Last Updated on December 8, 2022, 2:46 AM AST by Anthony Morris
The Concerned Citizens Movement has announced its combined election manifesto for the next five years ahead of the assembly election in Nevis Island. The Concerned Citizens Movement led by the serving Premier Mark Brantley has been working in the NIA for the last five years. The CCM’s manifesto talked about their accomplishments in the former tenure before jumping into their plans for the future.
In the last five years, the CCM-led government has made several strides in terms of the following:
- Covid-19 Pandemic Response:
- The CCM Government distributed masks and hand sanitizers door-to-door to every household. They were the only Caribbean government to do so.
- The government started an island-wide second-round distribution of masks and hand sanitizers at our health and community centres.
- PCR and Antigen testing for COVID-19 is now available at Alexandra Hospital lab, Nevis, after being certified by PAHO. Free testing during contact tracing for symptomatic patients.
- CCM secured significant investments in health and personnel from Cuba and locally to fight COVID-19.
- Improvement in Infrastructure
- Road construction
- Water capacity improvements
- creation of sidewalks
- widening of roads, creation of pavements
among other things
- Safety and Security
- CCTV Deployment
- State-of-the-art CCTV command centre
- Installation of fibre optic cables to support CCTV installation
among other things
- Youth and Education
- Devices to students
- New Preschool
- Financial assistance
- Scholarships and training
- blended approach including both
- and in person leaarning
- provision of learning initiatives, learning material and teacher’s support
- creation of TVET center at gingerland secondary school
among other things
- Improvements in health
- Hospital Equipment
- Public Health Investment
- Building human capacity
- Financial support for medical training
- creation of physical infrastructure
- Food Security
- Increased Food Production
- Free seeds, seedlings fertilizers
- First-ever leisure farm for residents and tourists
- 35-acre fruit farm at Indian castle
- Sports and Recreation
- IAAF certified nine lanes Mondo athletic facility.
- The VOJN Sporting Complex.
- Improved the cricket field at Brown Hill.
- Improved cricket field at Swamp
- A sporting facility at Zion.
- The government Rebuilt basketball courts at Ramsbury, Bath, Jessups, Cotton Ground, Hardtimes, VOJN and Cherry Gardens.
- Rebuilt Netball Complex in Charlestown.
- Housing
- Unrivalled quality and affordability of homes.
- New affordable housing projects through the NHLDC.
- The innovative University Heights, where land was offered
- duty free concessions to first time homeownwers
- Economic revival and diversification
- Establishment of the Film Industry in association with MSR Media, creation of jobs
- Entrepreneurial Fund for Women and Youth
- Tax changes were introduced, which stimulated the local economy.
- An economic environment stimulated the creation and growth of local manufacturing industries, including fencing wire—roofing, furniture, cabinets, doors, mouldings, rum and face masks.
- Job Creation
As measured by Social Security statistics, job Creation in the Nevis economy reached a historical and unprecedented high of 6,188 average jobs as of April 2019. Sadly, by April 2020, at the height of the global pandemic, the average monthly employment in Nevis had fallen dramatically to 4,729. This meant a loss of some 1,459 jobs.
Due to the innovative measures taken by the CCM-led government to stimulate job growth in the economy, the island has witnessed a gradual recovery in jobs such that, as of July 2022, the average monthly employment in Nevis was 5,819, a recovery thus far of some 1,090 jobs. Continued job creation remains the highest priority for the CCM-led government.
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.
