Nevis Premier assures residents: No new taxes in 2026 budget

As the 2026 fiscal budget approaches, Nevis Premier Mark Brantley has reassured residents that no new taxes will be introduced in the coming year.

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Speaking at his monthly press conference on November 25, Brantley was clear in response to a question about potential tax increases: “No! There won’t be any new taxes.”

The Premier emphasized that the Nevis Island Administration has consistently sought to avoid placing additional financial burdens on local residents. “The posture that my government has taken over the years is that where possible, we have sought to impose tax increases on goods or tax services on individuals who are outside the local population,” he said.

Brantley highlighted several measures the government has implemented to boost revenue without affecting Nevisians directly. “I mention, for example, when we increased the Tourism Development Levy — that bites principally on visitors to the island. We have increased some charges at the Financial Services Registry. Those are not taxes but fees, and to incorporate companies and to do various types of business here, we have increased those. By doing that, we have increased revenue without putting any burden on the people of Nevis. That has been going quite good.”

The Premier also noted that adjustments had already been made earlier this year to hospital costs and water tariffs.

With the 2026 budget on the horizon, Brantley’s message underscores the administration’s commitment to protecting residents from additional fiscal pressures while maintaining revenue streams from non-resident sources.