22/10/2025
AN OPEN LETTER TO PREMIER MARK BRANTLEY: THE MEASURE OF TRANSPARENCY
Dear Premier Brantley,
I write to you today as a concerned citizen living abroad, one who continues to believe in the power of good governance and transparency. Yet, despite your public commitment to “open and transparent government,” my repeated questions, posed to you both on my page and yours, about the proposed Destiny Project remain unanswered.
Admittedly, you have engaged with me respectfully in the past. However, there now seems to be a shift in tone, although I have remained both courteous and consistent. Your silence is concerning. For those of us who care deeply about the future of our federation, clarity is not a privilege, it is a right.
There is an African proverb that says, “When the well is deep, you cannot see the bottom.” Likewise, when government decisions are made behind closed doors, citizens cannot measure their depth or fairness. Transparency is the rope that allows us all to go down deep and see clearly into the well.
You have often spoken of inclusion and accountability. Yet sometimes it feels as though the curtain has been drawn halfway, the lights are on, but only some are invited to watch the performance. The people, both at home and abroad, are left to speculate about what is truly unfolding behind that veil.
Throughout Caribbean history, from colonial rule to self-governance, transparency has been one of the cornerstones of our progress. Our ancestors demanded accountability from those who governed them; it would be a betrayal of that legacy if, in our time, we failed to do the same or did it half-heartedly.
In your 2017 inaugural address, you stated that “the government must not be an exclusive club.” I hold you to that standard, not in opposition, but in the spirit of partnership and responsibility.
Just five days ago (October 16, 2025), the Nevis Island Administration’s official website stated the following at a stakeholder meeting:
“The NIA continues to emphasize that public participation is a cornerstone of its transparent and consultative approach to governance, ensuring that the development of Nevis reflects the collective vision and aspirations of its people.”
While I commend your efforts to engage the public, your silence regarding my specific questions makes it feel as we say in the Caribbean, that “there’s more to de Marta dan de pistol.” In other words, something appears amiss. Is it that some details are not ready for public release or that some details are just not for public consumption?
As an overseas national, I may not be physically present at town halls or consultations, but like thousands of others, I remain emotionally and civically invested in our federation’s future. Our advocacy and continued engagement contribute meaningfully to national development. Therefore, our right to participate in matters of national importance must be fully respected.
In that spirit, I once again respectfully seek answers to the following questions. Of course, you have maintained that the agreement is still in draft phase, so I invite you to respond based on the current draft:
1. Is it true that if we were to breach the agreement with the developers, it would cost us $23 billion?
2. If this is not true, what are the actual consequences of breaching the contract?
3. Is it true that if the developers were to breach the agreement, they would be liable to us for $75 million?
4. If this is incorrect, what are the consequences if the developers breach the contract?
5. Which currency would either party be required to pay in?
6. Given the disparity between the two figures ($23 billion vs. $75 million), please explain what each figure covers and why there is such a large difference.
7. In the event of a dispute, which court or arbitration body has jurisdiction?
8. If the matter were to be taken to court due to breach, would the legal fees for our representation be an additional cost to us?
I am not interested in party politics. My questions are about governance, accountability, and national interest - matters that any citizen with the nation’s wellbeing at heart has the right to ask.
Premier Brantley, leadership is tested not by the praise one receives, but by the questions one is willing to answer. The people of St. Kitts and Nevis, at home and abroad, deserve clarity, honesty, and inclusive engagement.
If your government is truly open and transparent, then these questions should no longer be met with your silence.
The measure of a nation’s maturity is not in how loudly it celebrates progress, but in how humbly it faces scrutiny. I look forward to your response in that spirit.
Respectfully,
Yvette Herbert
