Legal Adviser – Hon. Patrice Nisbett
Charlestown, Nevis
January 14, 2010
Legal Adviser in the Nevis Island Administration (NIA), the Hon. Patrice Nisbett, told listeners of popular radio programme Breakfast Menu on Choice 105.3 FM, on Tuesday that Mr. Mark Brantley has consistently taken the side of foreigners over the Nevis Island Administration and the people of Nevis.
During the programme hosted by Mr. Walter Morton, the legal Adviser stated that early in the Nevis Reformation Party (NRP) led-Administration’s tenure, the government wrote a letter to Clear Harbour (a call centre company), which outlined that the company owed the government $500,000 for rent and equipment. In addition, at that time Clear Harbour only had 5-9 people employed at the Brown Hill facility.
“The company was sending the bulk of work to Dominica and Grenada and we in the government thought it best to get Clear Harbour out of the facility and get a new company up and running,” said Mr. Nisbett.
He added that the previous Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) led-Administration, invested $1.8 million to set up the facility.
“So basically the CCM government invested in a facility where they had to purchase the computers, desks and a number of other items. Then after several months the previous Administration realised that they could not get any rent and the people of Nevis were not being employed.
“In 2006, a caring government, in the Nevis Reformation Party led-Administration said we want to bring a new company interested in doing a proper business and employing the people of Nevis with meaningful jobs for the residents of this country,” stated Mr. Nisbett.
While the NIA had sought to negotiate a new deal with a new company on behalf of the people of Nevis, Opposition Leader in the Federal Parliament Mr. Mark Brantley entered the arena with legal assistance on the side of Clear Harbour.
“Mr. Brantley came into the forum claiming to rescue Clear Harbour”¦ from what? Clear Harbour was doing absolutely nothing in this country.
The first thing that came to my mind was what was Mr. Brantley motivated by?”
The NIA won the case under the legal advice of the Hon. Patrice Nisbett and today the Brown Hill Communications call center has employed over 200 persons and plans were afoot to employ an additional 100 persons.
In another matter which involved the Caribbean Cable Corporation, The Nevis Island Administration had sought to nationalise the company after the foreign owned organisation continued to charge high rates, provided poor service with little variety programming compared to other islands.
The final straw according to Mr. Nisbett came when the company took the government access channel off the air.
“This meant that residents of Nevis could not see any local programming including the news, birthdays of the elderly, children’s concerts and school programs.
“Yet again, Mr. Mark Brantley worked on the side of the foreign owned company Caribbean Cable Corporation, by assisting them with legal matters against the Nevis Island Administration and the people of Nevis,” he said.
The Hon. Patrice Nisbett explained that an injunction has been filed by the Caribbean Cable Company recently with the legal assistance of Mr. Brantley of the CCM as he has sought to politicise the matter.
“I will state sincerely, that no matter the situation, the Nevis Island Administration will continue to work in the best interest of the people of Nevis,” concluded Mr. Nisbett.