Occasionally you enter a room and instantly recognize the most important person in that space; Mark Brantley has this type of charisma.
First impressions become lasting imprints, and Brantley, with his movie star good looks plus charm and sophistication place him at the top of the charts for winning the top leadership position in the next St. Kitts and Nevis Federation election. While other Caribbean leaders are stuck securely and comfortably in the past, Brantley is energetically leading the St. Kitts-Nevis Federation into the future with new eco-friendly technology, a focus on a balanced budget, and a clear understanding of the important target markets for expanding tourism.
At the Start
Born in a small village in a modest home in Gingerland, Nevis on January 11, 1969, Brantley attended local schools with the goal of becoming an attorney. In 1989 he entered the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Barbados, and in 1992 he obtained a Bachelor of Laws degree (Upper Second Class Honors). His education continued at the Norman Manley Law School in Kingston, Jamaica and in 1994 was awarded a Legal Education Certificate of Merit (only the fourth such award in the law school’s history). His post graduate studies continued at St. Catherine’s College, Oxford University, England where he graduated with an accelerated Bachelor of Civil Law degree (1995). He is a Member of the Bar in St. Kitts – Nevis (1994), Anguilla (1996), Grenada (2009) and Antigua – Barbuda (2009).
Brantley’s first professional position was as Legal Counsel for the Nevis Island Administration and one year later joined Simeon Daniel to form the Daniel, Brantley & Associates law firm that focused on Banking and Finance, Civil and Commercial Litigation, Commercial and Offshore Trust Services and Real Estate. He is a member of the International Council of Tourism Partners (ICTP), a coalition of global destinations committed to quality service and green growth.
Politics
At the age of 37 Brantley entered politics and joined the Concerned Citizen’s Movement securing his first seat in the Federal Parliament (2007) thereby becoming the Opposition Leader in the National Assembly (reelected 2010). He is also the Deputy Premier and Minister of Tourism, Health, Culture, Youth, Sports, and Community Development of the Nevis Island Administration (2013 -). Positions he has taken as a Minority Leader have put him at odds with the nation’s leader and Cabinet members; however, these ideas have been well-received by the public, political experts and Opposition parliamentarians and candidates.
Strategic Planning for Tourism
The Governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB), Dwight Venner, recently said that the performance of the economy of St. Kitts and Nevis since 2013 has been very encouraging and has been the bright spot in the ECCU, with the sub-region continuing to be affected by the global crisis.
Brantley recognizes both the challenges facing the world economy and the importance of the tourism sector to the St. Kitts-Nevis Federation. The revenue stream created by this industry provides jobs that range from airport personnel to taxi drivers, from hotel employees and retail shop sales associates to wait staff at restaurants as well as the farmers and fishermen who provide the hotels and dining spots with fresh produce.
In 2013, the travel and tourism industry directly supported 1,500 jobs (6.1 percent of total employment). This is expected to increase by 4.1 percent pa to 2,000 jobs (8.7 percent of total employment by 2024) (WTTC).
In 2013, the total contribution of Travel & Tourism to employment, including jobs indirectly supported by the industry, was 21.4% of total employment (5,000 jobs). This is expected to rise by 6.1% in 2014 to 5,500 jobs and increase by 3.8% pa to 8,000 jobs in 2024 (29.5% of total) (WTTC).
The total contribution of travel and tourism to GDP in 2013 was 22.5 percent and expected to increase by 7.6 percent by the end of 2014 to 23.5 percent. By 2024 travel and tourism is likely to represent 30.4 percent of GDP (WTTC).
Recognizing the importance of tourism to the economy, Brantley’s Tourism office was allocated a budget of $5.14 million in 2014 up from $2.80 million in 2013.
Luxury Market Segment
Nevis is all about indulgence and Brantley is promoting it as the premiere destination in the Caribbean. Celebrities are likely to be your beach mates and include Kelly Ripa, Meryl Streep, Debra Messing, Eric Stonestreet, Connie Britton, Mary Louise Parker and Oprah even Princess Diana spent time with William and Harry (1993) on the beaches of Nevis.
To reach the rich and famous, Federation tourism executives are globetrotting – meeting with international media, tour operators and travel agents, telling the story of their white sandy beaches and blue green waters, along with fine restaurants, 5-star accommodations in hotels and private villas – all surrounded by an eco-friendly environment.
The Caribbean Journal reports that St. Kitts and Nevis lead the rest of the Caribbean in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) per capita ($2090 per capita) (2014). Pending élite hotel projects include the Aman Resort, and luxurious villas and condos at Mount Nevis, Four Seasons Resort Estates, Deon Daniel and Tamarind Cove that are expected to exceed $100 million investments over the next three years.
Incentives to visit and invest in the Federation includes sports tourism and activities run from the Nevis Fishing tournament and Booby Island Regatta, to the Nevis Macca X Triathlon, a lionfish hunt, as well as the more traditional diving and boating.
