced in St. Kitts. According to Dr Hanley, these investments will reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels and strengthen economic resilience.
He also talked about the growth of the digital sector of the island with the growth of the island. The country has also worked on strengthening food security through climate-smart support for farmers. The development in healthcare has been made through the country’s locally developed national digital health information system at the Joseph N. France General Hospital.
The Acting Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis shared that the work of the administration shows that Sustainability must be practical, people-centered, and built to last.
He added that much work is left to be done and highlighted that their experiences show that and that small island states are not powerless.
Dr Hanley said, with investment, partnership, and political will, small nations can deliver big solutions.
Even as Dr Hanley talked about the growth of the country, he said, the climate crisis is moving the goalpost. He talked about the challenges that small island states like St. Kitts and Nevis face as a result of climate change This year, St. Kitts and Nevis and the wider Caribbean face severe drought. By the end of May, rainfall was 44% below the long-term average.
Dr Hanley said that the country is making investments in resilient infrastructure. But no small island developing state can adapt indefinitely to a crisis the world continues to intensify.
In this regard, he said, St. Kitts and Nevis are not seeking pity. The country is instead presenting facts and asking for action from partner nations.
Dr Hanley said, “States must reduce emissions, strengthen adaptation, honor climate finance responsibilities, and cooperate with countries bearing consequences vastly disproportionate to their contribution to this crisis.”
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
