Grenada, March 22, 2026 — Hon. Mark Brantley, Premier of Nevis, delivered a keynote address at the inaugural Congress of the Democratic People’s Movement (DPM) in Morne Rouge, Grenada, on Sunday, March 22, offering reflections on regional challenges and the need for Caribbean unity.
Brantley began by expressing his deep personal connection to Grenada. “It is good to be home in Grenada,” he said, noting that his wife is from L’Anse aux Epines and that the couple have been married for 32 years. He added that he and his wife have visited Grenada regularly since 1989, the year he first met her, and that he fell in love with both her and the island nearly four decades ago. Although he does not yet hold a Grenadian passport, he said he remains hopeful that one day he will.
“I am honoured to address the inaugural Congress of the Democratic People’s Movement,” Brantley continued, commending Hon. Peter David, DPM Party Leader, and the leadership team for taking “this bold step in the service of the people of Grenada, Carriacou, and Petite Martinique.”
Brantley acknowledged that, as a matter of policy, he typically avoids involvement in the internal politics of sister Caribbean states, including Grenada, especially given the friendships he maintains across the political spectrum. However, he said he could not refuse David’s invitation. Adding a personal touch, he noted that Jasmine Redhead, a mutual friend who first introduced him to his wife while they were students at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, played a role in facilitating his participation in the Congress.
“I owe Jasmine a debt that cannot be repaid,” he said, adding that Derrick James, General Secretary of the DPM, extended the formal invitation.
Brantley expressed gratitude for the warm welcome he has received in Grenada so far.
In his address, Brantley observed that the world is becoming increasingly volatile and unpredictable. He said that the Caribbean’s long‑standing status as a “Zone of Peace” has been challenged by unfolding global events. He pointed to the gathering of U.S. warships in the southern Caribbean Sea and a recent U.S. military operation resulting in the capture of Venezuela’s sitting president — developments that have drawn widespread attention and controversy regionally.
Only weeks later, he noted, Iran was attacked pre‑emptively in a manner that, according to critics, appeared to disregard the United Nations and international law — underscoring, in his view, the unpredictability of contemporary geopolitics.
Brantley’s remarks reflect rising concerns among some regional leaders that the Caribbean must be prepared to navigate a changing global order and safeguard its interests through cooperation and strategic engagement.