From new airlift resources out of Puerto Rico to increased visits by small up-market cruise lines and yachts (yacht passengers are up 61 percent in 2013-2014), there is definitely an assertive effort to amplify the profile of Nevis to the high-end vacation traveler.
What the visitor will not find on the 36-square mile island of Nevis are fast food outlets, shopping chains and casinos.
It is Good to be Green
Brantley has a keen interest in ecotourism and is assured that Nevis will be the Caribbean’s greenest destination as well as the greenest place on the planet. He plans to eliminate dependency on fossil fuels and to ensure that Nevis has a sustainable supply of renewable energy. When his objective is reached, Nevis will look to wind, solar, waste to energy and geothermal for all power requirements. Assistance in the research and development of the renewable energy sector is coming from the US Department of State, Bureau of Energy Resources as well as the Clinton Foundation.
One tactical step to reach this objective includes tapping into the geothermal energy available from its dormant central volcano. Boreholes drilled into the red-hot rocks under the former British colony capture the heat to drive a power station serving the entire island. Unused thermal power will be exported via undersea cables to supply the nearby island of St. Kitts and may extend to Puerto Rico.
In 2013, a 1.3 megawatt solar energy farm, designed and constructed by St. Kitts-based Taiwanese company Speedtech, began to provide energy to the St. Christopher Air and Sea Port Authority facilities. The project is a partnership between the governments of St. Kitts and Nevis and of the Republic of China (Taiwan). The $2.5 million investment in the farm is likely to pay for itself in approximately 5 years. Taiwan is the second largest producer of solar technology in the world, and ranks 6th in the world in the use of renewable energy.
Brantley is also working with US-based Omni Alpha, a renewable energy developer, to establish a waste energy plant in Nevis that includes a solar energy module.
Bringing Business to St. Kitts-Nevis
Individuals and organizations looking for a perfect place to live and work will find the Federation attractive and there are ample opportunities for entrepreneurs in hotel and villa development, agriculture, manufacturing, information technology and healthcare. The Federation is attracting new investments because of its:
1. English speaking and well-educated workforce (almost 98 percent literacy)
2. Modern infrastructure (roads, air and sea ports, water, electricity)
3. Advanced telecommunications
4. History of political and economic stability
5. No personal income tax
6. Direct access from major North American and UK markets
7. Availability of international financial institutions (Financial capital of the Eastern Caribbean)
8. Well-regulated financial services sector
9. Tax holiday for qualified investment projects
10. Generous incentive packages including corporate tax incentives, exemption from import duties, tax relief, export allowances
Citizenship by Investment
For a variety of reasons some people look to move to destinations with low political profiles and financial incentives. Started in 1984, the St. Kitts-Nevis Federation has the oldest and the most respected program of all currently existing economic citizenship programs.
Within four months of application a passport can be issued. The program is based on a statute and granted citizenship cannot be revoked even with changes in government executives or policy. People applying for citizenship must make an economic contribution by either: 1. purchasing real estate with a minimum investment of $400,000 (plus additional fees) in a Government approved project, or 2. through a financial contribution to the Sugar Industry Diversification Foundation ($250,000 minimum non-refundable contribution as of 2012).
Benefits of Federation citizenship include: 1. Visa-free access to the first world countries, including Canada, Schengen States, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Hong Kong and most British Commonwealth member countries; 2. safe passport for traveling to specific countries; 3. extra protection for assets and privacy; 4. change of name is legally available; 5. no personal income tax; 6. no tax on gifts, wealth and inheritance, no estate duty, no long-term capital gains; and 7. no need to renounce current citizenship.
Connections
Americans are linked to Nevis through Alexander Hamilton (statesman and a founding father of the United States) who was born here in the middle of the 18th century. Cicely Tyson was born in Nevis (1933). She was nominated for an Oscar (1972) and is the former wife of Miles Davis. Robert Crosse, the first African American nominated for an Academy Award as Best Supporting Actor is of Nevisian descent as was Constance Baker Motley who, as a young lawyer represented Martin Luther King, Jr.
Think Small and Stylist
In a time when we are encouraged to “super-size it,” Brantley’s mantra for Nevis is to think small and sophisticated. Tourism to St. Kits – Nevis in 2013 was 100,997 – leaving lots of space on the beach and roads for a leisure-focused holiday.
To move around Nevis visitors are encouraged to ride a bike, walk or take a public bus and follow the local ritual of saying Good Morning and Good Evening – even to strangers. The appropriate dress for dinner is casually elegant (forget the ties and jackets).
U.S. and Canadian citizens are required to present a passport with a photo ID to enter the island. Visitors may stay for a maximum of six months. When it is time to leave this island paradise there is departure tax of $20.50. Additional information: http://www.nevisisland.com/ http://www.stkittstourism.kn/
Dr. Elinor Garely, Editor in Chief, TourismExecutives.com; Reporter, eTurboNews.com. www.tourismexecutives.com
