SKN Business Community Commends NIA for Transparency on Proposed SSZ Development

The Nevis Island Administration (NIA) has garnered praise from the St. Kitts and Nevis business community for its transparent approach to the proposed Special Sustainability Zone (SSZ) development, codenamed ‘Destiny.’ On October 7, 2025, Premier Mark Brantley, alongside his Cabinet, hosted a meeting with key stakeholders, including the St. Kitts and Nevis Chamber of Industry and Commerce (SKNCIC), the Nevis Branch of the CIC, and the Bankers and Financial Services Association of St. Kitts and Nevis (BFSA). The event, held at the Four Seasons Resort Nevis, drew approximately 40 representatives from the private sector. Attendees were provided with a detailed overview of the multi-billion-dollar project through a developer-led video and a comprehensive PowerPoint presentation, which outlined the project’s vision, economic impact, and social benefits. Discussions during the meeting centered on critical aspects such as developer financing, environmental safeguards, land sales, tax concessions, and employment opportunities. Premier Brantley highlighted the project’s potential contributions, including infrastructure upgrades to the Alexandra Hospital and Long Point Pier, a US$1 million annual scholarship fund, and profit-sharing arrangements to support Nevis’s social programs. However, he emphasized that the project remains under review, with no final approval yet granted. The meeting was part of the NIA’s broader public engagement strategy to ensure stakeholder input is considered before any decisions are made. Business leaders, including SKNCIC President Trevor Blake and BFSA President Pamela Herbert-Daniel, commended the government for its openness and commitment to transparency. The NIA plans to continue its outreach efforts through a series of town hall meetings to keep the Nevisian community informed about the SSZ Destiny project.