Small island states face a delicate balancing act: how to grow their economies without sacrificing the natural environment that sustains them.
Development in a small island state must meet the needs of citizens, while protecting natural assets and securing a sustainable future for residents and visitors for generations to come.
The Special Sustainability Zone (SSZ) Authorization Bill 2025, recently passed in St. Kitts and Nevis, has been introduced to make this possible.
Premier Mark Brantley of Nevis, the leader of the federation’s smaller island, has underscored the transformative potential of the initiative.
In a recent statement to Nevis, he highlighted that such a zone could create thousands of permanent jobs for Nevisians while also providing new opportunities for the diaspora to return home and find secure employment, a prospect that has not been available before at this scale.
A ‘Special Zone’ is not a new concept. Around the world, Special Economic Zones (SEZs) have proven they are drivers of economic growth and diversification. China, Dubai, India and Singapore have successfully utilised them to attract investment, create employment, and diversify their economies.
The model has also been tested closer to St Kitts and Nevis. Jamaica has been operating SEZs since the 1970s, while the Cayman Islands established Cayman Enterprise City in 2012.
The latter SEZ is already delivering substantial benefits. In 2023 alone it contributed USD $130 million to the local economy, and in just over a decade it has generated nearly USD $1 billion in economic activity.
Nevis, however, is taking a more pioneering approach. Rather than adopting the model wholesale and focusing strictly on economics, the federation has embedded safeguards into the bill to ensure development does not come at the cost of its environment or heritage.
Nevis’ approach is guided by the principle of working in harmony with nature. Regulations stipulate that any development must cause no environmental harm and will actively restore land where possible.
The legislation also enshrines self-sufficiency. Any project is required to generate renewable energy and water to meet its resource needs, delivering resilience to climate pressures.
Heritage is also central to the SSZ vision. Premier Brantley has stressed that historic monuments and cultural sites will not only be protected but kept fully accessible to the people of Nevis.
Nevis’ leadership has expressed confidence that SSZs will attract investment on a scale not previously seen, opening new opportunities for economic growth and development. This will deliver widespread benefits across the island and enhance its global reputation.
Importantly, the SSZ already has legs. Premier Brantley’s Nevis Island Administration has been approached by an investor seeking to establish such a zone on Nevis.
SEZs are a proven model of prosperity. In Nevis, the adoption of strong safeguards would give the island their own approach which prioritises sustainable growth and the needs of Nevisians.
With the SSZ Authorization Bill 2025, Nevis is positioning itself not just to achieve economic development but to do so in a way that secures a future for Nevisians without sacrificing the island’s heritage or environment.
