Editing Nevis (section)

===Movement for constitutional reform===
[[Joseph Parry (politician)|Joseph Parry]], leader of the opposition, has indicated that he favours constitutional reform over secession for Nevis. His party, the NRP, has historically been the strongest and most ardent proponent for Nevis independence; the party came to power with secession as the main campaign issue. In 1975, the NRP manifesto declared that: "The Nevis Reformation Party will strive at all costs to gain secession for Nevis from St. Kitts – a privilege enjoyed by the island of Nevis prior to 1882."<ref>Herbert, Roy (2005). {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20060718073555/http://www.nevisindependence.com/history.html "A short historical look at the Relationship between St. Kitts & Nevis"]}}. Historical Review. Nevis Independence, 4 February 2005. Retrieved 8 August 2006.</ref>

A cursory proposal for constitutional reform was presented by the NRP in 1999, but the issue was not prominent in the 2006 election campaign and it appears a detailed proposal has yet to be worked out and agreed upon within the party.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/caribbean/news/story/2004/01/040126_nevis-opposition.shtml  "Nevis: 'Reform before independence'"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308043147/http://www.bbc.co.uk/caribbean/news/story/2004/01/040126_nevis-opposition.shtml |date=8 March 2021 }}. BBC Caribbean, online edition, 26 January 2004. Retrieved 8 August 2006.</ref>

In ''Handbook of Federal Countries'' published by [[Forum of Federations]], the authors consider the constitution problematic because it does not "specifically outline" the federal financial arrangements or the means by which the central government and Nevis Island Administration can raise revenue: "In terms of the NIA, the constitution only states (in s. 108(1)) that 'all revenues...raised or received by the Administration...shall be paid into and form a fund styled the Nevis Island Consolidated Fund.' [...] Section 110(1) states that the proceeds of all 'takes' collected in St. Kitts and Nevis under any law are to be shared between the federal government and the Nevis Island Administration based on population. The share going to the NIA, however, is subject to deductions (s. 110(2)), such as the cost of common services and debt charges, as determined by the Governor-General (s.110(3)) on the advice of the Prime Minister who can also take advice from the Premier of Nevis (s.110(4))."<ref name="Griffiths">Griffiths, Ann Lynn and Karl Nerenberg (2002). ''Handbook of Federal Countries''. Ed. Karl Nerenberg. Published McGill-Queen's Press – MQUP, 2002. {{ISBN|0-7735-2511-4}}, p. 274.</ref>

According to a 1995 report by the Commonwealth Observer Group of the [[Commonwealth Secretariat]], "the federal government is also the local government of St Kitts and this has resulted in a perception among the political parties in Nevis that the interests of the people of Nevis are being neglected by the federal government which is more concerned with the administration of St Kitts than with the federal administration."<ref>''General Election in St Kitts and Nevis 3 July 1995: The Report of the Commonwealth Observer Group''. Commonwealth Observer Group, Commonwealth Secretariat, 1995. {{ISBN|0-85092-466-9}}, p.3.</ref>