NIA CHARLESTOWN, NEVIS (December 09, 2025)– The Nevis Island Administration (NIA) is reporting a strong fiscal performance for 2025, with Premier and Minister of Finance Honourable Mark Brantley announcing a significant surplus and a downward trend in public debt, driven by prudent financial management.

Premier Brantley made the disclosure during his presentation in the Budget Debate on December 04 in the Nevis Island Assembly, where he refuted assertions by Independent Opposition MP Hon. Cleone Stapleton-Simmonds regarding a widening deficit.

“Our overall fiscal performance remains strong as of October 31. Our primary balance has soared to a healthier surplus of $27.84 million, a substantial improvement from the $13.25 million surplus reported in October 2024. $13.25 [million] to $27.84 [million] is more than doubling of the surplus reported for the same period.

“The overall balance also is trending in this direction moving from a deficit of $3.16 million to a surplus of $11.6 million over the last 12 months. The fiscal gap has also narrowed significantly moving from an initial deficit of $19.35 million at the end of October 2024 to a much smaller deficit of $3.52 million at the end of October 2025.”

The Premier also reported that the NIA’s central government debt continues to trend downward. As of October 31, 2025, the central government debt stock stood at $474.7 million- a 1 percent decrease from the $479.5 million recorded in December 2024. Domestic debt accounted for $453.04 million or 95.4 percent of the total, while external debt stood at $21.6 million or 4.6 percent.

When combined with the debt of statutory corporations, the total public sector debt amounted to $541.5 million as of October 31, reflecting a 1.35 percent reduction from the $548.9 million recorded at the end of 2024.

“Our borrowing strategy remains focused on securing low-cost financing instruments to ensure that the government’s capacity to serve its existing debt obligations is not compromised.

“Would I like our debt to be zero? Yes. But I also realize that what is important is your ability to service your debt, and we have not missed a debt payment. We have been servicing our debt and our debt has been trending downwards not upwards in the last fiscal year,” he said.

The Premier announced that the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) once again outperformed projections. The IRD had set a target of $70 million for 2024 but exceeded this by achieving $73.1 million. This marks an increase from the $69.58 million collected in 2023 and a substantial rise from the $62.13 million collected in 2022.

Total expenditure for 2024 amounted to $250.06 million, with $191.96 million allocated to the recurrent account and $58.1 million to the capital account.

“In summary, the expenditure performance yielded a surplus of $32.65 million over the budgeted figure- a surplus. The recurrent account realized savings of $16.51 million while the capital account also achieved savings of $16.14 million,” Premier Brantley stated.

He noted that, with two exceptions, all programme heads remained within their budgeted allocations. The Ministry of Tourism exceeded its budget by $58,839, and the Ministry of Finance exceeded by $2.3 million.

Significant savings were recorded across several ministries, including:

• Ministry of Communication and Works: $3.081 million
• Premier’s Ministry: $759,366
• Ministry of Agriculture and Lands: $1.3 million
• Ministry of Health and Gender Affairs: $6.6 million
• Ministry of Education and Library Services: $5.9 million

Additional savings included $23,843 from the Legal Department and Company Registry combined. The Premier noted that the Office of the Premier alone achieved $168,000 in savings from its 2024 allocation.

“Congratulations to the entire team. Oh yes, that is fiscal responsibility. We are not here wasting government money. We are operating within the parameters set by this parliament in the budget.”

The Director of Audit supported the Administration’s position, concluding that “significant efforts were made to manage spending effectively throughout the year. It is particularly impressive that only two categories within the recurrent account exceeded the allocated budgets, marking a noteworthy accomplishment in fiscal discipline. This careful management has resulted in a net savings of $16.51 million within the overall budget.”

Premier Brantley stressed that these results reflect disciplined and responsible governance.

“The Director of Audit has confirmed that we have operated with fiscal propriety. We’re not spending like drunken sailors on shore leave. We are managing the limited resources of this island, and all of the ministries, all of the departments, all of the programme heads with the exception of two, achieved savings. That’s remarkable… and so I encourage them to continue to save, to continue to operate in that manner.”