Nevis names new minister of tourism

Newly elected Premier of Nevis, Vance Amory, has appointed Mark Brantley as Minister with portfolio responsibility for Tourism, Health, Social Development, Youth and Sports, Culture and Gender Affairs. In making the appointment, Amory said, “We are at a critical moment in the development of Nevis’ tourism and we need renewed leadership to successfully implement our strategy to take advantage of the market opportunities ahead. Nevis is fortunate to have someone of Mark’s caliber and experience to lead the industry in the capacity of Minister of Tourism. Mark is a strong communicator and has a solid understanding of what is required to develop our tourism plant and I have every confidence in his abilities to successfully expand our tourism economy.””I am honoured and excited to lead Nevis’ tourism industry, which is vitally important to the people of Nevis and to the economy of our small island destination,”Minister Brantley stated. “We are challenged by the growing commoditization of the travel product and global competitiveness that is being driven by pricing. It is therefore critically important for Nevis to be differentiated from the mass market tourism that is now dominant in the Caribbean by providing the visitor with an authentic experience that has real value.”He added that it’s the intention of the administration to foster tactical alliances between the government, the private sector and local communities to create opportunities for Nevisian entrepreneurs with small and medium enterprises, as well as international investors to prosper. Brantley is an attorney by profession and a managing partner of the law firm Daniel, Brantley & Associates. He was educated at the University of West Indies, the Norman Manley Law School and the University of Oxford. Brantley has been a Senator in the Nevis Island Assembly for the Concerned Citizens Movement and is the Leader of the Opposition in the Federal Parliament. (http://www.nevisisland.com)